Friday, February 26, Harry Wieman was declared the “World’s Champion,

succeeding the 1936 World Champion Thomas Walsh. For the three calls, Wieman

scored 91 4/9 percent from the three judges, while runner up Walsh scored 91

3/9 and John “J.T.” McCollum came in third with 83 8/9 points. It would be the

closest contest ever, even until this very day. Wieman won against 25

contestants including a slew of famous legendary Tennessee and Arkansas duck call

makers, callers, guides, and hunters; two from Tennessee such as Earl Dennison

from Reelfoot Lake; eight callers from DeWitt such as Jake LaCotts; ten callers

from Stuttgart, which included Floyd Earlywind and Reuben Slifer who came in

fourth and who manufactured most of the wooden calls that were used. Then from

Stuttgart, there was, besides J.T. McCollum, other famous McCollum family

members Otis, Roy, and Wade.From the

duck calling contest’s beginning in 1936 until the Post ended its sponsorship,

Dr. Glenn, Thad McCollum, and Verne Tindall continued vigorously to promote the

annual event, especially the former, as he traveled to different cities to

promote it, such as visiting the annual rice festival at Crowley, Louisiana.

World’s Duck Calling Contest continues to this very day in front of three

judges hidden behind screens. The winner of the 90-second performance in

Stuttgart is recognized as the World Champion Duck Caller, and every five years

the winners compete against each other to be called the Champion of Champions,

the best amongst the best.

nation’s most unique sporting events in the U.S. And, for the most part, the

winner is not only the best competition caller in the event, but the caller is

also a very good meat caller. As Pat Peacock said, “Luring waterfowl in with my

hunting calls is a little different than my calls to win competitions. By the

time the ducks reach us from the north, they are wiser as most of the juveniles

have been killed. And the one thing that animals do, especially ducks, is that

they can evolve rapidly, and, even more so, they can adapt even more rapidly. It’s

a different world now as compared to 1936 for the meat hunter.”