Castleton--After a two-year hiatus, the annual Bart Jacob Memorial Youth Turkey Calling Contest was back this year, attracting 18 participants from Vermont.

The competition, held April 16 at the Kehoe Conservation Camp in Castleton, was co-sponsored by the Oxbow Mountain 4-H Club of Pawlet and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. It was open to anyone 18 years old or younger, including non-4-H members.

The contestants competed in one of three divisions arranged by age, using either a store-bought or handmade turkey call to cluck, yelp, purr and demonstrate other turkey calling skills. First-place winners in each age group receive a turkey decoy donated by Vermont Field Sports in Middlebury. Vermont Fish and Wildlife donated Bone Collector turkey calls for the second-place finisher while third place received shot gun ammunition donated by John Butler, Dorset.

Placing first and second, respectively, in the 14-18 age group were Colby Butler and Cooper Sheldon, both from Dorset. They were required to perform several turkey calls including the cluck, yelp, purr, kee kee run and caller's favorite.

Brooke Flewelling, Rutland, captured first in the 11-13 age group, followed by Tanner Alexopoulos, Manchester, and Noah Buck, Rupert, third. Other participants included Wyatt DeLance (Honorable Mention) and Jacob Mead, both from Castleton. Competitors were scored on how well they performed several turkey calls including the cluck, yelp, purr and a locator call of their own choosing.

Winners in the 8-10 age group were Beckett Perham, Pawlet, first; Jase Mead, Poultney, second; and Josh Glodgett, Castleton, third. Mason Palmer, Rupert, received an Honorable Mention. Calls for this division included the cluck, yelp and locator call of choice.

Seven youths under age 7 also had an opportunity to demonstrate the cluck, yelp and a locator call. Although not scored, they each received a turkey-shaped trophy, courtesy of John Butler. Participating in this age group were Blake and Rhett Butler, Wells; Ryker Jenks, Bondville; Mack Parsons, Proctor; Lennox Petty, St. Johnsbury; and Sawyer Sheldon and Knox White, both from Dorset.

The contest, now in its 16th year, is held annually to honor the late Bart Jacobs, a nationally recognized turkey call maker and turkey hunter from Pawlet. He was a founder of the National Wild Turkey Federation and life member and president of the Vermont chapter as well as a staunch supporter of youth hunters.

To learn more, contact contact Holly Ferris, University of Vermont Extension 4-H Shooting Sports coordinator, at holly.ferris@uvm.edu.