And The Winner Is ... Woodhaven
By Fred Lutger

Woodhaven's Sting-Team Was Number 1, 2 and 3 in The NWTF Grand National Calling Championships!

Mike Pentecost's grin shined brighter than the accumulation of gold trophies adorning the Woodhaven Custom Calls booth. The Woodhaven "Sting-Team" came together and accomplished what no other call company's pro callers have done before, swept the top three positions in  NWTF's Grand National Calling Championships senior division. (Woodhaven web site: www.woodhavencustomcalls.com)

Fred Lutger interviewing Mike Pentecost (Center) of Woodhaven Custom Calls. 

This wasn't a fluke. It was the reward of hard work, hard practice and Mike Pentecost's ability to put together the Sting Team, a team of the finest turkey callers in the world. Mike's team consists of Mat Van Cise, Grand Valley, PA, Sadler McGraw, Camden, AL, Billy Yargus, Ewing, MO, Jim Pollard, Heflin, AL and Doug Crabtree from Mansfield, OH.

WOODHAVEN STING TEAM: (Back Row) Kindell Keeton, Jim Pollard, Mike Pentecost, Matt Van Cise, Billy Yargas, Doug Crabtree and Shawn Hays. 
(Front Row) Cory Hoone and Kirstin Hays.

Mat Van Cise was this year's Grand National Champion, a repeat of the title he won last year. Sadler McGraw placed 2nd, followed by team member Billy Yargus's third place finish. This is the 2nd year in a row Yargus has finished in one of the top 3 places. Rounding out the top five finishers is Walter Parrott, Smiths, AL and Chris Parrish, Centralia, MO.

Pentecost is also proud of his Intermediate 3rd Place finisher, Philip Groves and the  Junior Division finishers Jimmy Pollard, second place, followed by Cory Hoone in third Place.

Pentecost not only brought together the world's best pro callers, he also strives to make his call company's products  the world's best. "The team around me is better people than just good callers. These are quality people dedicated to doing things right. If each call we make isn't the best we can make, it will end up in the garbage instead of a customers hands. I do a lot of experimenting to see what works and what doesn't." Mike added. "I strive to put more "turkey" in every call we make."

Woodhaven has also teamed up with the NWTF to produce a new line of plastic calls, the NWTF Field Grade Calls, by Woodhaven. "I don't know a lot about plastic," stated Mike. "But I do know calls. I will focus on what got me here, not putting a call in its package if it doesn't work."

Pentecost has also expanded his call line to include Collectable Calls. This demand was evident as people stood shoulder to shoulder at the Woodhaven booth purchasing this new addition to the Woodhaven line.

Tukey hunters make last minute call purchases at the Woodhaven booth.

"When customers tell each other about our calls it increases our orders. But I didn't anticipate this much demand," Mike said. 

I asked Mike about his future plans. "Get home and fill orders right away," was his reply. "I have turkey hunted for 27 years but now have less time to hunt because of work schedule and time with family. I want to grow the company but foremost keep up the quality of the products we make."

Mike and wife Robin live in Heflin, AL with their 6 ½ year old son Benjamin and their 2 ½ year old daughter, Micah.

To Contact Woodhaven:

Mike Pentecost
Woodhaven Custom Calls
PO Box 7, Heflin, AL 36264
Phone 256-463-5657
Web Site: www.woodhavencustomcalls.com
Email: info@woodhavencustomcalls.com
Request A Woodhaven Catalog: Click Here

TO ORDER Woodhaven Custom Calls click on www.freddiebearsports.com

Keep watching. Woodhaven has produced a new DVD "Springtime Victories" featuring the "Sting Team" on 28 exciting wild turkey hunts. I'll do a review on it soon.

~ Fred

For more information about the calling contest or the NWTF's convention, call 1-800-THE-NWTF.