2025 Convention Judges

- 2025 JUDGES -

Brad Domangue

Waterfowl and Bird Judge

Hi, my name is Brad Domangue and I'm from Purvis, MS. I am the owner of Relentless Waterfowl Studio
Growing up I always had a love for hunting and fishing. In my late teens I began Taxidermy as a hobby. I did birds of my own and for close friends and family. When the oil field went down yet again, I was laid off from being a machinist. Machine work was all I knew. While between jobs I decided it was time to make a move. I turned my hobby into my career. At the beginning I mounted anything that came through my shop. My ultimate goal was to be strictly waterfowl. Although times were not always easy, I am proud to say I have surpassed my goal.
Over the years of my career I have competed in numerous state Taxidermy shows. It has been a big part of me growing as a taxidermist. I have been
judged by and competed against some of the best in the game, many taxidermist that I looked up to along my career. I am honored to have been asked to be the Waterfowl judge for Pennsylvania 2025 Taxidermy show. I have been blessed in this profession and look forward to sharing my knowledge with other great
taxidermists.
- 2023 Alabama Masters Waterfowl state champ.
- 2022 Texas Masters Waterfowl state champ.

Mike Doyle

Life Size and Game Head Judge

My name is Mike Doyle and I’ve been doing Taxidermy for over 20 years. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with many world class taxidermists and large studios in that time creating mounts with species from across the globe. I also own and operate Doyle Wildlife Design in Rockford, Michigan. My lovely wife Teka, two kids and myself all enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and are quite passionate about hunting, trapping, and fishing.
I began competing in 2006 and fell in love with it right away. My main objective is to achieve the best possible piece I can, share ideas with peers, and ultimately be inspired by other works of art. Through competition, I’ve learned more than I could have originally imagined. I have also been able to achieve many goals and awards along the way. Most notable are:
- 2022 World Champion Small Game head

- 2022 North American Champion

- 2017 Third in World small life size.

I look forward to being your states life size and game head judge.

Kurt Ainsworth

Habitat Judge

Hello, My name is Kurt Ainsworth. I have been involved in Taxidermy for more than 40 years. I have served as either president Vice President or a board member of two States and the NTA. I have won numerous awards at State, National and world levels. Including several BOC in whitetail Deer, andMammals. My most coveted awards include 11 Wasco awards and three Artisan awards. Habitat is a BIG part of that. I study it very deeply and am always at awe Of the Lord's creations. It is my opinion that a Habitat can make or break a Taxidermy display. Thank you and see you at the show.

Jenalee Kostella

Art Judge

My name is Jenalee Kostella. I have been an artist my entire life. I have worked in many different media from paper and pencil to computers and graphics.

I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and graduated with a degree in computer animation. Learning advanced anatomy, figure drawing, sculpting etc., was a must in this program. After graduating, I worked with freelance graphics and was commissioned to draw and paint many pieces.

While taxidermy is my newest form of art, I still continue to paint and draw when possible and applying it to this work!

Dave Cottrell

Deer Judge

Hello, my name is Dave Cottrell. I live in Miami county which is located in southwest Ohio. I started taxidermy in 2013, and entered my first state show in 2015. I was hooked. The amount of knowledge and experience shared by some of the best in the business at each show I have attended has helped me learn and grow over the years. In addition, this journey has also blessed me with meeting all kinds of people of which
many have become great friends.
The species I prefer to work with in my shop is definitely whitetails. My seminar will be on sculpting whitetail earbuds. I just love to talk about whitetails so during the seminar I encourage you to ask questions. I look forward to seeing you and all the whitetail mounts in March.

Ray Hatfield

Large Mammal

Ray, owner of Nature’s Design, has 35 years experience as a full time taxidermist as well as being an avid hunter, trapper, and fisherman. Anything that deals with the outdoors is right up Rays alley. His talent and creativity have earned him manyawards ranging from Award or Excellence, People’s Choice, Taxidermist Choice, and a World Champion Life Size Mammal. He has a passion for mounting things that are out of the ordinary and getting the opportunity to create new poses and pushing the limits of gravity. He has also started designing and building trophy rooms which is another creative outlet for him.

Chip Wendt

Reptile & Fish

Chip Wendt is from New London, Ohio and started paracticing taxidermy as a 12-year-old and has been attempting to master the craft for 25 years. He exemplifies the benefits that taxidermy associations provide, starting in the youth division and working up to the masters division. He has served on the Ohio Taxidermists Association Board of Directors for the past 10 years assuming the roles of President, Vice President, and Competition Chairman.

While Ship works full-time as an environmental scientist on ecological restoration projects, he operates a small part-time studio and has mounted a wide variety of domestic and exotic game and non-game annimals. Best known for his reptile taxidermy, Chip's passion for reptiles and especially snapping turtles, blossomed over the years as he worked to develop new methods and products to elevate hte quality of his work. He is well-versed in molding and casting fish which not only allows him to integrate custom reproduction parts in his reptile work, but also to create detailed snake replicas. Disappointed with the lack of instruction and information available to people interested in reptile taxidermy, Chip has made it his mission to share his knowledge and experience with others.

Chip has achieved a variety of accolades for his habitat and fish work, but he is one of the top reptile taxidermists in the world, earning a Best Reproduction award, multiple state championships in Ohio and surroundign states, multiple WASCO awards, multiple Breakthrough awards, a North American Championship, and the Second in World title at the 2024 World Taxidermy Championships. Chip's wealth of knowledge of taxidermy in general gained from his years of involvement on the OTA Board and his decades of experience honing his craft will allow him to serve the PTA well as your 2025 Fish and Reptile Judge.