A rant about hunting call classes

[fargobox]

Good luck this year on the friction stage Pat, looking forward to watching and hearing your perform.
Scott

[Old Geezer]

Three things, I have observed over 20 years of making and entering yelpers in the NWTF contest, that influences judges:

If the caller looks good it is better (sex sells).

If the caller weighs more it is better.

If the caller feels good in the users hands it is better.

These three things will make the difference in how well a call places in it's category.

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

Very interesting observations Ralph.  The way the human mind works they all make sense. I have witnessed this in the art/antique/artifact  market as well. 

[Old Geezer]

One more thing,  better to show under a judge that likes your type of dog, if you know what I mean.

The NWTF judges will be available on Friday the 17th from noon to 1PM, at the hunting call and decorative call areas.  (Yes, some judges are novices but that is the way things are.)  This time is a good opportunity to find out not only what they liked about your call, but what had gone against you in not making a cut or pulled you down in a category ranking.

Small things make a difference.   Some examples: if you have judges scores that are close together in a category, the difference between a placement can be one point.  That is when knowing if high pitched call or low pitched one, might be preferred by those judging, or for pots, if one type of surface, say copper or glass is liked.  Past judges and folks who really know how to run a call are good resources for critiquing a call.
   
In the decorative division.  To get ahead of those entries that are the same year after year but consistent winners, an entry must have the "Wow factor".   Learn new skills to incorporate into calls, new ways of presentation, visit museums, look to nature.  This is where you get ideas and find ways to move up in the categories of the decorative division.
In the end what matters is improving your call making.
Enter the contests, one never knows.


Ralph

[Jake St. John]

Good advise Ralph! That is the very reason I only entered my old school boxes for a couple of years. I developed one of my calls from hunting vast areas of willow flats and heavy stands of old hardwoods here in Mississippi, next to the Big River, for 40 years.  My calls are not "Sexy".  They are big, heavy, and you have to know how to play them. When I had a friend callmaker tell me that the judges came to my calls and 3 knew how to play them and 2 could not, I quit entering.  I make an old style call that suits the hunting style of some hunters.  In my college days, I learned to make duck calls under the late great southern duck call maker, Jimmy Riddell.  He would make 250-300 calls a year. In the Fall groups of hunters would come by to pick out a call.  He would say "Now watch these 5 boys, they will pick up the same call.  Each will take turns blowing it.  ALL will sound different on it.  - It will suit the style of ONE.  Nashville is a dog and pony show. Glad I do not have to judge TOP DOG. Mr. E

[boxcaller]

Outside of the panel of judges inside the curtains,....one of the more attractive things about the contest is that you let 50,000 people have access to your calls,..they can touch, feel, run them. It's the best 20 bucks you could spend if you want to exhibit your work to the public.

[GR8CALLS]

 I think I have read this thread at least four times. There was a time (when I first began judging working calls) that all the judges were gathered together and warned not to talk to each other, while judging. Those days a long gone! I haven't judged in two years, mainly because I was burned out but also because I was seeing judges discussing calls as they judged them. To me, this is a form of collusion and completely wrong. How pretty a call is or what materials it was made from or who made it, isn't what this competition was designed for! Let the chips fall where they may, LEAVE the politics at the door........judge the calls for what they were meant for.......killing turkeys! Either that, or throw the D.A.M.N. thing at a turkey and see how well that works for you!

Bill 

[ol bob]

Well put Bill until the get turkeys to judge it will never change.

[callmakerman]

I think I have read this thread at least four times. There was a time (when I first began judging working calls) that all the judges were gathered together and warned not to talk to each other, while judging. Those days a long gone! I haven't judged in two years, mainly because I was burned out but also because I was seeing judges discussing calls as they judged them. To me, this is a form of collusion and completely wrong. How pretty a call is or what materials it was made from or who made it, isn't what this competition was designed for! Let the chips fall where they may, LEAVE the politics at the door........judge the calls for what they were meant for.......killing turkeys! Either that, or throw the D.A.M.N. thing at a turkey and see how well that works for you!

Bill 

Very well said. Thank you.

[longbeard48]

I know that there are lots of scratch boxes that sound better than mine, but I just started this thread because SOME of those that I have played in the past did not sound as good, in my opinion, as mine did, and yet they were judged to be better than mine.  I want to be clear, here:  I am fully aware that there are much better sounding calls at the Grand Nationals than my Mississippi Scratch Boxes.  I don't mean to be crying on any shoulders, here, and my camo cap is off to the vast majority of the scratch box winners each year! 

[mspaci]

I would never ever enter a call, have no use for politics or proving myself to strangers. I only sell a few to people I know mostly, and only make them when I feel like it.  Some years I make none. Have heard numerous stories about having to pay your dues before getting wins, waiting your turn, etc. That just tells me the best calls dont win and its about who you know. They can have it & I`ll never join the NWTF either. 

[GR8CALLS]

I know that there are lots of scratch boxes that sound better than mine, but I just started this thread because SOME of those that I have played in the past did not sound as good, in my opinion, as mine did, and yet they were judged to be better than mine.  I want to be clear, here:  I am fully aware that there are much better sounding calls at the Grand Nationals than my Mississippi Scratch Boxes.  I don't mean to be crying on any shoulders, here, and my camo cap is off to the vast majority of the scratch box winners each year! 

 Tom

 I think there is something about waiting your turn...........whatever the heck that is! I have calls from most of the folks who win, it seems, perennially. Folks have asked me if there is club you have to be in to win and I answer, NO. But winning is good for business.  The competition is for the most part, stiff. With many times only a point or a half point separating first from second. The same goes for the lesser positions in each class. BUT, the NWTF does very little to vet judges and in many case, they have to scramble around to find judges at the last minute. When you do that, you are asking for problems and open up the discussion/rumor gates. Unfortunately, the main emphasis is still on Duck and Goose calls. The rank and file turkey hunters could care less!

Bill

[Callmakerjr]

So i started asking a lot of callmakers their opinions about entering calls if you part of the contest (judging, scoring, organizing, & Etc). I heard from a lot of guys saying they would advise against it. So i decided I am not going to even enter the GLO in March. I want to have a show that is build on integrity and trust worthy.