Calling applications in turkey hunting do not necessarily correlate with contest calling...although being the best caller one can be certainly can be a great benefit in the turkey woods. Conversely, being a great caller is not the "end all, be all" in that knowing when to apply certain turkey vocalizations...and conversely knowing when NOT to apply them...can be just as important.
This is my thought process as well Gobblenuts. Sure, there are guys out there that sound and call 100x's better than me but they STILL get their butts kicked day in and day out and go home with their tails between their legs more often than not. I want to learn the nuisances of calling in live birds to be successful in the woods. I guess for most of us it boils down to continuing to Practice, applying things in the field to see how they work, woodsmanship and a little Luck. Confidence, for me, plays a big part in this game as well IMO. If you put yourself OUT There in calling situations and get responses, then continue to build on that. If nothing happens, that maybe turkeys being turkeys, build on that. But if you do something that sends them into the next county, then STOP and evaluate on what just happened and never do that again if possible. Great thread Wally!
