Dear Callers:

Enclosed are the rules and regulations and an application to compete in the 2018 Grand National Calling Championships. Please read all of the rules and take note of the rules for the contest or contests in which you intend to competethis year. With the changes contained within this packet, we have committed to no further changes to the contest formats or their rules for at least three (3) years.

All calling contests will be held in the Governor’s Ballroomof the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The Governor’s Ballroom is in the Delta Section of the Convention Center. Caller registration packets should be picked up at the main registration desk in the Delta Lobby of the Hotel.

  • PLEASE NOTE:For the 2018 NWTF GNCC Poults and Junior divisions there will be no entry fee. Also, there will be fixed prize payouts that can be found in the Poults and Junior section of the following rules
  • PLEASE NOTE: This year’s Head-to-Head contest will be modified to fit contest time restrictions. The first two rounds will be run as a single elimination bracket. We will then take the remaining 8 callers and run a double elimination bracket. This contest will still be a lottery drawing with the previous year’s champions getting a guaranteed bid.
  • Contestants calling in a tie-breaking call off will be asked to produce 3 new calls that will be drawn randomly by the EMCEE (each caller will execute the same three calls)

We are looking forward to this year’s contest in Nashville, and we hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please call contest co-chairs Brian Lovett at (920) 379-5808 or email at , or Mark Prudhomme at (833) 833-4383 or email at .

Complete information regarding the 2018NWTF Convention and Sport Show, including online registration and maps, can be found by going to our website click on the link for the convention.

We will see you in Nashville. Good luck to all callers!

2018 Grand National

Turkey Calling Championships

I.INTRODUCTION

Purpose of Regulations

The regulations contained herein set forth rules and procedures governing the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships through which the Grand National Poults, Junior Intermediateare chosen.

These regulations are published to create high standards for all turkey calling competitions.

II.FAILURE TO COMPLY

Any entrant failing to comply with contest regulations shall be disqualified from the contest and will be considered ineligible by the judging panel.

III.JUDGING

Judges will be selected by the NWTF for each contest. Each judge selected will be of high personal integrity and superior reputation, and exhibit excellent interest and knowledge of wild turkeys and turkey calling. The judging panel will be announced just prior to competition. From the minimum of five judges' scores awarded to each contestant, the highest and lowest score will be thrown out with only the remaining mean scores being counted. All judges must use ink pens on all scoring sheets.

IV.REGISTRATION

To compete in the Grand National Championships, one MUSTpreregister and pay registration fees via mail, email or fax by January 12, 2018 at 5 p.m. EST, or you may contact NWTF National Headquarters by phone 803-637-3106 or fax request to 803-637-9960. Registration will NOT be available at the convention.

*The National Wild Turkey Federation retains the right to modify or change any portion of the rules and guidelines.

Rules and Guidelines for all 2018NWTF
Grand National Calling Championships.

Mandatory Callers’ Meeting, Roll Call & Order of Calling
  • Roll call will be taken at the callers meeting prior to each contest. Callers must be present at this roll call and meeting.
  • A second roll call will be taken just prior to the drawing of the numbers by the contestants. Any caller not present at the second roll call may be disqualified from the contest.
  • Contestants will draw numbers to determine their calling position.
  • The contestant drawing number one (1) will immediately draw a second number. They will call in both positions. Only the score derived while calling the second calling position will count for score.
  • Please note: If number one (1) is not drawn by a contestant, then a re-draw will be held until the number one (1) is drawn.
  • Do not leave the drawing area until it is determined that a re-draw is not necessary.
Refund policy
  • The total amount is refundable if the applicantis unable to participate in the competition and if notice is given prior to roll call for the registered contest.
Registration
  • To compete in the Grand National Calling Championships, all contestants MUST PREREGISTER via mail, email or fax. Registration will NOT be available at the convention.
  • The entry fee and the official registration form must be received by the NWTF on or before January 12, 2018 at 5 p.m. EST.
  • Registration fees also include admission to the seminars and unlimited access to the convention exhibit hall. Banquet and auction tickets must be purchased separately.
  • Payment should be made payable to the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Requirements

  • All contestants competing in the GNCC must be a current member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
  • All contestants must meet the age requirements set forth for each competition.
Ties
  • All scoring ties determining award places will be broken by a call-off.
  • Those contestants with equal total scores will be called back on stage in the same calling order.
  • Each contestant will be asked to produce 3 new calls that will be drawn randomly by the EMCEE (each caller will execute the same three calls).
  • The contestant with the highest point total will be declared the winner of that place.
  • Scores obtained in the call-off are used solely to break ties.
  • Call-off scores are not figured in determining the total score.
Winners
  • The caller with the highest point total from the final round will be declared the 2018 Champion of their respective competition.
  • The person with the second highest score will be declared the first runner-up.
  • The person with the third highest score will be declared the second runner-up.
  • The person with the fourth highest score will be declared the third runner-up.
  • The person with the fifth highest score will be declared the fourth runner-up.

2018National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National

Intermediate Calling Championships Sponsored by Mossy Oak

Requirements/Eligibility
  • Contestants must be a current JAKES or regular member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
  • Contestant must be between the ages of 16 and 20 years of age as of February 13, 2018.
Entry Fees
  • A $100 entry fee is required with registration.
When
  • The Intermediate Division competition will be held Saturday, February 17, 2018,immediately following the Junior Division.
  • There will be a mandatory preparation meeting and roll call beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage for all Intermediate contestants.
Calls
  • The contestants will be judged on a minimum of four (4) calls.
  • The calls will be selected from among the following: plain yelp of the hen, cutting of excited hen, adult hen assembly call, fly-down cackle, kee kee run, cluck and purr, yelp of excited hen and tree call.
  • Callerswill perform a medley of calls.
  • Calls will be posted in front of the calling contest stage at 5 p.m. the day before the contest.
Time Limit
  • There will be a one-minute per-set of calls time limit for each contestant. The clock will begin on the first note of the first call and stop on the acknowledgment of the caller that they are finished with their medley of calls.
  • The NWTF reserves the right to use a clock showing the time remaining. A5-point penalty will be added to the final score of any contestant going over the time limit.
Scoring
Judges will score on a 1-20 scale, with 20 as the highest score possible.
Scorers will calculate each judge’s score after each caller finishes.
The highest and lowest scores from the seven (7) judges will be discarded.
The five (5) remaining scores will be calculated for a final score.
Prizes
  • Prize money will be 80% of the entry fees collected for the division and distributed to the five(5)highest-scoring contestants. Trophies will be awarded to the top five finishing contestants.

*The National Wild Turkey Federation retains the right to modify or change any portion of this section.

2018 National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National

Junior Calling Championships Sponsored by Mossy Oak

Requirements/Eligibility

  • Contestants must be a current JAKES member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
  • Contestants must be between 11 and 15 years of ageas of February 13, 2018.
Entry Fees
  • There is no entry fee for this division.

When

  • The Junior Division competition will be held Saturday, February 17,2018immediately following the Poult Division contest, which begins at 9 a.m.
  • There will be a mandatory prep meeting and roll call beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage for all Junior Division contestants.

Calls

  • The contestants will be judged on a minimum of four (4) calls.
  • The calls will be selected from among the following: plain yelp of the hen, cutting of excited hen, adult hen assembly call, fly-down cackle, kee kee run, cluck and purr, yelp of excited hen and tree call.
  • The caller may be asked to do a medley of calls at a judge's discretion.
  • Calls will be drawn and posted in front of the calling contest stage at 5 p.m. the day before the contest.

Time Limit

  • There will be a one-minute per-call time limit for each contestant. The clock will begin on the first note of the first call and stop on the acknowledgment of the caller that they are finished with their series of calls.
  • The NWTF reserves the right to use a clock showing the time remaining. A5-point penalty will be added to the final score of any contestant going over the time limit.

Scoring

Judges will score on a 1-20 scale, with 20 as the highest score possible.

Scorers will calculate each judge’s score after each caller finishes.

The highest and lowest scores from the seven (7) judges will be discarded.

The five (5) remaining scores will be calculated for a final score.

Prizes

  • Prize money will be: 1st place $150, 2nd place $100, 3rd place $75, 4th place $50 and 5th place $25.Trophies will be awarded to the top five finishing contestants.

*The National Wild Turkey Federation retains the right to modify or change any portion of this section.

2018National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National

Poults Calling Championships Sponsored by Mossy Oak

Requirements/Eligibility

  • Contestants must be a current JAKES member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
  • Contestants must be 10 years of age or younger as of February 13, 2018.

Entry Fees

  • There is no entry fee for this division.

When

  • The Poults Division competition will be held Saturday, February 18, 2018at 9 a.m.
  • There will be a mandatory prep meeting and roll call beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage for all Poults Division contestants.

Calls

  • The contestants will be judged on a minimum of four (4) calls.
  • The calls will be selected from among the following: plain yelp of the hen, cutting of excited hen, adult hen assembly call, fly-down cackle, kee kee run, cluck and purr, yelp of excited hen and tree call.
  • The caller may be asked to do a medley of calls at a judge's discretion.
  • Calls will be drawn and posted in front of the calling contest stage at 5 p.m. the day before the contest.

Time Limit

  • There will be a one-minute per-call time limit for each contestant. The clock will begin on the first note of the first call and stop on the acknowledgment of the caller that they are finished with their series of calls.
  • The NWTF reserves the right to use a clock showing the time remaining. A5-point penalty will be added to the final score of any contestant going over the time limit.

Scoring

Judges will score on a 1-20 scale, with 20 as the highest score possible.

Scorers will calculate each judge’s score after each caller finishes.

The highest and lowest scores from the seven (7) judges will be discarded.

The five (5) remaining scores will be calculated for a final score.

Prizes

  • Prize money will be: 1st place $100, 2nd place $75, 3rd place $50, 4th place $25 and 5th place $15. Trophies will be awarded to the top five finishing contestants.

*The National Wild Turkey Federation retains the right to modify or change any portion of this section.

2018 NWTF Grand National

Head-to-Head Championship Sponsored by Cabela’s

Registration

  • A $150 entry fee is required with registration.
  • This year’s Head-to-Head contest will be drawn by lottery. If you would like to participate in this year’s contest please select the box for Head-to-Head and pay the required registration fee. If you do not get chosen in the lottery your registration fee for that contest will be refunded.

Requirements / Eligibility

  • Contestants may be of any age to compete in the Head to Head Championship
  • The previous year’s champion is automatically seeded in the following years
  • The contestant must be a current member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

When

  • The Head to Head Competition will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. in The Governor’s Ballroom.
  • A mandatory preparation meeting and roll call will begin at 7:30 a.m. for all contestants in The Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage.

Format

  • Lottery drawing will be used for seating and for calling order.
  • The first two rounds will be single elimination. The remaining 8 callers will continue the contest in a double elimination bracket.

Time Limits

  • Each caller will be given thirty (30) seconds to produce each call before proceeding to the next call. The clock will begin on the first note of the first call and stop on the acknowledgment of the caller that they are finished.
  • The EMCEE will notify you if you have gone over the allotted time limit.

Calls

  • The contestants will be judged on a minimum of three calls (3) in the contest.
  • Calls will be drawn and posted in front of the calling contest stage at 5 p.m. the day before the contest.
  • The calls will be selected from among the following: tree call before flying down time, plain yelp of the hen, cutting of excited hen, adult hen assembly call, fly-down cackle, kee kee run, cluck and purr, yelp of excited hen.
  • The three calls will change each round of the competition.
  • Both callers will perform each call before moving on to the next call.

Judging

  • Five (5) judges will grade each caller. Judges will choose which caller sounded most like a real turkey for each individual call.
  • The first contestant to win two of the three calling sessions moves forward.
  • The championship round will consist of the winner of the winner’s bracket and the winner of the loser’s bracket. The caller from the loser’s bracket must beat the winner’s bracket winner twice to win the championship. The winner’s bracket winner needs to win just once in the finals for the championship.
  • The winner of each round will be announced immediately after the round has ended.

**Prizes

  • Prize money will be 80% of the entry fees collected for the division and distributed to the four (4)highest-scoring contestants. Trophies will be awarded to the top four finishing contestants.

2018 NWTF Grand National

Gobbling Championship Sponsored by: Zink Calls & Avian X

Registration

  • A $100 entry fee is required with registration.

Requirements/Eligibility

  • Contestants of any agemay compete in the Gobbling Championship.
  • Contestants must be current members of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

When

  • The Gobbling Competition will be held Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 9 a.m. in the Governor’s Ballroom.
  • A mandatory preparation meeting and roll call will begin at 8:30 a.m. for all Gobbling contestants in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage.

Calls

  • Contestants will be judged on their ability to imitate the gobble of the wild turkey.

Time Limit

  • There will be a one-minute time limit for each contestant. The clock will begin on the first note of the first call and stop on the acknowledgment of the caller that they are finished with their call.
  • The NWTF reserves the right to use a clock showing the time remaining. A 5-point penalty will be added to the final score of any contestant going over the time limit.

Scoring

Judges will score on a 1-50 scale, with 50 as the highest score possible.

Scorers will calculate each judge’s score after each caller finishes.

The highest and lowest scores from the seven (7) judges will be discarded.

The five (5) remaining scores will be calculated for a final score.

**Prizes

  • Prize money will be 80% of the entry fees collected for the division and distributed to the five(5)highest-scoring contestants. Trophies will be awarded to the top five finishing contestants.

*The National Wild Turkey Federation retains the right to modify or change any portion of this section.

2018 NWTF Grand National

Owl Hooting Championship Sponsored by: Zink Calls & Avian X

Registration

  • A $100 entry fee is required with registration.

Requirements/Eligibility

  • Contestants of any agemay compete in the Owl Hooting Championship.
  • Contestants must be current members of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

When

  • The Owl Hooting competition will be held Thursday, February 15, 2018, in the Governor’s Ballroom immediately following the Gobbling Competition, which starts at 9 a.m.
  • A mandatory preparation meeting and roll call will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Governor’s Ballroom, at the front of the stage, for all Owl Hooting contestants.

Calls