More than 37,000 turkey hunters called on Nashville this weekend for the annual sport show that celebrates the popular pastime of nearly 3 million U.S. outdoorsmen.
The call of wild turkeys — mimicked by hunting enthusiasts— rang through the halls, and spilled from the balconies and into the atriums and indoor gardens of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center during the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Convention and Sport Show. Tourism officials estimate visitors to this year’s event spent nearly $4 million between Feb. 24 to Feb. 26. It is one of the most heavily attended hunting shows in the country.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was among the masses.
“I hope the hunting culture can be preserved,” he said, during his banquet address attended by 2,500. “The hunting culture, of course, begins with a culture that does not have a hostile attitude toward firearms. The attitude of people associating guns with nothing but crime has to change. I grew up in a time when people were not afraid of people with firearms.”
Scalia is an enthusiastic hunter, who regularly visits Louisiana to duck hunt.
“I love to duck hunt, and I thought that was an addiction. Then someone introduced me to turkey hunting and my addiction has gone from bad to worse.”
That someone is Charles W. Pickering, the former federal judge who President Bush appointed to the U.S. court of appeals. Pickering also attended the convention.
This was the Federation’s 30th convention. The first year hotel rates were $19 a night, gas was 62 cents a gallon and only 2,000 attended the event in Hershey, Pa.
“Our volunteers were motivated beyond belief,” said Carl Brown, chief operating officer of the NWTF. “After 30 years of conventions, it was great to see such enthusiasm, so many happy faces, so many vendors and so many wonderful people who are dedicated to our cause. With volunteers like ours, it’s hard not to be successful.”
The conservation organization, with more than 500,000 members in the United States, Canada and 15 other foreign countries, along with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, is largely responsible for bringing back the wild turkey from near extinction.
A popular convention attraction, the exhibit hall swarmed with convention-goers. Most days, it was shoulder to shoulder as people walked the three-acre exhibit hall floor with more than 500 vendors showcasing hunting gear, home decor, ATVs, Chevy vehicles, boots, turkey calls, artwork and other products.
Among the many events at the convention are the Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships. More than 150 callers entered these contests. Matt Van Cise of Grand Valley, Pa., finished first in the Wild Turkey Bourbon Senior Division, making him a two-time champion. Van Cise won his first Grand National last year.
"Winning for a second time is unbelievable," said Van Cise, of Grand Valley, Pa., who will appear on “The Late Show with David Letterman” tonight. "The second time is amazing. Holding this trophy over my head makes up for all the hours of practice."
This was the Federation’s fourth visit to the Music City in six years. The organization first visited in 1986 and has returned five times since. The 2007 convention will be held Feb. 22 to Feb. 25 at the Gaylord, as well.
More than 150 callers entered the Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships. Winners for each contest and division:
Grand National Calling Championships
Matt Van Cise of Grand Valley, Pa., Senior Division.
Cody Williams of Uvalda, Ga., Intermediate Division.
Lance Hanger of Churchville, Va., Junior Division.
Chris Parrish of Centralia, Mo., Champion of Champions.
Doug Benefield of Newnan, Ga., and Daymon Davis, Danville, Pa., Team Challenge.
Mark Prudhomme, Georgetown, S.C., Owl Hooting Championship.
Doug Benefield, Newnan, Ga., Gobbling Championship.
Chris Walls, Morgantown, W.V., won the Spit, Drum and Gobble Contest.