Contributing Writers:
This elite panel of hunters share their over 175 years of combined hunting experience. They are prostaffer's, World, US Open, and Grand National calling champions. All of them are consistently successful hunters. Be on the look out for their articles and stories on the "Monthly Featured Article" and "Hunting Stories" pages!
Chris Parrish-Centralia, MO
Chris started calling in 1983 at the Mark Twain Open in Hannibal, MO and won the Junior event at the age of 13. He has called in 120 contests and have placed in 90 of them, including winning the World Open 3 times, Mid-America Open 4 times, NWTF Grand National Senior Open 2 times and Champion of Champions 5 times, along with 3 US Opens and many, many state championships. Chris states "I have been very blessed in this sport to win and make a living in the outdoors due to it."
He currently works for Knight & Hale game calls and and is on the Ultimate Hunting TV show as well as a few others. He also prostaff's for Mossy Oak, Red Head as well Dead Ringer sights.
He learned to call on his own by listening to cassettes and watching VHS tapes as well as recording turkeys in the wild. He has hunted in 32 states and harvested turkeys in each of those states.
His "go to" calls for turkeys are the new Long Spur slate call from Knight and Hale and the Preacher Mouth call. With this combo, Chris says, "I can perform any and all calls from soft yelps, to loud cutting and kee kees."
As far as locator calls, his all around favorite is the crow, as he feels it is the most versatile.
He is a Life Member of the NRA and a Silver Life sponsor member of the NWTF
Steve Stoltz-St. Louis, MO
Steve Stoltz has been hunting and calling wild turkeys since 1971. His success in the television and video field have made him one of the top turkey hunters in the United States, and his success has spilled over to the Professional Turkey Calling Circuit as well. He has won or placed in many turkey calling contest’s including the 1993 World Championship and 1998 Grand National Champion of Champions. And with a wall full of Pope & Young class whitetails to his credit, Steve has become one of the nation’s leading bowhunting authorities. His talent for speaking has also made him one of the most sought after seminar speakers and outdoor personalities in the industry today.
Mickey Grey-Crittenden, KY
I have been married to my best friend and high school sweetheart, Ginny, for 29 years. I have 2 beautiful daughters, Felicia(23) and Denise(18), an awesome Son-in-Law, Frank, and a 3 year old grandson, Austin (who by the way has his pawpaw wrapped around his little finger)
I started my hunting career at the ripe old age of 5 years old by going to the dove fields around Wagener, SC with my dad. I have been hunting squirrels, rabbits, doves, whitetail deer, and my favorite, the wild turkey ever since. I am a member of Woodhaven Custom Calls Pro Staff. Simply put I love the outdoors.
While I love all types of hunting, I am obsessed with turkey hunting. I think about it and prepare for it year-round.
My “bucket-list” definitely begins with obtaining my Grand Slam on all the sub-species of the Wild Turkey. While I have been fortunate enough to harvest several of the Eastern sub-species, I plan on continuing my quest for the Grand Slam in the spring of 2013. My plans are to go after the Osceola followed by the Rio Grande, then the Merriams. Upon the completion I may try to get the Goulds.
Tony Young-Tallahassee, FL
Make no mistake about Tony Young . . . while this wild-eyed country boy will certainly charm you with his quick wit, infectious spirit and carefree nature, his outdoor resume – and the trophy kills that adorn his walls – show that, with this native Floridian, the proof is in the puddin’.
Raised in the rolling red clay hills of Tallahassee, Young has nearly 30 years of outdoor experience across the Southeast, and with that, endless stories of adventure and escapades.
His amicable nature and vivid personality captivate Young’s audiences – whether it’s a few friends and co-workers or an arena packed with people (Young also is a Nashville recording artist and frontman for the blues-rock band, King Cotton), one feels as though they are there at the scene of the journey with him when hearing his anecdotes. And with his expertise, Young not only induces more than a few laughs, but also reveals his knowledge for the outdoors.
Those who have the pleasure of hunting, fishing (Young’s outdoor claim to fame is having caught 49 bass eight pounds or larger) or boating with Young not only are in for a fun-filled day but always leave with a bit more familiarity and experience of their own. Oftentimes, they also leave with their very own effervescent stories about Young, as he certainly isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, approach vast species of wildlife or even wrestle with a gator every now and then.
Young is the Media Relations Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, serving as the agency’s hunting expert for the state and is a writer for Woods ‘N Water magazine. He is an avid deer and turkey hunter, and assists in managing various private properties and leases throughout the Big Bend. As a graduate of Florida State University, Young resides in Tallahassee with his wife Katie, daughter Isabella and bloodhound Scarlett O’Hara.
Shawn West-Barrie, Ontario
Shawn has been hunting in one form or another since Since 9 years old, beginning when his Dad would take him out after ducks, geese, rabbits, and grouse in the fields and forests of the Bruce Peninsula. He enjoys, duck, goose, deer, grouse, and of course, turkey hunting. He hunts primarily in South-Central Ontario in Simcoe County and Bruce County, however his hunting milestone to date was a DIY, public land hunt in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia in the spring of 2014, where he harvested his first Merriam's turkey.
He has competed in several goose and turkey calling contests, placing 3rd in both the NWTF Open division & Amateur division at the Ontario Huntfest event 2012.
Shawn resides in Barrie, Ontario, Canada with his wife, Adrianne, and two sons, James and Devin. He enjoys writing about the outdoors and hopes to instill the same passion for the outdoors in his kids as his father instilled in his him. Outside of hunting, he is also an avid soccer goalkeeper and plays the harmonica in his spare time.
Parrish Elliott-
Fairview, Tn
Parrish is a Woodhaven Prostaff member. He was brought up in the outdoors where hunting and fishing was almost like a religion in his house. He can remember chasing Turkeys for the first time in the late 80's in Tennessee, he says back then when you heard a bird gobble it was you went after him cause you may not hear another one and that's where his love of Turkeys started.
Parrish is very passionate about deer and turkey hunting. You can say he is obsessed with bow hunting deer all across the south during the fall. But when spring time comes around you can bet you will see him headed to the woods listening for the first gobble of the morning.