About Mitchell

Hometown: Purlear, N.C.
Hometown Chapter: Northwestern Chapter, Wilkesboro, N.C.
Family: Mitchell and his wife, Ashley, have two daughters: Sarah, 3, and Cadence, 1.
NWTF Involvement: Mitchell is a chapter committee member who speaks at NWTF seminars and banquets.

Q&A with Senior Division Calling Champ Mitchell Johnston

Mitchell’s focus, talent and work ethic paid off when he emerged from a preliminary field of 48 callers to win the NWTF’s top turkey calling title.

NWTF: Mitchell, congratulations on your win! How did it feel to take the trophy home?

Mitchell Johnston: When you put a lot of time into calling and it all comes down to that moment when you’re the last man standing, it’s an awesome experience. I just thank the Lord, because He blessed me to win this contest. I give Him all the credit, because He gave me the talent and ability.

NWTF: What’s your favorite part about the convention?

MJ: I would almost say the calling contests, but it’s much more than that. It’s about getting to see your friends from all over the country and sharing hunting stories.

NWTF: You’re a longtime turkey caller. Do you think learning to call correctly makes a better hunter?

MJ: Absolutely. The more realistic your turkey calling is, the more productive you are .

NWTF: What made you want to start calling?

MJ: I was at a friend’s house one day when I noticed he had a bunch of trophies with turkeys on top of them. I said, “What in the world are those?” He explained how he had won them at turkey calling contests and told me how learning to call gives you such an advantage when you’re hunting. I’m an extremely competitive person, especially when it comes to being a better turkey hunter, so when I realized there was a competition side to calling, that fit me to a tee.

NWTF: What tips would you give someone who is just getting started?

MJ: Be patient, especially if you’re using a mouth call, which is the most realistic call you can use. Practice is key, so hang in there, be patient and listen to turkeys.

One of the most important tools I use is calling CDs. I still listen to them when I’m going to and from work just about every day.

NWTF: How important is it for families to get involved in the outdoors together?

MJ: Spending time together in the woods will make for some of the best times you spend together. Just being in the woods together, enjoying God’s creation, away from the hustle and bustle of society, is so rewarding. In fact, the day I proposed to my wife, she took her first deer.

NWTF: Why should folks join the NWTF?

MJ: Without the NWTF, we would not have the large population of turkeys we have now. The NWTF is an organization you can contribute to and actually see how the money you donated was used and the effect it has.

NWTF: Do you think people who are not involved with the NWTF are missing out?

MJ: If you love the outdoors, even if you’re not a hunter, the NWTF has something for everyone. Not only is the NWTF all about conservation and protecting wildlife habitat, but there are JAKES, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF outreach events you can get involved with. I really feel those outreach programs are like ministries.

NWTF: One last question for you, Mitchell. What’s with those lucky socks?

MJ: (laughs) Yes, I used to wear this one pair of socks that had two red stripes around the top every time I went into the woods. One day, I went hunting my friend, Kindell Keeton, and I threw a pair of the socks to Kindell and said, as a joke, “Put these on and we’ll kill something today.” It seemed like every time I wore those socks, I harvested an animal. Sure enough, I ended up killing a deer that day. So Kindell said, “You’ll never get these back,” and he kept a pair. We both wore the socks in the calling contest — we both made the finals.

Winning the calling contest has been a dream come true for me. And I bought three more pairs of those lucky socks yesterday. —Melanie Swearingen