How Turkey Calling Contests Work (and What You Can Learn From Them)
Posted 2026-03-05 by
Competitions can help you improve your sound and boost success in the spring woods
Matt Van Cise, arguably the greatest competition caller of all time, has won a record nine NWTF Grand Nationals Senior Division titles. What’s more, he’s an extremely accomplished hunter. Photo by NWTF.
At first glance, it might seem strange to see adults on a stage striving to imitate birds, competing for money and prizes. But no one ever said turkey hunters were normal.
And when you get past the flair and showmanship of a turkey calling contest, you realize that these competitions are rooted in hunting tradition and serve a valuable role for the future.
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HISTORY AND RULES
Turkey calling contests are nothing new. In fact, the first World Championship Turkey Calling Contest was held in 1940 in Mobile, Alabama. The contest continues today. In 2025, 46 calling competitions sanctioned by the National Wild Turkey Federation were held across the country. Winners or other high-placing callers from these events qualify to call in the Senior or Friction divisions at the Super Bowl of turkey calling: the NWTF Grand Nationals Turkey Calling Championships, held every February in Nashville, Tennessee.
Contests have a straightforward format. Callers can compete in several divisions, including youth, hunter (or amateur), state, state friction, open and open friction. Obviously, friction contests are limited to friction (box and pot) calls. Open contests are open to any device.
Contestants draw random numbers and then compete in order. Caller No. 1 always draws a second number, as the first calling run is not counted. Contestants compete on stage in front of a live audience, which might vary in size from a handful of folks at regional contests to several thousand in Nashville. Callers are asked to perform their best rendition of three to five turkey vocalizations, which might include cutting, the plain yelp, tree call, excited yelp of a hen, cluck and purr, kee-kee run, fly-down cackle, aggressive purr, gobbler or jake yelping, or scenarios that combine several calls. Five to seven judges are seated behind a curtain, in a judge’s pit or otherwise unseen offstage. They judge each compulsory call on a scale of 1 to 20. Scores are then totaled, and the high and low scores tossed out. If a tie occurs, callers compete in a call-off to determine their final placing.
Calling contests are a great way to get youngsters more involved in turkey hunting. Here, Easton Phillips competes on the GNCC stage. Photo by NWTF.
WHY CONTESTS REMAIN IMPORTANT
Calling competitions have lost some of their popular appeal compared to their peak in the 1990s, during the heart of the turkey restoration era, when audiences would jam gymnasiums and auditoriums even at regional contests. However, they still serve very important roles in turkey hunting’s culture.
First, if you’re into turkey hunting, they’re entertaining. All turkey hunters are callers, after all, and watching top competitors produce ultra-realistic turkey talk with no mistakes can really fire you up for spring. And for a calling geek, going to a contest is like a golfer attending The Masters.
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Second, and most important, calling contests are educational. They show hunters the type of sound, rhythms and routine you can achieve on a turkey call. And they inspire callers of any level to improve their skills. Critics might say lessons from contests aren’t as important nowadays, when so many live-turkey sound files are available online, and hunting has become comparatively easier thanks to pop-up blinds, ultra-realistic decoys and other factors. Nonsense. Calling is the heart and soul of turkey hunting. Being a polished, realistic caller will never hurt you. Many days, it’s the difference between success and failure. Conversely, limited calling chops can drag you down. So why wouldn’t you want to call to the best of your ability?
Calling contests and contestants can help you achieve that. Watch and listen to their routines. Note how they mix calls together and inject excitement and emotion into their routines. After the competition, ask them for advice or demonstrations. Guaranteed, they’ll be happy to help, no matter your skill level.
Callers can compete in several divisions, including a friction-call-only contest. Here, Dylan Bearden displays his 2026 GNCC Friction Division championship. Photo by NWTF.
CONTEST ADVANTAGE
You might not ever compete in a turkey calling contest, but consider attending some. The sounds and routines of the competitors can open your eyes to many calling possibilities and inspire growth as a hunter and caller. Plus, you’ll have a lot of fun and meet many like-minded turkey nuts. That might not rival a day in the spring woods, but it’s awfully close.
