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Gary Crafton
01-19-2007, 08:11 PM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The earliest turkey calls were made to bring wily birds into gun range, rather than to impress other hunters and admirers of folk art.

Today, call makers combine beauty and practicality to make works of art, and working calls, which they submit to the National Wild Turkey Federation's Grand National Callmaking Contest to compete against the best custom call makers in the world.

"The NWTF's custom call competition is the best forum for call makers to determine their level," said Dave Constantine, 2006 NWTF Grand National Decorative Turkey Call Maker of the Year. "There's no other place where call makers can compete at this level."

Held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center during the NWTF's annual Convention and Sport Show February 22 to February 25, 2007, the callmaking contest will be its toughest ever with the world's best call makers competing for the right to call themselves the best.

"This competition brings together the best folk art and call makers in the world," said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. "Each year, the artists try to outdo their creations from the previous year. This makes for unique works of art that are a pleasure to the eye."

Calls entered in the Grand National Decorative Call contest often don't even look like turkey calls at all. Instead, calls resemble deer fawns lying in the woods, feathers atop a pile of oak leaves or even a fiddle and bow. The only limitation is the artist's imagination.

Entries in the Grand National Working Call contest are no less impressive. The craftsmanship that goes into making a piece of wood or slate sound like the sweet calls of a hen turkey is an art form in itself. Call makers put their reputations on the line as experts in turkey calling and hunting judge the calls for tone and the "amount of turkey" each call contains.

The Duck & Goose Callmaking Competition brings the best waterfowl call makers to show how they turn blocks of wood and acrylic into amazing sounding works of art.

"The NWTF's Grand National Call Contest is the premier callmaking contest," Keck said. "The call maker who wins knows that he or she is the best."

For more information about the NWTF's annual National Convention and Sport Show, its Grand National Callmaking Contest or to compete, call (800) THE-NWTF.


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2007 NWTF Grand National Decorative Callmaking Contest Sponsors:


Cardiac Diagnostics of Va., Chris Smarte Cardiac Diagnostics of Va., Chris Smarte Cardiac Diagnostics of Va., Chris Smarte
2007 NWTF Grand National Duck & Goose Callmaking Contest Sponsors:


Callmakers & Collectors Association of America
2007 Callmaking Championship Ring Program Sponsors:


Vic Diebel, Kanati Calls
TO PRESS RELEASE ARCHIVE

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This is a link to the N.W.T.F convention .. If the creek don't rise and the Lord is willing we will be there..

Gary Crafton
01-19-2007, 08:19 PM
Top Turkey Callers Flock to Nashville

01/11/2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Whether cutting, yelping, gobbling or hooting, Wild Turkey Bourbon/National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National Calling contestants feel the pressure during the "Super Bowl" of turkey calling.

The championships will draw the best turkey callers from across North America to compete at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., February 22 to Feb. 25, during the NWTF's 31st annual National Convention and Sport Show.

"It's (Grand National Calling Contest) the most prestigious contest out there," said Matt Van Cise, two-time Grand National Champion and current titleholder. "You have to qualify to compete, and it's just a privilege to stand up there."

During the competition, contestants must perform a variety of calls for the judges - such as a hen's yelp or a young turkey's kee kee run - without knowing what sounds they'll have to mimic until they're on stage. The judges - experts on turkey hunting and calling - score the contestants by accuracy and tone.

Contestants must qualify to compete in the Seniors, Champion of Champions and Friction divisions by winning first place in an NWTF-sanctioned open, state or world division calling contest, being 21-years-old or older and NWTF members.

Only Grand National Senior, World Open or Natural Voice World champions are eligible to compete in the Rare Breed Champion of Champions division.

"The NWTF Grand National Calling Championships are some of the toughest calling contests in the world," said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. "The top turkey callers compete here because they're competing against the best. If they win, they know they're the best."

In addition to the championships, participants can also take part in the lighthearted Spit, Drum and Gobbling Show, on Friday, Feb. 23. Contestants dress as turkeys to strut, spit and gobble for the enjoyment of the crowd.

Past calling champions have appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with David Letterman" and "Live with Regis and Kelly."

"The calling contests are a major highlight of the NWTF's annual Convention and Sport Show," Keck said. "These championships allow the top callers to be rewarded and recognized for their hard work and talent, but it's also a lot of fun for everyone involved."

The Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships will be a centerpiece of the NWTF's 31th annual National Convention and Sport Show. This year's convention will house more than 500 exhibitors showing the latest in turkey hunting gear, entertainment by big-name stars and seminars by prestigious speakers in the hunting world. Wild Turkey Bourbon has sponsored the Senior, Rare Breed Champion of Champions, Spit Drum and Gobble, Team Challenge, Owl Hooting and Gobbling championships since 1994.

For more information about the NWTF's 31st annual Convention and Sport Show, or the Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships call (800) THE-NWTF.


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The 31st annual Convention and Sport Show calling contest schedule of events:

Thursday, February 22, 2007


Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Friction Calling Contest
Friday, February 23, 2007


Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Senior Division Preliminaries
NWTF Grand National Intermediate Calling Championships
Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Spit, Drum and Gobbling Show
Saturday, February 24, 2007


NWTF Grand National Junior Calling Championships
Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Gobbling Championships
Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Owl Hooting Championships
Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Senior Division Finals
Sunday, February 24, 2007


Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Team Challenge Championships
Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Rare Breed Champion of Champions Competition
TO PRESS RELEASE ARCHIVE

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Gary Crafton
01-19-2007, 08:21 PM
I don't turkey call in competetion , but if any of you guys are wanting to start , it would be a good place to get your feet wet , and hear the best of the best...

greenhead rocker
01-20-2007, 02:57 PM
Gary,
Glad to hear you guys are going to be there. I see ya there. BTW...the invite for you all to join our crew at dinner Sat. night still there, if you guys want.

Gary Crafton
01-21-2007, 10:26 PM
I'm always up for free food lol thanks Chris

greenhead rocker
01-21-2007, 10:42 PM
Anytime man. Just say the word and I'll do what I can.

greenhead rocker
02-17-2007, 05:27 PM
OK...now I'm confused. I saw on the home page that Foiles, Gary, and Rennecker will be in Illinoins for the Deer/Turkey classic. Are they not going to be at the NWTF show now??? Just curious.