The 35th Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show in Richmond Aug. 10-12 drew thousands of people to the Richmond raceway Complex to explore the hundreds of vendor booths, see informative visits, or sit on on secret-sharing seminars.
While the four exhibit halls were packed downstairs, a few dozen people upstairs were making engaged in the serious business of turkey calling. The Virginia state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation was staging its annual calling contest championships. Top competitors from throughout the Mid-Atlantic were battling head-to-head across multiple divisions. The winners received beautiful plaques (designed and built by Sandy Brady) cash and other prizes. This was a sanctioned contest and a prelude to the Grand National competition at the NWTF National Convention in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Complex next February.
Competition categories included Jakes (youngsters); Intermediate, Friction Calling, Owl Hooting, Gobbling and the Senior Opens. The level of competition was incredible, so good that it's a wonder the Raceway Complex wasn’t being overrun with gobblers in the parking lots. Check out the video to see some of the contestants and winners in action. For a recap of last year's Grand National Calling Contest winners, click here.
Winners this year by category, include:
VA Open
1. Will Brizendine, King William VA
2. Tyler Presley, Front Royal VA
3. Bobby D. Woods, Dante VA
Senior Open
1. Tyler Presley, Front Royal VA
2. Bobby Woods, Dante VA
3. Shane Martinez, Sebring FL
VA Friction
1. Bobby Woods, Dante VA
2. Anthony Woods, Richlands VA
3. Carl LaRue, Leesburg VA
Friction Open
1. Carl LaRue, Leesburg VA
2. Anthony Woods, Richlands VA
3. Dylan Bearden, Reidsville NC
Intermediate
1. Matthew Presley, Front Royal VA
2. Zach Hayes, Chapel Hill NC
3. Colin Hazard, VA
JAKES
1. Isaac Willow, Richfield PA
2. Trevor Sheaffer, Richfield PA
3. Lucas Baker, SC
Gobbling
1. Rodney Eckstine, Greencastle PA
2. Tyler Presley, Front Royal VA
3. Brandon Tater Rich, Pfaffertown NC
Owl
1. Dylan Bearden, Reidsville NC
2. Brandon Tater Rich, Pfaffertown NC
3. Carl LaRue, Leesburg VA
Thanks to all contestants, judges, scorers, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, Dances Sports.
Tentative Date for the 2019 competition is August 10, according to Kevin Walter, organizer of this year's Virginia statewide contest.