EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation honored Will Primos, founder of Primos Hunting, with the Dick Kirby Award for his excellence in turkey call craftsmanship at the NWTF’s 50th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
“Dick Kirby was a pioneer, a fierce contestant on the calling stage and an even better competitor as he kept Quaker Boy at the cutting edge of quality and innovation,” Primos said. “The only bigger honor than receiving this award would be to actually receive the award from Dick himself.”
Now 73, Primos grew up hunting, trapping and fishing. He was always creating calls and tinkering with new materials. After he graduated from college in 1974, he began turkey hunting and started making and perfecting his own calls. Now Primos Hunting is celebrating 50 years as a successful game call company.
Primos wanted his brand to be focused on how the game call community impacts our hunting traditions. Primos is a long-time supporter of the NWTF and strongly believes in the NWTF’s mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage.
His most recent campaign, in coordination with the NWTF and other nongovernmental organizations, aimed to create public awareness around conservation and the Pittman-Robertson Act, through the auction of a one-of-a-kind set of five Purdey & Sons side-by-side shotguns.
He previously coordinated with the NWTF to create replica Gibson box calls for all NWTF local chapter banquets to help raise funds for the NWTF mission and has hosted seminars in previous years at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show.
Primos Hunting has continued to grow its support for the NWTF in recent years, sponsoring the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships and other events. Primos was recognized in 2018 with the National Tom Kelly Communicator of the Year Award and is an NWTF Vanguard Life Member. He is an icon of the hunting call industry, crafting game calls and other hunting gear to support the outdoor lifestyle we cherish.
“The NWTF is proud to honor Will, a true legend and pioneer in the turkey callmaking arena, while he celebrates 50 years of Primos Hunting,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “Will is an elite call maker who established a national brand and leaves a conservation legacy with his Purdy campaign. We are beyond grateful for men like Will who continue give back to our mission, and we’re proud to honor his dedication to the wild turkey and our hunting heritage with the Dick Kirby Award.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.
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