Some Skill a Lot of Luck

EDITOR'S NOTE: Five-time World-Champion turkey caller, Walter Parrott of Fredricktown, Missouri, represents Knight & Hale Game Calls, Mossy Oak Camouflage and Bass Pro Shop's Redhead's Bowhunting Team.

Question: What's the secret to being a great turkey caller?
Answer: You can sound as much like a turkey as you possibly can, but you still need to structure it on a contest-type level. You can go overboard with turkey sounds. Sometimes judges are so keyed-in to competition calling that you can actually sound too much like a real turkey and not win. Next, you need to practice your routines, especially the weak ones. Just keep working at your calling.

Question: Do you think you're a better turkey caller or a turkey hunter?
Answer: I've experienced a lot of success at both. I turkey hunted before I ever entered turkey-calling competitions. The turkey calling stemmed from my love of turkey hunting. I've grown up loving the outdoors and turkey hunting.

Question: Tell me about the difference in calling turkeys in the woods and calling them on the stage.
Answer: You can't really call in a contest like you call in the woods. I call differently in the woods than I do on stage. I can't mimic everything I do in the woods. Some of my calls I make in the woods may go over the judges' heads. You've gotta watch how you call when you call for a judge.

Question: Can you tell me about your best turkey hunt?
Answer: The last hunt will be my best one because my last turkey hunt will be the last one I'll remember. Or, perhaps the next hunt coming up will be the very best.

Question: What makes you stand out among the other callers?
Answer: A lot of luck and just a little bit of skill has helped me win turkey-calling contests. When I compete in the World Championship, I compete against the best callers in the U.S. These callers are as good as they get. So, to compete against these guys and actually win requires pure luck.