An excited crowd packed the auditorium to watch Billy Yargus of Missouri, take top honors at the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships (GNCC) Senior Division Finals, sponsored by Lynch Calls, emceed by NWTF Spokesperson Michael Waddell.

This year's calling contest changed dramatically from previous GNCC Senior Finals. Judges Chris Parrish, Brad Taylor, Steve Stoltz, Preston Pittman and Mike Batty, all legends of the turkey calling industry, faced the stage and critiqued each competitor's routine regardless of the caller's notoriety.

"I feel very blessed to have won," said Billy Yargus, GNCC Senior Division champion. "Although I was a little against the new format in the beginning, it was absolutely fantastic."

Callers under the newly reformatted senior finals appreciated the minor critiques because historically judges didn't provide feedback or know the identity of a caller until the contest was complete. This left many callers in the old format wonder what could have been improved upon.

Chris Piltz, NWTF and GNCC events coordinator, had a vision to make the calling championship more exciting for the callers, as well as the audience.

"Everyone who lined the walls or filled the seats of the auditorium could learn from the judges' critiques," said Piltz. "If even one person in attendance hits the turkey woods with new vigor for hunting and conservation, we are doing our job to Save the Habitat and Save the Hunt."