Parrott -- The Best of the Best

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 turkey-calling titles have you won?
Answer: I've won 10 U.S. Open Championships, seven National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National titles and five World titles. I've been calling in contests since about 1980. I placed I placed second in the All Call Championship at the 2001 World Turkey Calling Championship sponsored by Mossy Oak.

Question: What would winning another World Turkey Calling Championship mean to you?
Answer: First of all it would mean $5,000 prize money. The World Championship is one of the oldest calling contests in existence. This contest is prestigious because turkey hunting pretty much originated in Alabama, a state that's never not had a turkey-hunting season.

Question: At what range do you generally take a buck?
Answer: The range I take a deer at depends on the location I hunt. I've shot deer as far as 400 yards away and as close as 20 yards. The terrain can make a big difference. Since I hunt mostly in Missouri in thick brush and woods, the usual distance I'll take a deer at will be 40, 50 or 60 yards.

Question: In which division did you compete at this year's World Championship calling contest?
Answer: I competed in the All-Call competition and took second place. In this competition, you use five different calls, including the mouth diaphragm, the slate, a suction type call, a tube call and a box call. The judges asked me to perform five calls, and I had to use a different call for each call I performed.

To learn more about the World Turkey Calling Championship, go to www.Mossyoak.com

TOMORROW: Some Skill a Lot of Luck