Contest Rules

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General Rules

These are the general rules for the competition. Please note that each division has rules that are specific to that division. Please be sure to check each division you are entering before entering.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR 2026 IS JAN. 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

2026 NWTF Grand National Calling Championships Schedule:

Subject to change

Thursday, February 12, 2026

GNCC Team Air & Friction Challenge 

Sponsored by: TETRA Hearing and Primos Hunting

Competition Room: Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
Competition Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

GNCC Friction Division Preliminaries 

Sponsored by: TETRA Hearing and Primos Hunting

Competition Room: Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
Competition Time: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

 

Friday, February 13, 2026

GNCC Owl Hooting and Gobbling Championship

Sponsored by: TETRA Hearing and Primos Hunting

Competition Room: Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
Competition Time: 7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. (Owl at 7:30 a.m., Gobbling immediately following)

GNCC Senior Division Preliminaries 

Sponsored by: TETRA Hearing and Primos Hunting

Competition Room: Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
Competition Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

GNCC Poults Calling Championships Sponsored by: Mossy Oak
GNCC Junior Calling Championships Sponsored by: Mossy Oak
GNCC Intermediate Calling Championships Sponsored by: Mossy Oak
Competition Room: Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
Competition Time: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

 

Saturday, February 14, 2026

GNCC Friction Division Championships 

Sponsored by: TETRA Hearing and Primos Hunting

Competition Room: Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
Competition Time: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

 

NWTF Grand National Calling Championships Hall of Fame Inductions 

Sponsored by: Knight and Hale

Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

 

GNCC Senior Open Division Championships 

Sponsored by: TETRA Hearing and Primos Hunting

Competition Room: Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom
Competition Time: 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

 

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR GRAND NATIONALS

In order to qualify and be invited to the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships, you must win or finish behind a previous qualifier (up to third place) in the Friction or Open Divisions at a sanctioned local or state calling contest. Only Friction and Open are qualifying divisions for Grand Nationals. You do not need to qualify at a local/state contest to call in youth divisions (for youth 20 and under), Owl, Gobbling or Team Air and Friction Challenge divisions at Grand Nationals. Amateur divisions are not qualifiers, and there is no Amateur/Hunter division at Grand Nationals.

FIND AN NWTF SANCTIONED CALLING CONTEST

Find scheduled NWTF sanctioned GNCC qualifying contests at NWTF.org under the events section and click on the calling tab to sort upcoming contests or go to https://your.nwtf.org/members/events/. Contests are scheduled throughout the year, so check back periodically. Contests and information are also shared on social media here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/callcontests.

 

In order to qualify for Grand Nationals in Friction or Open, you must win either of those divisions at a local or state contest. You can receive GNCC qualification by finishing second behind a caller who has already qualified, or if first and second have qualified previously, the qualification can be passed down to third, but third is the final spot for passing on the qualification. By winning an Open Division, you also automatically qualify for the Friction Division and have the option to call in both at the GNCCs if you choose. Winning the Friction Division does not qualify for the Open (Open is defined as open to all calls, including friction calls). Callers currently receive lifetime qualification for winning a Grand Nationals division or by winning the World Calling Contest Friction or Open division. 

 

Registration for GNCC

  • To compete in the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships, all contestants MUST PREREGISTER (scheduled to open 11/01/25) via the online registration link on this site and pay the appropriate fees.
  • The registration deadline is midnight on the second Friday of January prior to the competition.
  • Registration will NOT be available at the convention or beyond the registration deadline.
  • No mailed, faxed or phoned-in registrations will be accepted. Everyone must use the online registration format.
  • One member of the Team Air & Friction Challenge must pay for the team fee.
  • Registration fees also include admission to the seminars and unlimited access to the convention exhibit hall. Banquet and auction tickets must be purchased separately.

Requirements

  • All contestants competing in the GNCC must be a current member of the National Wild Turkey Federation. If your membership expires before February 28, you will be required to renew your membership before registering. The registration system will let you know if this will occur, however, your membership renewal may take up to 4 weeks to process. (updated 11/1/19)
  • All contestants must meet the age requirements set forth for each competition.

Ties

  • All scoring ties determining award placement 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 repeat their calls upon the EMCEE's prompting.
  • In the Senior Finals, officials may select any one of the three scenarios to be performed by the caller.
  • 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 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.

Important Information

  • Contestants are NOT allowed to watch or listen to the live-stream videos or audio of contests in which they are competing. Any contestant who is found to be watching or listening to these contests or using an electronic device to gain an advantage during the competition will be disqualified.
  • Only contestants of the current competition (and an adult guardian for Poults and Junior callers) are allowed in the staging area behind the stage unless otherwise requested by contest staff.
  • Selling merchandise near the calling contest area, including in the Davidson (Governor’s) Ballroom or the connecting hallways in the vicinity of the ballroom, is NOT permitted. Hotel security is aware of this rule and will escort offenders from the premises.
  • Please do not practice in hallways, behind the stage or in hotel restricted areas while a contest is being held. Practice is allowed only in designated areas approved by the NWTF.
  • Please do not hold loud conversations in the hallways or behind the stage while a contest is being held.
  • Cell phones must be turned off or in silent mode during competitions.
  • Be respectful of your fellow contestants and GNCC staff and volunteers. Disrespectful, rude or unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated and can result in disqualification and removal from the premises. It also could result in a permanent ban from the GNCC contests.
  • Apparel that GNCC staff deems to be inappropriate, offensive or leud will not be allowed on stage during the competition. Inflammatory or damaging comments about the NWTF, the GNCC, GNCC staff, volunteers or sponsors in a public forum can result in disqualification and/or a ban from the competition.
  • Cameras on tripods in the contest room should not block traffic in the aisles, doors or access to seating. No on- or off-camera lights permitted during the competition.
  • No flash photography during the competition.
  • If you have concerns about the contest, staff or volunteers, bring them directly to the GNCC coordinator, Matt Stewart, to see if they can be resolved.

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 of any absent callers 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

  • Contest fees are refundable if the applicant is unable to participate and if notice is given prior to roll call for the registered contest.