Grand National Custom Callmaking Contest Continues Tradition at 2024 Convention

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Grand National Custom Callmaking Contest is set to captivate attendees at the 2024 National Wild Turkey Federation Convention. With over $40,000 in cash and prizes, this prestigious annual competition promises excitement and rewards for participants.

The Grand National Custom Callmaking Contest is set to captivate attendees at the 2024 National Wild Turkey Federation Convention. With over $40,000 in cash and prizes, this prestigious annual competition promises excitement and rewards for participants.

In 2023, the contest garnered over 1,400 entries spanning across five divisions and 92 categories, making it the world’s largest callmaking competition. Many call makers and artists who participated in the competition donated 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their pieces to the NWTF to support its mission.

For the 2024 convention, a dedicated committee was formed to oversee the turkey aspect of the competition. This committee is tasked with identifying prospective Hall of Fame inductees and proposing future rule changes for the contest. Leading this committee is Galen Braddy, who serves as the Chairman, bringing his expertise and leadership to shape the future of the competition. Having served as a judge for the callmaking contest for many years, Braddy’s valuable contributions were acknowledged, leading to his selection to assume the role of chairman.

“I am looking forward to working with the NWTF and it’s nationwide custom callmaking competition,” Braddy said. “This is the largest competition of its kind in the world and on display will be the work of the most talented call makers on this planet. It is truly a pleasure to be a part of this incredible event. I encourage everyone to come out and see and hear the incredible creations of these gifted people.”

The upcoming contest will maintain the addition of the JAKES category, Pinfeathers, in the Turkey Hunting division, following its successful introduction last year. This category holds a special significance as it allows a JAKES member (youth aged 17 and under) to team up with an adult NWTF member of their choosing to jointly craft a turkey call. Participants in the JAKES category have the flexibility to seek any level of assistance from their mentor to complete their entry. The winner of this category will be awarded a unique trophy bearing the engraved names of both the winner and their mentor, fostering interest in callmaking within the younger generation.

Additionally, the Wildlife Art division will continue this year with some changes. Each of the three categories—Carved or Carved and Painted, Two-Dimensional Art and Art/General—will function independently and $1,000 will be awarded to the first-place winner in each category. Subsequently, convention attendees will have the opportunity to cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award, selecting one winner from the three first-place awardees. The recipient of the People’s Choice Award will be featured in an issue of Turkey Call magazine. Detailed rules and size limitations for art submissions in this division can be accessed on the competition’s official website.

In addition to the main event, this year will feature a waterfowl raffle, offering calls valued at over $5,000 to the winner. The call makers contributing to this raffle are graciously donating their calls in full to the NWTF. Alongside this, the annual turkey call raffle will also take place. Starting January 1, 2024, tickets for both raffles will be available online.

Registration for the competition is currently open and will continue until February 6, 2024, for those who plan on mailing their pieces to the NWTF headquarters. You do not need to be at the convention to participate, although attendance is encouraged. Participation in the competition is exclusive for NWTF members.

The Grand National Custom Callmaking Contest has a rich history, dating back to the 1990s. Its inception was grounded in the dual purpose of advancing the mission of the NWTF and providing a national platform for call makers to showcase their exceptional talents.

Callmaking has been woven into the fabric of the NWTF; since the founding of the organization in 1973, call makers — be it individuals or companies — provided lifeblood to the NWTF in those early years, purchasing advertising space in Turkey Call magazine; donating thousands of calls for use as prizes, new-member sign-up premiums and auction items at fundraising events; presenting or assisting in giving seminars; playing major roles at conventions; and generally helping spread the NWTF’s message to eager turkey hunters. The dedication, spirit, innovation and craftsmanship of these call makers still rings true over 50 years later. 

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has conserved or enhanced over 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to drive wildlife conservation, forest resiliency and robust recreational opportunities throughout the U.S. by working across boundaries on a landscape scale.

2023 is the NWTF’s 50th anniversary and an opportunity to propel the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50-year celebration, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and NWTF’s people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us reach these lofty goals.