Competition Callers. What do you think?

[bustinbeaks]

I've been to a fair share of calling contests and I notice some folks seem to criticize competition callers.  I've heard fellas saying, calling on stage is a heck of a lot different than calling in the woods.  Almost as though competitive callers only can call and can't hunt worth a darn.  I think some of these people are just envious of those guys.  What do you think??

[tnturkeyman28]

It is alot different than calling in the woods but I get more nervous calling in a bird than I do on the stage

[fallhnt]

I call loud n proud when hunting and on stage.Hear is a  point on comp. calling.I called in the state and hunter divisions this year in Ill. For callers best in hunters division I made a kee kee run.Judge #3 scored me a 9.In state we had to kee kee run.Judge #3 scored me 16.All other scores in hunter and state were 17.Seems to me judge #3 didn't know anything about turkey calling until it was judge time.I told my buddy I would rather call with him in the Mid-America next year and get judged and smoked by the worlds best than call in Ill. and be judged by the worlds joke.Most hunters are only spring hunters in Ill. and shouldn't judge a comp.if they don't know turkey calls. But what ya gonna do ?By the way I have been judged by the worlds best 5 times this year.In the end I played them a little tune on my 1 string.

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[guesswho]

I think some of these people are just envious of those guys.

I'm envious of their calling.  I wish I was in the same league as some of them as far as calling goes.  As far as calling in and killing turkeys I feel I could hang with the best of competition callers.  I'm sure many of them are top notch hunters, and some probably lack a few hunting skills, just like the rest of us.    

[longbeardlife.com]

calling turkeys and calling in contest are two totally different  deals..   what really matters is what you do while in the woods. sometimes the best calls arent what kills a bird. Wodmanship has alot to do with killing birds in my area..

[a-j calls]

I admire competition callers, but in the woods the turkey makes the rules, and as stated before woodsmanship helps a lot.

[LX_Trkyhntr]

Calling in competitions has made me a better turkey hunter, that's the whole reason I got into calling contest.  They make me spend more time listening to hen sounds and trying to get better at making those sounds.

I do think woodsmanship is 80-90% of the equation though, but if I am a more proficient caller, that can't hurt either. 

[CASH]

I wish I could call like those guys do.

[Scottyb]

Fellas, its not just in turkey calling, duck and goose callers get the same rap..

I have been a very succesful ( world duck finalist) duck caller and can tell you that people  think I have no clue how to kill ducks. The fact is, I was a duck hunter before a caller. I think many comp turkey guys are in the same boat. They started comp calling to extend their season, or to learn how to blow a call better to sound more realistic and kill more birds.
Sure some guys are young and purely talented, and dont have the woodsmanship skills. For me, being a comp duck caller has taught me how to blow a call well enough to learn how to sound like a duck ( or turkey) What I mean is proper air control and overall operation. 
Even though I am a caller, I think overall hunting ability ( woodsmanship, concealmeant, scouting, and experience) trumps just being a great caller. But, being a great caller at times can be the difference in a dead bird or not. I think people who  learn their limit and stick to it are far better off than guys who are mediocre but think they are good. Nothing however takes the place of the basics, and anyone on any given day can kill a gobbler