Dear Callers:
The following are a few updates for this year’s GNCC being held February 15-17, 2018, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Please read all of the rules and take note of the rules for the contest or contests in which you intend to compete this year. With these changes, we have committed to no further changes to the contest formats or their rules for at least three (3) years.
· This year’s Team Challenge contest will be held on Friday evening beginning at
5:30 p.m. with a callers’ meeting at 5:00 p.m.
· Caller number drawing for each contest will be done in a randomly selected order, not by last name.
· This year’s Senior Finals judging format will be changed to a blind/unknown judging format with the judges turning to face and critique the callers once their run has been completed.
· This year’s Senior Finals call format will be changed to a scenario style. There will be three possible scenarios that the caller might have to perform. From those three, two will be selected 24 hours prior to the contest. For possible scenarios please see Open Finals rules and regulations section of this packet.
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 2018 NWTF Convention and Sport Show, including online registration and maps, can be found by going to our website www.nwtf.org; click on the link for the convention.
We will see you in Nashville. Good luck to all callers!
2018 Grand National
Turkey Calling Championships
1. 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 Friction, Senior Division, Team Challenge, Gobbling, Owl Hooting and Head-to-Head champions are chosen.
These regulations are published to create high standards for all turkey calling competitions.
2. 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.
3. 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, Judges must use ink pens on all scoring sheets.
4. REGISTRATION
To compete in the Grand National Championships, one MUST preregister 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 regulations.
5. CONTEST LOCATION
All calling contests will be held in the Governor’s Ballroom of the Gaylord Opryland. 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.
Rules and Guidelines for all 2018 NWTF
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 applicant is 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 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.
2018 NWTF Grand National
Senior Division Competition Sponsored by: Zink Calls & Avian X
Entry Fee
· A $250 entry fee is required with registration.
Requirements/Eligibility
· Contestants must be at least 21 years old on or before February 13, 2018.
· Contestants must be current members of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
· Any person who was a first-place winner or finished second to an already qualified contestant or third in a contest with 10 or more contestants in a qualifying NWTF Sanctioned Open or State division contest from January 1, 2017 until January 13, 2018 is eligible to compete in this year’s Senior preliminary contest. Previous Grand National Senior Division, World Open Division and Head-to-Head Championship calling champions are eligible. Past champions of Team Challenge, Head-to-Head, Intermediate, Youth, Junior, Amateur, Owl Hooting or Gobbling divisions are ineligible.
· The reigning NWTF Senior Division Grand National Champion and World Open Champion are automatically qualified to call in the finals division and may call in the preliminary if he or she desires. Their score will not affect the top twelve (12) scores of the preliminary round.
· Contestants who qualified for the 2017 Senior Division finals are automatically qualified to compete in the 2018 Senior Division preliminary competition.
· All eligible contestants except the reigning Senior Division Grand National Champion must call in the preliminary round.
Preliminaries
· The Senior Division preliminaries will be held Friday, February 16, 2018 at 12 p.m. in the Governor’s Ballroom.
· A mandatory preparation meeting and roll call beginning at 11:30 a.m. will be held in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage for all Senior Division preliminary contestants.
Time Limits
· There will be a one-minute per-call time limit in the preliminary and final rounds. 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 last 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.
Calls
· Contestants will be judged on a minimum of four (4) calls in the preliminary contest and five (5) calls in the finals.
· 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: 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, tree call, fighting purr and jake yelp.
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 (Preliminaries Only).
· The five (5) remaining scores will be calculated for a final score (Preliminaries Only).
· NOTE: The Senior Finals will consist of 5 judges and each judges score will count towards the callers total score.
2018 NWTF Grand National
Senior Division Competition … (continued)
Finals
· The Senior Division Finals will be held Saturday, February 17, 2018 immediately following the Friction Finals, which begin at 1:00 p.m., in the Governor’s Ballroom.
· A mandatory preparation meeting and roll call beginning at 12:30 p.m. will be held in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage for all Senior Division Finals contestants.
· A new number will be drawn before the final round by each of the top twelve (12) finalists and the reigning Grand National Senior Division Champion and World Champion immediately before the Senior Finals competition begins.
Scenario Format
Scenario #1 – Hen wakes on a limb and flies down into a field and begins feeding.
- Tree Call
- Fly Down Cackle
- Cluck and Purr
- Plain Yelp of a Hen
Scenario #2 – Scattered fall flock of juvenile birds regroup in a field. Two Jakes begin fighting for dominance.
- Adult Hen Assembly Yelp
- Kee Kee Run
- Jake Yelp
- Fighting Purr
Scenario #3 – Lone hen enters a field. An intruder hen joins her aggressively and causes a confrontation.
- Plain Yelp of a Hen
- Excited Yelp of a Hen
- Cutting of an Excited Hen
- Fighting Purr
**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 2016 NWTF Grand National Senior Division Calling Champion will receive a beautiful custom champion ring.
*The National Wild Turkey Federation retains the right to modify or change any portion of this section.
2018 NWTF Grand National
Friction Division Competition Sponsored by: Zink Calls & Avian X
Entry Fee
· A $250 entry fee is required with registration.
Requirements/ Eligibility
· The contestant must be at least 21 years old on or before February 16, 2018.
· The contestant must be a current member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
· Any person who was a first place winner or finished second to an already qualified caller or third in a contest with 10 or more contestants in a qualifying NWTF Sanctioned Open, State, Friction or Grand National Senior Division calling contest from January 1, 2017 until January 13, 2018 is eligible.
· The top five place finishers in the 2016 NWTF Grand National Friction Division Championships are automatically eligible.
· The reigning NWTF Friction Division Grand National Champion and World Friction Champion are automatically qualified to call in the finals division and may call in the preliminary if he or she desires. Their score will not affect the top twelve (12) scores of the preliminary round.
· Team, Intermediate, Youth, Junior, Amateur, Owl Hooting, Gobbling or other various divisions are ineligible.
Preliminaries
· The Friction Division preliminaries will be held Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 1 p.m., in the Governor’s Ballroom.
· A mandatory preparation meeting and roll call beginning at 12:30 p.m. will be held in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage for all Senior Division preliminary contestants.
Finals
· The Friction Division Finals will be held Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 1 p.m., in the Governor’s Ballroom.
· A mandatory preparation meeting and roll call beginning at 12:30 p.m. will be held in the Governor’s Ballroom at the front of the stage for all Friction Division Finals contestants.
· A new number will be drawn before the final round by each of the top twelve (12) finalists and the reigning Grand National and World Friction Division Champion immediately before the senior finals competition begins.
Time Limits
· There will be a one-minute per-call time limit. 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 last 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.
Calls
· Contestants will be judged on a minimum of four (4) calls 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: 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, tree call, fighting purr and Jake yelp.
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.
· The highest and lowest scores from the seven (7) judges will be discarded.