28-04-2025
Local wild turkey caller gobbles up national recognition
YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — Niagara County resident Ernie Calandrelli is getting attention for sounding like a turkey. He has been turkey calling since the '70s and now his hunting skills are gaining him national recognition.
'It makes me feel good and it makes me feel like I did what I was supposed to do,' he said.
Calandrelli was recently inducted in the National Wild Turkey Federation's Grand Calling Championship Hall of Fame.
'It just set me over the top right there,' Calandrelli said. 'Just blew my mind they would consider me for that and that was pretty incredible.'
Calandrelli knows a dozen different ways to call wild turkeys. He teaches his skills at the Three F Conservation Society in Youngstown and all across the country.
'Educating kids and new hunters safety-wise and also the different aspects of turkey hunting — what's good, what's bad, what you should do, what you shouldn't do,' he said.
Calandrelli and other wild turkey hunters are getting ready for the start of the wild turkey hunting season on Thursday.
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
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