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Another One for the Books, and We Owe It All to You! 

From across the country, dedicated NWTF volunteers and staff, conservation leaders, partners and the sporting community at large joined together in Nashville to celebrate all the great things the NWTF stands for: wild turkeys, conservation, the soul of the American hunter, sharing the outdoors with the next generation, an unfaltering desire to leave the land better than we found it and uniting a nation through the life-changing power of the outdoors.

We are beyond humbled by how successful our convention and sport show is each year, and this year was no exception.

We know it would not be possible without everyone coming together to make it happen. From all the event sponsors and exhibitors on the show floor to our volunteers and staff, it takes a village to pull it off year after year.

As the spring season is on the horizon, and as we move forward to deliver our mission throughout the year, let us continue with the same energy you all brought to Nashville.

Thank you for your positivity and energy this last week; it is infectious, and we are endlessly thankful for you.

May your spring be filled with gobbles!

Yours in Conservation,

NWTF co-CEOs Jason Burckhalter and Kurt Dyroff

2024 Award Winners

Thursday Rendezvous

Innovation Award: Dave Baron, Baron Technologies
Government Partner Award: Sen. Deborah “Debbie” Stabenow
National Scholarship Award: Ashlynn Kidwell
Educator of the Year: Angie Kruger
Corporate Achievement Award: Winchester Ammunition
Dick Kirby Award: Michael Lapp
Tom Kelly Communicator of the Year Award: Rob Keck

Friday Education and Outreach Breakfast

Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Award: Henry County Longbeards Chapter, Monocacy Valley Chapter, Y-Bridge Longbeards Chapter and Cleveland County Cutters & Strutters Chapter
Best Inaugural Event Award: Maryland State Chapter, Tri-County Strutters Chapter and Aitkin Gobblers Chapter
Membership Achievement Award: South Dakota State Chapter and Tenkiller WITO Chapter
Partnership Achievement Award: Minnesota State Chapter, Three Forks Wild Turkey Chapter, Franklin County Longbeards Chapter, Kaufman County Double Beards and Wisconsin WITO
Top Contributing Event Award: Wolf Creek Chapter WS and Ohio WITO Chapter
Conservation Field Day Award: Huachuca Goulds Chapter
JAKES Volunteer of the Year Award: Kimberly Capel
Annie Oakley Award: Stellane King
Wheelin’ Sportmen Volunteer of the Year Award: Michael Howie
Mentor of the Year Award: Lance Morgan

Friday Conseravtion Awards Luncheon

USFS Making Tracks: National Master Stewardship Agreement Team, Six Shooter Team, Shawnee National Forest
Wayne Bailey Award: Al Stewart
NRCS Making Tracks Award: Larimer Conservation District, Jonas Feinstein and Frank Falzon
Joe Kurz Wildlife Manager of the Year Award: Chris Henline
Land Stewardship Award: Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Acreage Award: Alabama State Chapter
Partnership Award: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas state chapters

Friday Award Gala

Henry Mosby Award: Bret Collier, Ph. D.
C.B. McLeod Award: Chuck Sykes
Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award: Florida Fish and Wildlife Investigator Gregory Todd Hoyle
Roger Latham Award: Eric Olsen, Gary Stroud, Guy Hostutler, Joan Eisemann and Ralph Warzecha
Director Emeritus: Robert Doc Dettmer
Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award: Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports

View All Award Winners

It’s Not Too Early to Start Planning Next Year’s Convention and Sport Show

While we are still in awe ecstatic from the last week in Nashville, we are already looking forward to next year’s NWTF Convention and Sport Show. In 2025, we’ll be descending in Nashville once again Feb. 12 – 16.
See you there!

Event Schedule

Plan your Convention and Sport Show experience by viewing the schedule prior to your arrival.

More Info

Book a Room

We recommend staying at the Gaylord Opryland hotel so you have everything you need under one roof.

More Info

Purchase Event Tickets

Get your tickets for award ceremonies, nightly entertainment and auction and raffle events.

Get Your Tickets Now!

Sport Show Wristbands

Pre-register for the Sport Show and skip the registration lines. Wristbands are free for current members.

Register Now

Exhibitor Info

Promote your business to more than 55,000 individuals who attend the weekend's festivities.

More Info

Calling Competitions

Callers of all ages compete for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes in eight divisions

More Info

Callmaking Competitions

The NWTF's Grand National Call making Competition is the premier competition of its kind in North America.

More Info

Taxidermy Competitions

Gobblers strut, big chests and beards puff out, attracting attention. 

More Info

Auctions and Raffles

With thousands of live and silent auction items, you’re sure to find the perfect takeaway.

More Info

Convention and Sport Show Schedule

Plan your Convention and Sport Show experience ahead of time by learning the dates and times of your favorite events, seminar, auctions and more!

Our first convention event starts Wednesday, Feb. 14, and the last event is tentatively set for Sunday, Feb. 18 (worship service). The exhibit hall is open Thursday, Feb. 15 – Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.

View the Sport Show floor layout

Book a Room

The convention is inside the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. We highly recommend staying at Gaylord Opryland hotel so you will have everything you need under one roof. We usually sell out of rooms, so we encourage you to book early.

Our first 2024 convention event starts Wednesday, Feb. 14, and the last event is tentatively set for Sunday, Feb. 18 (worship service). The exhibit hall is open Thursday, Feb. 15 – Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.

Gaylord Opryland Reservations

  • Gaylord Opryland Room Block is SOLD OUT!

2024 Convention Overflow Hotels

  • Overflow Hotel Room Block is SOLD OUT!

Exhibitor Information

Be one of the companies to showcase your products and services in our 90,000 square feet of exhibiting space during one of the biggest shows in Nashville, TN. Promote your business to more than 55,000 individuals who attend the weekend’s festivities. Our available booth spaces disappear as quickly as those free promotional items you hand out.

Grand National Competitions

Test your calling, callmaking and taxidermy skills against some of the best competitors in the nation right here at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show. Contests are open to entry level and advanced individuals. This is your chance to support the NWTF and gain national recognition by competing in exciting and challenging categories and divisions. Showcase your talents and compete to receive trophies, medallions, ribbons, cash prizes and championship rings.

NWTF Grand National Calling Championships

Callers of all ages compete for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes in eight divisions. Competitions are held in Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The best callers in the world use natural voices, latex mouth calls, pot and peg friction calls, box calls, owl hooting tubes and more to yelp, cluck, putt, gobble and hoot their way to the top spot on stage.

Adult competitions are sponsored by Primos and TETRA
Youth competitions are sponsored by Mossy Oak

Register for GNCC Here

2024 Schedule of Events:

  • Thursday, Noon – 4 p.m.: GNCC Friction Preliminaries
  • Thursday, 5 – 8 p.m.: GNCC Gobbling and Owl Hooting Championships
  • Friday, 7:30 – 11 a.m.: GNCC Team Air and Friction Challenge
  • Friday, Noon – 4 p.m: GNCC Senior Preliminaries
  • Friday, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.: GNCC Poults, Juniors and Intermediate Championships
  • Friday, 5 – 6 p.m. Hall of Fame Meet and Greet
  • Saturday, 8 – 11 a.m.: GNCC Friction Finals
  • Saturday, Noon – 3 p.m.: GNCC Senior Finals
  • Saturday, 4 – 6 p.m.: GNCC Hall of Fame Inductions

2024 Winners
GNCC Gobbling Championship
Sponsored by Primos and TETRA

Winner: Josh Pruitt, Reidsville, NC – 237
1st Runner up: Kerry Elliot, Parish, KY – 236
2nd Runner up: Joe Slaton, Linden, CA – 235.5
3rd Runner up: William Dyer, Huron, TN – 235
4th Runner up: Tyler Presley, Front Royal, VA – 234.5

GNCC Owl Championship
Sponsored by Primos and TETRA

Winner: Hunter Staples, Philpot, KY – 240
1st Runner up: Kaleb Payton, Central, KY – 239.5
2nd Runner up: James Harrison, Hillsboro, MO – 238.5
3rd Runner up: Jonathan Waugh, Jackson, OH – 235.5 (240.5)
4th Runner up: Colton Staples, Owensboro, KY – 235.5 (238.5)

GNCC Team Air & Friction Challenge
Sponsored by Primos and TETRA

Winner: Wayne Dozier, Dickinson, AL and Richard Gunn, Columbia, GA – 560.5
1st Runner up: Andy Duvall, Carrollton, MS and Jimmy Pollard, Westfield, PA – 557
2nd Runner up: Tyler Presley and Matthew Presley, Front Royal, VA – 556.5 
3rd Runner up:
Rodney Eckstine, Greencastle, PA and Cory Hoone, Olive Hill KY – 555.5
4th Runner up:
Bo Bartlebaugh, Armagh, PA – Matt Van Cise, Brookville, PA – 555

GNCC Friction Championship
Sponsored by Primos and TETRA

Winner: Dylan Bearden, Reidsville, NC 466.5
1st Runner up: Brad Roberts, Knoxville, TN 465.5
2nd Runner up: Matt Van Cise, Brookville, PA 465
3rd Runner up: Steve Morgenstern, Kirksville, MO 464.5
4th Runner up: Matthew Presley, Front Royal, VA 462 (467 – call off)

GNCC Senior Division Championship
Sponsored by Primos and TETRA

Winner: Matt Van Cise, Brookvillle, PA 577.5 (ninth Senior Open title, 16 total GNCC titles)
1st Runner up: Jessie Martin, Mt. Sterling, KY 570.5
2nd Runner up: Dave Owens, Cedartown, GA 565.5
3rd Runner up: Jed Paronish, North Cambria, PA, 555
4th Runner up: JR Lanham, Bunker, MO 554 (187.5 – call off)

Youth Grand National Turkey Calling Championships
Sponsored by Mossy Oak

GNCC Poult Division Championship (10 and under)

Winner: Mason Johnston, Purlear, NC – 361
1st Runner up: Levi Pruitt, Reidsville, NC – 358.5
2nd Runner up: Rayce Lamb, Sylvania, GA – 357.5
3rd Runner up: Easton Phillips, Manchester, GA – 355
4th Runner up: Jaxon Wale, Independence, LA – 354.5

GNCC Junior Division Championship (11 to 15)

Winner: Bo Bartlebaugh, Armagh, PA 377.5
1st Runner up: Aden Dively, Duncansville, PA, 364
2nd Runner up: Ethan Jones, Beaver, OH 363
3rd Runner up: Lane Cathey, Birmingham, AL 361 (369.5)
4th Runner up: Hudson McGarity, Hartwell, GA 361 (364)

GNCC Intermediate Division Championship (16 to 20)

Winner: Chase Roberts, Cape Girardeau, MO, 367
1st Runner up: Isaac Willow, Richfield, PA, 363
2nd Runner up: Gracie Herman, Wahoo, NE, 360.
3rd Runner up: Jackson Kirker, Searcy, AR 353
4th Runner up: Gage Sutliff, Renovo, PA 352.5

Taxidermy Competition

Gobblers strut, big chests and beards puff out, attracting attention. Spring hens nest hidden in shadow-casting edge cover. Predators attack the wild turkeys we love, engaged in dramatic duels. Walk through the Grand National Wild Turkey and White-Tailed Deer Taxidermy Competition display at the NWTF’s annual Convention and Sport Show, and you’ll experience unrivaled artistic renditions, crafty design elements and supreme efforts to re-create moments from times afield like you’ve never seen before. After all, wildlife taxidermy aims at putting a memory on the wall you can return to whenever you want, just by looking up there. – Steve Hickoff, “Mounting Talent,” Turkey Call

This annual taxidermy competition held at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show is sponsored by HuntStand.

Enter the competition today at taxidermy.nwtf.org/

2024 Winners

People’s Choice Award

Winner: Sam Moore


Wild Turkey Master of Masters Division

Winner: Seth French

Wild Turkey Masters Division

Best of Show: Nick Walker
Best Standing: Hunter Evans
Best Strutting: Nick Walker

Wild Turkey Professional Division

Best of Show: No Entry
Best Strutting: No Entry
Best Standing: No Entry

Wild Turkey Commercial Division

1st Place: No Entry

Wild Turkey Youth and Amateur Division

Amateur: No Entry
Youth (17 and under):
Piper Faulkner


White-tailed Deer Master of Masters Division

Winner: Cody Hodge

White-tailed Deer Masters Division

Best of Show: Chuck Mulkey
Best Open Mouth Deer: No Entry
Best Closed Mouth Deer: Chuck Mulkey

White-tailed Deer Professional Division

Best of Show: David Daniels
Best Open Mouth Deer: David Daniels
Best Closed Mouth Deer: R J Krajcsovics

White-tailed Deer Commercial Division

First Place: Kenny Crosby
Second Place: RJ Krajcsovic

White-tailed Deer Amateur and Youth Division

Amateur: Emma Maggard
Youth (17 and under):

Callmaking Competition

The NWTF’s Grand National Call making Competition is the premier competition of its kind in North America. A panel of experts in the fields of call making, calling and hunting evaluate entries and present more than 80 awards. A weekend filled with perpetuating the fine tradition of this folk art is celebrated by a competition, live auction and silent auction.

The Custom Call are available at customcalls.nwtf.org.

Auctions

Convention is the best way to find one-of-a-kind NWTF merchandise, firearms, hunts, vacations and more! Begin bidding today to find those items you can’t live without, while supporting the mission of the NWTF!

Grand National Live and Virtual Auctions

Browse and bid on one-of-a-kind hunts and experiences. There is something for everyone in our Grand National Live and Silent Auction with more items being added daily. So, be sure to check back often. The Virtual Auction will close on Friday February 16 at 8:30pm CST.

View all the auction items!

2024 National Convention and Sport Show Auctions

Browse live auctions items for the Camo and Pearls Luncheon, sponsored by Tactacam, and the Grand National Auction, sponsored by Silencer Central. If you see something that piques your interest, make sure to get your event tickets!

Also check out the Sport Show Daily Live Auctions, sponsored by Mossberg.

Search auctions and bid today!

Raffles

2024 Convention and Sport Show Credit Raffle

Win a gift certificate to be used at the exhibitor booths in the Sport Show or on any auction or raffle.

Learn More!

Grand National Auction $1,000 Raffle Package
Only 100 Packages will be sold!

  • Must be present at the Grand National event to win
  • One chance to win John Deere Gator (not exclusive to this raffle package – 300 tickets will be sold)
  • 100 general raffle tickets ($1,000 value)
  • 25 bonus raffle tickets (not available outside of a package)
  • Includes a Springfield XDS

Camo and Pearls $500 Raffle Package
Only 100 Packages will be sold!

  • Must be present at the Camo and Pearls event to win
  • One chance to win A Bass Pro Tracker (exclusive only to this raffle package)
  • 60 general raffle tickets ($600 value)
  • 15 bonus raffle tickets (not available outside of a package)
  • Includes a Taurus G3 MOGL Grip and Pearl Slide

Rodeo and Raffles $200 YETI Ice Bucket Raffle Package
Only 50 Packages will be sold!

  • Must be present at the Rodeo and Raffles event to win
  • $200 in Wall of Gun tickets
  • YETI Ice bucket ($150 value)
  • One chance at a gun

Rodeo and Raffles $100 Raffle Package

  • * Must be present at the Rodeo and Raffles event to win
  • * $200 in Wall of Gun tickets

Rodeo and Raffles $500 Raffle Package
Only 75 packages will be sold!

  • Must be present at the Rodeo and Raffles event to win
  • A chance at the Grand Prize Modern Buggy Camper  (exclusive only to this raffle package)
  • $1,000 in Wall of Gun tickets
  • Includes a Vortex Venom or Crossfire optic

Premier Gun Vault $500 Raffle Package
Only 100 packages will be sold!

  • Limited only to those attending the Premier Gun Vault event (must be present to win):
  • Includes a custom Berretta APX A1 FDE 9mm
  • 10 chances for a safe full of guns

(There will be 6 guns in a displayed safe including Benelli, Henry Repeating Arms, Franchi, TriStar and other top name brands. The gun safe will be delivered to the winner’s door.)

Purchase Raffle Packages Today!

2024 Convention Sponsors

Your Support Makes a Difference.

Become a Volunteer