While digging around for my electric brake controller manual, I came across a program I had from the 14th NWTF convention in 1990, held in Charleston, SC. Looking through it, I saw a lot of names I haven't heard of in a while. Coming to the back, something caught my eye. It was the turkeyhunter code of ethics.
As a wild turkey hunter and a sportsman,
I will hunt the wild turkey fairly;
I will insist on a good shot;
I will handle firearms safely;
I will obey and support all game laws;
I will respect the land and the landowner;
I will avoid interferring with other hunters;
I will appreciate the beauty of the wild turkey;
I will share resonsible wild turkey hunting with others;
and
I will work for turkey conservation.
There were 44 contestants entered in the calling contest. Names like: Ernie Calandrelli, Joe Drake, Lamar Fussell, dick Kirby, Matt Morrett, Andrew Panek, Walter Parrott, Roy Rhodes, Alex Rutledge, Dewan and Eddie Salter, Steve Stolz, Lewis Stowe.
This was the real hayday. You had qualifing contest such as the Boll Weevil Classic, Wal-Mart Open Championship, Monroe County Fall Festival Championship, Cherokee Classic Open Championship and all of the states had a qualifier.
There was a total of 83 venders attending that consisted of companies like: 10X, Ashby Calls, Ben Lee Calls, Butski's Game Calls, Carlton's Calls, Cedar Hill Game Calls Co., Chatterbox Turkey Calls, Crowslayer Calls, Eddie Salter Calls, Golden Gobbler Turkey Calls, Haas Outdoors, Heart of Dixie Turkey Calls, Hunter Specialties, Lohman Manufacturing Co., M. L. Lynch, Perfection Turkey Calls, Primos Wild Game Calls, Quaker Boy, Ray Eye Enterprises, Southland Callers, Super Yelper Turkey Calls, Trebark, Widowmaker Turkey Calls.......just to name a few. I wish I knew then what I know now.....
That's when the NWTF was going all out and people were enthused about them and willing to work. Those were the good ol' days. Video tapes were just starting to come out. Wil Primos's "The Truth About Turkey Hunting II" was just out. Some names we know today were there along with some that we never hear mentioned anymore. And probably some were yet to come. Walter Parrott was already a 2 time Grand National Champion and Paul Butski was a 3 time GN Champion.
