2025 Judges

 Ashley is a 5x World Champion and 2x World Best of Show Winner. He said the  desire to learn and grow as a taxidermist has pushed him to attend seminars and compete at many State,  National, and World taxidermy shows. With 28 years of competing and over 20 years of full time taxidermy experience Ashley has learned how to run a successful taxidermy studio specializing in large lifesize mammals. Ashley looks forward to sharing some of the techniques and tricks he has learned along the way.  

  Hello, my name is Gary Weir. I live in Montrose Colorado. I'm honored to be your whitetail judge for your 2025 convention. Growing up in Texas, some of my best memories were hunting deer with my father. I'm looking forward to judging your pieces, and giving critiques. Hopefully I can shed some knowledge of the species, I love so much. I've heard so much about your association, and have met several of your members. My wife and I, are looking forward to this great convention. A few of my achievements are two time national champion with deer, closed mouth and open mouth. 2023 North American Champion and winning the Bruchac Memorial Award. In 2024, I was honored to judge whitetail and the National Show, and the World Show, and several amazing state shows.

Introducing the 2025 Fish/Reptile Judge RON KELLY from Texas!!!

From Ron:
I live in Holly Lake Ranch, Texas with my beautiful wife Cheryl. I recently retired, 1 ½ years ago after over 40 years of full-time taxidermy owning a large taxidermy shop in Texas called Artistic Wildlife Gallery and Fish Replicas. Although it was a full service shop for all those years,  for the last 6 years before retirement, I was a fish only shop. I have personally completed over 15,000 fish for customers since 1979.  My son Josh and grandson Kaden also worked with me in the business.  Upon retirement, I turned over my clientele and molds to my son Josh who has built a very successful  fish taxidermy shop on his own.

I grew up in Illinois where I started learning taxidermy in 1967 through the Northwestern School of Taxidermy correspondence course. I am fortunate to have known the late taxidermy legend Leon L. Pray from the time I started until I graduated from high school. He was a grandfather figure in my life, as well as my mentor. He lit a fire in me that I could not quench. I still own some of his personal tools and drawings that he gave me.  After graduation, I joined the Marine Corps where occasionally while stationed in California, I worked on weekends for a large company called Lyons and O'haver. Also during that time, I met a fish molding legend named Doug Fisk. These folks guided me into the fish molding and painting career that I had for over 40 years. 

I loved competing and have done well during my career. winning over 180 blue ribbons, the NTA Award of excellence, numerous Best of Category, Judge's Choice and People's Choice Awards at State, National, and World shows, including Best All-Around Taxidermist in Texas three times and Texas State Champion on fish. I earned my Texas Masters Awards in Fish Skin Mounts, Fish Replicas, Birds and Gameheads.  

I have judged Fish and Reptiles at 17 different shows in various states including Kansas. I am considered a tough, but fair and knowledgeable judge. I love giving critiques and helping folks as much as I can. I rely heavily on reference material while never putting my personal opinion into  judging. My painting seminars are fun, interesting, and informative, offering printed paint schedules, cool new products, business tips, and funny stories with an interactive environment.  

During my career, I was constantly learning from others trying to improve on my techniques. I love sharing the knowledge that I have gained over the years with other taxidermists. I am very honored to be asked to judge your show and look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Thank you for asking me to judge.

The 2025 Bird judge is Lowell Shapley of Texas. Lowell is an award-winning renowned wildlife painter, sculptor and taxidermist whose work has found homes in collections around the world. “As an avid outdoorsman with a passion for wildlife, I have been fortunate enough to see and experience a few wonders of our vast natural world and recreate them in my own artistic expression. Lowell has been a full time birds only taxidermist for 22 years and has won 2 world titles in birds and 2 best of shows at the world taxidermy championships. 

. “Through these experiences and my love of painting, I strive to illuminate the subjects of my work with vivid, explosive color, and the raw dynamic action of the untamed world” - Lowell Shapley.