Turkey-calling contest, other events slated for Conservation Weekend

The air will be filled with turkey calls this weekend during Mitchell’s first-ever sanctioned turkey-calling contest.

The National Wild Turkey Federation is teaming with Cabela’s to sponsor the contest at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Davison County Fairgrounds. Prizes will be awarded to winners of the open, state, JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) and amateur categories.

The open division requires a $20 registration fee. All other divisions are free.

The contest is part of the Cabela’s Conservation Weekend, a celebration of the business’ 10th anniversary in Mitchell.

“We really wanted to reflect back on what the community has done for us,” said Rob Mahaffey, systems trainer at Cabela’s.

John Thompson, state treasurer of the NWTF, said the event will be the first sanctioned one of its kind in the state.

“I think it will be a very good thing for the community,” Thompson said.

In addition to the contest, Cabela’s will sponsor a variety of free activities Saturday, including seminars on jerky making and knife sharpening.

As for the turkey-calling contest, Mahaffey is particularly excited to see participants in the JAKES division,

“Those are the kids that are going to be out there calling and enjoying the privileges that we have as outdoorsmen,” Mahaffey said. “That’s tomorrow’s future.”

Although Thompson said no one had pre-registered as of Thursday afternoon, Mahaffey was confident that the event would draw outdoors enthusiasts from across the state.

“There is a huge number of turkey hunters in our area and our local NWTF chapter is going very strong,” Mahaffey said. “People are passionate about it.”

It will also give Cabela’s a chance to thank the Mitchell community for a decade of support, Mahaffey said.

“We’ve been here for 10 years and the community has supported us the entire time,” Mahaffey said. “I think there’s kind of a mutual love there.”

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