Callers Advisory Board....

[Jason Conrad]

Again, I think every local contest should be required to have an Amateur, but not at the Grand Nationals.


I just don't think that the grand nationals are the place to have an Amateur contest. There is nothing wrong with starting out in the Amateur at local levels and working your way to the open contests. One name proves that amateur at the local level works and produces a lot of callers that is SADLER MCGRAW. He started there and worked his way up. People didn't think much of it then, I think they are now.

By the way every local contest I have been to in the last three years have let anyone over 18 call in them and no one besides the normal crews show up. I guess my question is where are all these guys that want to call? I know it is a long drive to some of these contests, but Matt used to make some unreal trips back in the day to try to get better and get qualified. If you want to call and are willing to make the trips there is somewhere for everyone to call. Heck Bob Long worked a night shift, got off work jump in a car drove about three or four hours in the sleet and snow to go call. I got off a 13 hour day jumped in the truck did the same thing. I don't mean to sound like a butt hole, but if you want to call simply get on the road and find a contest.

[JAKE]

To say"back in the day" is fine BUT todays situations are different.Wives,kids,new jobs,etc.In order to preserve this "sport" changes must be made at the bottom and then work up.

[Jason Conrad]

Today’s situations are no different with exceptions to the economy. "Back in the day" people had wives, kids, new jobs, etc. If you want to go call, then go call. If life is a problem then don't go. Everyone has to make decisions to sacrifice something if they want to follow this turkey calling rodeo. I had a conversation with a guy the other day and he said that he doesn't deer hunt much at all anymore and would love to duck call but can't do it all. That person sacrificed something for the sport that he loves.

Now I am not saying that nothing needs to change. I have stated that the amateur is the first step to make a change, not changing how the calls are asked and all that stuff. If the truth would be told the biggest reason there has been a decline in this sport is the people holding the contest don't do the leg work a lot of times, it shows when they do. I don't care what this so called advisory board says they can't make people work hard to have a contest and I have stated that every calling contest must offer an amateur contest. That is starting from the bottom and will work.

I think we are on the same page for the most part JAKE.

[JAKE]

It all starts at the bottom.And I should retract some of my other statements too.The amt. should be changed to a HUNTER div. giving inter. callers and guys who are just on the bubble of opens a place to call.I lost track of my thoughts.