Michael Gault sure is one amazing kid. 

During a weekend filled with personal successes, Gault, 13, of Jonesville, S.C., won the 2002 National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National Calling Championship in the Junior Division. Gault also won the Kansas Governor’s One-Shot Youth Turkey Hunt Winner during the previous night’s ceremonies. Gault won the hunt with his essay titled

The Junior Division, which is for callers 15-years-old and under, was held during the NWTF’s 26th Annual Convention and Sport Show in Charlotte, N.C., Feb. 22-24 and attracted 14 contestants from around the country.

Gault, who has been competing in turkey calling contests for four years, took home a trophy and a prize package for his 416-point win. “I knew I had a chance to make the finals, but I didn’t expect to win, especially since I left my whistle call at home and didn’t realize it until 30 minutes before the contest. But dad made me one in record time, so it turned out well in the end.”

In the Intermediate Division of the 2002 National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National Calling Championship, Jonathon Miller of Millers Creek, N.C., took first place honors. It was Miller’s first Grand National title in the competitive division, which featured 23 competitors. Miller took home a trophy and a prize package for his 443-point win.

The contests, judged by professional turkey callers from around the country, require each junior contestant to reproduce various sounds of a wild turkey in a realistic manner.

For more information about the NWTF or the 2003 NWTF Grand National Calling Championships to be held in Nashville, Tenn., February 13-16, call 1-800-THE-NWTF; and check out our website at www.nwtf.org or e-mail questions to nwtf@nwtf.net.

About the NWTF: In 1973 when the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of state wildlife agencies and the NWTF's many volunteers and partners, today there are an estimated 5.4 million wild turkeys and approximately 2.6 million turkey hunters. Since 1985, more than
$135 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 15,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys throughout North America.

The NWTF is a 390,000-member grassroots, nonprofit organization with members in 50 states, Canada and 11 foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.