03/01/2006
Callmakers Strut Their Stuff at the NWTF's Convention
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Grand National Callmaking judges listened carefully to hundreds of game calls and graded them on appearance before crowning the champions during the National Wild Turkey Federation's 30th annual Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 23 to Feb. 26.
The best callmakers in the world showcased their work at the NWTF's Convention in front of more than 40,000 sportsmen and women.
"Callmakers enter our contest because it's North America's premier callmaking contest and if they can win this contest, they know they're the best there is," said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO.
A panel of experts in the fields of callmaking, calling and hunting judged the competition, which is considered the largest and best known of its kind.
Judges evaluate calls depending on the division in which a call has been entered. The four divisions are: the Grand National NWTF Hunting Turkey Call Contest; the Grand National Decorative Turkey Call Contest; the Grand National Decorative Duck and Goose Call Contest; and the Grand National Hunting Duck and Goose Call Contest.
Each division is divided into a number of categories based on the various types of calls hunters use. In the Hunting Call Contest alone, call makers have the opportunity to enter their calls in up to 13 categories.
After the contest, the calls are auctioned at the convention, with some calls raising thousands of dollars for conservation.
Top winners of the 2006 Grand National Call Making contest were:
2006 Grand National Champion Decorative Turkey Call Maker of the
Year & Earl Mickel Purchase Award Winner:
Dave Constantine, Durand, Wis.
Earl "Mick" Mickel played a founding role in the development of and appreciation for turkey call making and collecting. He has published three books on call makers and has generously supported both call makers and the NWTF with his actions and deeds.
Each year, a panel of judges juries the entries in the Decorative Turkey Call Competition and select a Best of Show call whose maker is named the Earl Mickel Award winner. The call is then purchased by the NWTF and placed on permanent display in the Wild Turkey Center in Edgefield, S.C.
2006 Grand National Champion Hunting Turkey Call Maker of the
Year
Michael Lapp, Honeybrook, Pa.
Gibson Award Winner, Box Calls
The Gibson award recognizes the best sounding box call and box call maker and is named in honor of Henry Gibson, the man who patented the first box call in 1897.
Michael Lapp, Honeybrook, Pa.
Jeremiah Stevens Award, Scratch Box Calls
The coveted Jeremiah Stevens award recognizes the best sounding scratch box call and is named in honor of Jeremiah Stevens, an African American and former slave renown at the turn of the last century in Virginia for his turkey hunting skills and the making of "gun stock" or scratch box callers.
Richard Shively, Stephens City, Va.
D.D. Adams Award, Best-sounding Friction Call
The coveted D. D. Adams award recognizes the best sounding friction call and striker combination and is named in honor of D. D. Adams, a pioneer friction call maker.
Gary Anderson, Grafton, Ohio
Tom Turpin Award, Best-sounding Air Operated Call
The Tom Turpin award recognizes the best sounding turned trumpet call and is named in honor of Tom Turpin, a callmaker and innovator renown for, among other things, his turned trumpet calls.
Jerry White, Hazlehurst, Ga.
Charles Jordan, Best-sounding Wingbone
The coveted Charles Jordan award recognizes the best sounding wing bone/cane or other material call and is named in honor of outdoor and wildlife conservationist and call maker Charles L. Jordan.
Jud Westbrook, Trion, Ga.
2006 Grand National Champion Decorative Duck & Goose Call
Maker of the Year
Best of Show: Kent S. Freeman, Kennett, Mo.
2nd Best of Show: Pat Walsh, Nashville, Tenn.
3rd Best of Show: Pat Walsh, Nashville, Tenn.
2006 Grand National Champion Hunting Duck & Goose Call Maker of
the Year
Best of Show: Pat Walsh, Nashville, Tenn.
2nd Best of Show: Jacob Friend, Grain Valley, Mo.
3rd Best of Show: Bob Wiseman, Winchester, Tenn.
Click here for complete results.
For more information about the NWTF's call making contest, or other convention highlights, call (800) THE-NWTF.
2006 NWTF Convention and Sport Show Sponsors
BASF, Bass Pro Shops, Browning-USRAC, Callmakers and Collectors Association of America, Cardiac Diagnostic Services of Virginia, Chevrolet, Federal Cartridge Company, Henkel Harris Furniture, Jeanette Rudy, The Lodge at Cabin Bluff, Marlin Firearms/H & R 1871, Mathews, Inc., MBNA, Mossberg Firearms, The Outdoor Channel, The Outdoor Connection, Remington Arms Company, T.I. Industries Frame Molding, USDA-Forest Service, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, Wild Turkey Bourbon, Winchester/Olin Company
