Wisconsin Man Wins Top Friction Turkey Calling Championship

Photo available upon request.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After displaying nerves of steel and amazing skill, Scott Wilhelm, from Chppewa Falls, Wis., was crowned champion in the Friction division at the Grand National Turkey Calling Championships in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 18.

Each year, the National Wild Turkey Federation hosts the Grand National Turkey Calling Championships during the NWTF National Convention and Sport Show. Dozens of the world's best adult and youth turkey callers gather to test their skills in front of a panel of expert judges.

"When we call the name of a new grand national champion, the atmosphere in the room in electric," said George C. Thornton, NWTF CEO. "It takes a special talent and years of practice to master the sounds of wild turkey. To become a champion on our stage is the most prestigious honor a turkey caller can achieve."

This year, champions will be crowned in 10 divisions at the 35th annual NWTF convention, which is sponsored by MidwayUSA and housed at the Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

In the Friction division, callers use pot and peg calls and box calls to imitate yelps, cackles, clucks and other wild turkey sounds. Overall, the winners from each division competed for their share of more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

The NWTF National Convention and Sport Show attracts tens of thousands of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who explore a sport show that's larger than four football fields, meet their favorite celebrities from the hunting industry and watch the world's best turkey callers compete.

In 2012, the 36th annual NWTF National Convention and Sport Show will return to Nashville and the Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Feb. 9 to Feb. 12.

State Calling Contest Winners 2011

Recently the State Chapter held it's State Convention at Ho-Chunk Resort & Convention Center in WI Dells. Below are the photos and results of the 2011 State Calling Competition winners.

Jakes Art Contest Winners

Here are your 2011 State Jakes Art Contest Winners!

Midwest Call Making Video

NWTF Call Making Contest and Silent Auction-2011 WI Convention.

Click the picture for full video.

Wisconsin chapter volunteer Peggy Hoyer introduces me to the call making contest and silent auction at the Wisconsin Chapter 2011 Convention, my first NWTF event.

If you love calls, you will be a kid in a candy store! I don't know what was better: the fact that you can try before you bid, that you can get custom calls for modest bids or that you can talk with call makers such as Dave Constantine, Don Bald, Dave Tyree, Jim Groenier and many, many others.

I successfully bid on a matched set of box calls from Tony Quarino (3rd Place in category) and on a boat paddle from Scott Berry (5th place in category) and spent a C-note...that's less than what you'd spend in a store.

Learn techniques from callers and call makers.

Scott Wilhelm shows some of the stuff that helped him win the Friction Call contest at the NWTF Wisconsin Chapter 2011 Convention, as well as gives his "spiel" on slate calling 101. I believe he is using a slate call made by David Tyree. Scott was talking with Don Bald when I caught up with him.

Click below to watch.