Who is Ernie Calandrelli—and why do his turkey calls matter?
Calandrelli began chasing wild birds across western New York in 1956, tagging along with his father and uncles before honing his first slate and mouth turkey calls in local woods. By 1977 he’d placed second in his first amateur contest, launching a career that would rack up more than 150 podium finishes—including the U.S. Open Gobbling title, three New York State Championships and the World Goose Calling Championship—while inspiring generations of callers to sharpen their own turkey calls.
A Quaker Boy cornerstone
For 35 years Calandrelli served as Quaker Boy’s director of public relations, helping design, test and promote best-selling Quaker Boy turkey calls while giving free seminars, youth clinics and media appearances nationwide.