 In
Columbus, Ohio, wild turkey callers from across North America took their
best shot at imitating the sounds of the wild turkey and the hoots of the
barred owl at the National Wild Turkey Federation¹s 25th Annual Convention
and Sport Show in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 15-18.
More than 100 contestants competed, but only a handful of the skilled and talented callers proved they are, "a call above the rest" in the 2001 Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships. "The calling contests are the highlight of the NWTF annual convention and sport show," said NWTF CEO Rob Keck. "These championships allow the top callers to be rewarded and recognized for their hard work and talent, but it¹s also a lot of fun for everyone involved." Chris Parrish of Centralia, Mo., took the Senior Division title for the second straight year. Besides a trophy, he also won $5,000 for his efforts. Parrish has finished in the top five every year for the past six years. The 42 contestants in this championship all have earned their way into the competition by winning local and state NWTF-sanctioned turkey calling contests. Proving to be a true champion, Dick Kirby of Orchard Park, N.Y., was named Grand National Calling Champion of Champions. This elite category consists of past Grand National Senior Champions, past World Open Division Champions or past Natural Voice World Champions. Kirby, founder of Quaker Boy Game Calls, is a past Grand National calling champion. Callers were judged on their performance of a medley of different turkey calls and use of callers. Kirby received a beautiful trophy and $1,000. Ricky Joe Bishop of Warm Springs, Ga., along with his partner Michael Waddell of Columbus, Ga., joined forces and won the 2001 Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Team Challenge Calling Championships. Bishop and Waddell split $3,000 in prize money. Contestants were given three actual hunting situations‹Lone Gobbler, Locate and Scatter a Flock and Gobbler Sound Off. They were also required to perform a series of compulsory calls. The winners were scored based on completion of required calls, realistic wild turkey sound and cadence, quality and precision and creativity. Rewarded for mimicking the sounds of the barred owl, Don Lauderdale of Camden, Ala., took home the first prize trophy in the Owl Hooting Championship. Contestants were judged on their ability to make the sound of a barred owl. Because owls and turkeys are natural enemies, an owl sound is often used to make a wild turkey tom gobble.] Preston Pittman of Pickens, Miss., won the 2001 Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Gobbling Contest. The Gobbling Contest is a light-hearted competition where contestants mimic the sounds and gestures of the wild turkey tom. Entrants perform for two minutes and are scored by a panel of five celebrity judges. Pittman, who is also last year¹s Champion of Champions, won the Gobbling Contest in 1997 and 1998 and was recently featured on Comedy Central¹s The Daily Show. Wild Turkey Bourbon has sponsored the Senior Calling, Champion of Champions,
Team Challenge, Owl Hooting and Gobbling championships conducted by the
NWTF since 1994.
For more information contact: www.fastarchery.org
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