12th Annual Grand National NWTF Hunting
Duck & Goose Call Competition – Division IV
2016 Rules, Announcements and Categories
Sponsored by Callmakers & Collectors Association of America
I. Announcements
The Grand National NWTF Hunting Duck & Goose Call is a supportive category. This is a chance to support the NWTF
and gain national recognition by competing in exciting and challenging categories. All entries will be sold on silent or
live auction at a 50/50 split (unless entry fee waiver is elected for 100% donation) at the 2016 NWTF National
Convention. The 50/50 split entitles the call maker to 50% of the auction bid and the remaining 50% goes to support the
NWTF. Name recognition and competition placement (if applicable) will be displayed with each entry at the auction.
II. General Hunting Duck & Goose Call Competition rules:
1. All call makers are required to pre-register all entries they plan to enter in the 2016 competition with NWTF
Headquarters. The pre-registration deadline for all entries should be received no later than Jan. 15, 2016 at
NWTF Headquarters.
2. Call makers are responsible for selecting the category in which they wish to enter each call. The NWTF reserves
the right to place any call in a different category than the one designated by the entrant if the NWTF believes the
call is more correctly suited to a different category.
3. The call(s) may be presented in the contest on a presentation stand or box. These stands, boxes, bases will not be
judged for quality of craftsmanship and design and may be of commercial nature if desired, as their presence will
not influence the judging of the calls.
4. You may enter as many calls and as many categories as you wish.
5. Awards will be as follows:
Best of Show/Class – Grand National Champion Call Maker of the Year
 Grand National Championship Ring
 $500
 Trophy
 Medallion with ribbon
2nd Best of Show/Class – $250, trophy, medallion with ribbon
3rd Best of Show/Class – $150, trophy, medallion with ribbon
1st Place (each category) – $150, medallion with ribbon
2nd Place (each category) – Medallion with ribbon
3rd Place (each category) – Medallion with ribbon
Honorable Mention (each category) – Medallion with ribbon
2016 Outstanding Youth Decorative Duck & Goose Call Maker of the Year – National Champion award
medallion with ribbon
o All youth call makers will be awarded Honorable Mention medallion with ribbon
2016 Rookie Decorative Duck & Goose Call Maker of the Year – National Champion award medallion with
ribbon
o All first-time call makers will be awarded Honorable Mention medallion with ribbon
Hunting Duck & Goose Call – Grand National Champion of Champion Award
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$250
Trophy
Medallion with ribbon
National Champion of Champions Ring (winner may purchase)
6. It is necessary to list the estimated fair market value for all entries. Please provide this information on the
registration form.
7. The contest committee will establish BUY IT NOW prices for silent auction bid sheets. Every call will be sold to
the highest bidder OR the Buy It Now bidder. Call makers who are unable to attend the convention or are
concerned that their call(s) may sell for less than market value are encouraged to use the Absentee Bid Form.
If a call maker uses the Absentee Bid Form, the value of the absentee bid will be the starting value placed on the
call. In the event that the call does not get a bid higher than the absentee bid, the call maker will be purchasing
the call back at that price.
8. NEW: Hand Delivering of calls **** ONE DAY ONLY AND TIME EXTENDED: The call maker or their
designated person may deliver pre-registered calls in person to the Grand National Custom Call Registration Desk
outside the Exhibit Hall Ryman B4 from 3-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10.
9. Call makers unable to attend the convention may mail their pre-registered entries to be received by NWTF
Headquarters no later than Jan. 15th. All entries will be opened at the convention site.
● NEW REQUEST THIS YEAR: If you are mailing your calls to NWTF Headquarters (deadline to be
received no later than January 15th), please place a note on the outside of each call to indicate what division
and category you intend for that call to be placed in. This will help speed the process up at convention
when staff are placing calls on tables in respective categories.
 If you are mailing your calls to NWTF, please DO NOT PLACE YOUR REGISTRATION FORM inside the
package you are mailing. Instead, place your registration form in an envelope and tape it to the outside of the
package and mail to: NWTF Grand National Hunting Duck & Goose Call Competition, 770 Augusta Road,
Edgefield, SC 29824. Packages can be sent Priority, UPS or Fed Ex OR
 If you are not mailing your calls, send your registration form to: NWTF Grand National Hunting Duck &
Goose Call Competition, PO Box 530, Edgefield, SC 29824.
10. All entries shipped to the NWTF will be opened at the convention site.
11. It is the call maker’s responsibility to place an acceptable insurance value on the entry for shipping purposes. The
NWTF will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to entries that are beyond the control of the contest.
12. All entries will be required to remain at the Convention until Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016.
13. Buyers will be allowed to pay for and pick up calls bought beginning 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 14.
14. Call makers wishing to place a description card with their calls for judging may include a 5 x 7 card describing
the entry. Please include your name and category entered on the back of the card. Only one card per entry.
 All call makers are encouraged to submit a brief description of the call they are entering. Information must
include the call makers name and address along with a description of call including types of materials used in
the call and any information that will enhance the sale should the call be selected for the Grand National
Custom Call Auction. Information should be submitted on a 5” x 7” note card or ½ page maximum.
15. *** NEW LOCATION AND SET UP: The Grand National Custom Call Live Auction will be moved to
Delta A Lobby and set up by 5:30 p.m. on Friday. This will enable us to showcase the calls to over 1,500
Grand National Auction Attendees. Winners of the 12th Annual NWTF Grand National Custom Call Maker
Competition will be announced about 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 at the 13th Annual Premier Custom Call
Auction in Delta A Lobby (NEW LOCATION).
16. Outstanding Youth Hunting Duck & Goose Call Maker of the Year Award. This award will recognize an
outstanding youth call maker 17 years of age or less at the time of the convention. The winner will receive a
Youth – National Champion Medallion with ribbon. In addition, all youth call makers will receive an Honorable
Mention medallion with ribbon for participating. Call maker must indicate on the registration form if he/she is
entering as a youth contestant.
17. Rookie Hunting Duck & Goose Call Maker of the Year Award. This award will recognize an outstanding call
maker who enters the Grand National Call Competition for the first time. The winner will receive a Rookie –
National Champion Medallion with ribbon. All other first-time call makers will receive an Honorable Mention
medallion with ribbon for participating. Call makers must indicate on the registration form this is the first time
he/she is entering a call in the Grand National Call Competition.
18. Judges will be asked to be available to meet with contestants and answer questions from noon-1 p.m. Friday,
Feb. 12, 2016.

Entry fees: NWTF Member entry fee is $20 per call. Please note all entries are 50% supportive unless the
call maker specifies the entry is 100% donation. If entry or entries are 100% donated, entry fee is waived
and NWTF retains 100% of proceeds from the sale of the call.

NON-NWTF Member entry fee is $30 per call. Please note if a non-member submits 2 or more entries,
NWTF will provide a FREE NWTF membership ($35 value includes 6 issues of Turkey Country
magazine). Please note all entries are 50% supportive unless the call maker specifies the entry is 100%
donation. If entry or entries are 100% donated, entry fee is waived and NWTF retains 100% of proceeds
from the sale of the call.
19. Checks will be mailed from NWTF Headquarters after the convention.
Other important information
1. A special live auction will be held on select calls. This prestigious event will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.
in Delta A Lobby .
2. Bidding on ALL silent auction calls will begin on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, and will close starting at
approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13. All calls will be sold to the highest bidder or will be
considered sold when the “Buy It Now” price is utilized.
3. Call makers who are unable to attend the convention or are concerned that their call (s) may sell for less than
market value are encouraged to use the Absentee Bid Form. If a call maker uses the Absentee Bid Form, the
value of the absentee bid will be the starting value placed on the call. In the event that the call does not get a
bid higher than the absentee bid, the call maker will be purchasing the call back at that price.
III. Rules, Categories and Judging Criteria
● Our judges are selected as to their ability to transition from different calling styles. Judges selected can alter
calling styles from traditional field calling to main street calling and are capable of using single, double and
metal reed calls.
● Calls may be constructed of any material per category guidelines.
● Tips, guards and banding on any part of the call will be considered as standard construction item and their
presence on an entry will not affect the entry’s placement into a category.
● An entry may be constructed using one or more styles, materials and techniques.
● Signatures, brands and maker’s marks will not disqualify the entry or influence the judge thereof.
● Call scoring will be based on 6 items with a scale from 1 to 10 on each item and then totaled for a maximum
score of 60.
● Calls are to be the product of the person whose name is registered as maker.
● Calls may include artwork, checkering, scrimshaw, etc. but will only be judged for sound and functioning
criteria.
● Artwork and adornments on working calls may be a collaborated effort by call maker and artist. Call must be
registered by the maker of the call and accompanied by person’s name doing the artwork.
● The use of preband ivory and similar materials are acceptable except in Category 8.
Category 1: Working Duck Call – A: Category for traditional plastic reed wood duck calls that are hand tooled
and traditional lath turned with main emphasis on sound reproduction and quality of craftsmanship.
Judging Criteria: Quality of feed call, quality of individual quack, quality of hail call, ease of use
(calling), overall quality of sound reproduction, quality of finish and construction
Category 2: Working Duck Call – B: Category for traditional made plastic reed, acrylic, glass or other material
duck calls that are hand tooled and traditional lath turned with main emphasis on sound reproduction
and quality of craftsmanship.
Judging Criteria: Quality of feed call, quality of individual quack, quality of hail call, ease of use
(calling), overall quality of sound reproduction, quality of finish and construction.
Category 3: Working Duck Call – C: Category for calls made by utilizing any modern manufacturing technique
such as milled, C.N.C. or machined turned calls using any material with main emphasis on sound
reproduction and quality of craftsmanship. Wood, acrylics, glass, plastics, injection molded and
production calls are welcome.
Judging Criteria: Quality of feed call, quality of individual quack, quality of hail call, ease of use
(calling), overall quality of sound reproduction, quality of finish and construction.
Category 4: Working Duck Call – D: Category for traditional made metal reed wood duck calls that are hand
tooled and lath turned with main emphasis on sound reproduction and quality of craftsmanship.
Judging Criteria: Quality of feed call, quality of individual quack, quality of hail call, ease of use
(calling), overall quality of sound reproduction, quality of finish and construction.
Category 5: Working Calls Matched Set: Category for two or more calls which are complimentary in design,
material and adornments with main emphasis on sound reproduction and quality of craftsmanship.
Entries may include any number or combination of game calls but must have a duck and goose call
included.
Judging Criteria: Overall sound reproduction quality of duck call, overall sound reproduction quality
of goose call, complimentary in design, quality of finish and construction, overall appearance and
ease of use (calling as a set).
Category 6: Working Goose Calls – A: Category for short reed-style calls made by utilizing any traditional or
modern manufacturing technique or material with main emphasis on sound reproduction and quality
of craftsmanship. Wood, acrylics, glass, plastics, injection molded and production calls are welcome.
Judging Criteria: Quality of low-end calls (feed and set down), quality of honk, quality of mid-range
and high-end calls (greeting, double cluck and hail), quality of finish and construction, ease of use
(calling), and overall sound reproduction quality.
Category 7: Working Goose Calls – B: Category for traditional resonate cavity- and flute-style calls. Calls may
be made by utilizing any traditional or modern manufacturing technique or materials with main
emphasis on sound reproduction and quality craftsmanship. Wood, acrylics, glass, plastics, injection
molded and production calls are welcome. Entries to include speckle belly, snow goose, swan, and
Canada goose calls.
Judging Criteria: Quality of low-end calls (feed and set down), quality of honk, quality of mid-range
and high-end calls (greeting, double cluck and hail), quality of finish and construction, ease of use
(calling), and overall sound reproduction quality.
Category 8: Working Antler Calls: Category for calls whose intent is to feature the art and skill of functional call
making utilizing natural animal materials. Any antler, horn or bone material may be used in
construction. Wood, plastics or ivory are excluded in this category. Entries may include a duck call,
goose call, swan call or whistle type call.
Judging Criteria: Makers’ creativity, quality of feed call, quality of individual quack, quality of hail
call, overall quality of sound reproduction and quality of craftsmanship.
Category 9: Working Waterfowl Whistles: Category for non-typical traditional duck calls to include pintail,
woodduck, drake mallord whistle, teal, widgeon, and any other whistling ducks. Calls must be
handmade of any material with emphasis on sound reproduction and quality of craftsmanship. Calls
must include descriptive write up of sounds entry is capable of reproducing.
Judging Criteria: Overall call design, quality of finish, quality of construction, ease of use (calling),
overall sound reproduction of each species and makers’ creativity.
Category 10: Working Cut-down Calls: Category for handmade cut-down calls made of wood, antler, acrylic,
plastic or molded materials. Calls must be the product of the person whose name is registered as
maker. Call emphasis will be based on volume, sound reproduction and quality of craftsmanship.
Judging Criteria: Top end volume, high end ducky rattle that smooths out on top, bottom range
sound ability (whisper), good mid-range ducky rattle, easy loose feed chatter ability, quality of
craftsmanship and construction.
Category 11:Grand National Champion of Champions: This is a stand-alone category (limited to past Hunting
Duck & Goose Call 1st Place Best of Show winners) in Division IV – Hunting Duck & Goose Calls.
Category 8 is not eligible for the current year Division IV – Hunting Duck & Goose Call Best of
Show Award. Call makers will be eligible for the 13th Annual Premier Custom Call Auction on
a 70/30 (callmaker/NWTF) split basis. Calls in this category may be entered with bases or
displays and will be included in the judging. Judging criteria and points will be awarded.