World Turkey Hunting Championship Contest Rules Updated Jan 23, 2017
Disclaimer: The following rules and regulations are solely intended for the World Turkey Hunting Championship and are under no circumstance to be used, referenced or abided by in affiliation with any other WTHC sanctioned event, i.e. Divisional Qualifer, regional or local event or activity. The World Turkey Hunting Championship is a derivative of previously established rules from preceding tournament years. The World Turkey Hunting Championship also referred to herein as WTHC acknowledges and stipulates that previous WTHC rules have been published. The WTHC hereby states, claims and declares the most recently published World Turkey Hunting Championship rules are to take precedent and otherwise supersede any and all previous WTHC rules. Furthermore, the WTHC reserves the right to change, add to, delete, elaborate, edit, etc any and all WTHC rules up until the official start time of the WTHC competition. It is the sole responsibility of the contestant to familiarize himself with the WTHC rules including any and all updates and last minute changes. PumpJack Promotions LLC, doing business as The World Turkey Hunting Championship hereby discloses the following official rules, regulations and procedures that shall apply to the World Turkey Hunting Championship. Rules for WTHC sanctioned “Divisional qualifier tournaments,” will differ in part from rules contained herein and any and all rules may be changed by the governing WTHC official immediately upon notice by WTHC to its registered contestants. Such notice may be published on the WTHC website at www.worldturkeyhuntingchampionship.com, announced verbally at the WTHC competition, or stated in writing as an amendment to the original rules. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the WTHC Tournament Director and the WTHC Rules Enforcement Committee. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director will seek council and or judgments, discernments, and decisions from the WTHC Rules Enforcement Committee. The WTHC Rules Enforcement Committee may impose sanctions as deemed appropriate by them, including without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes and entry fees, and prohibition from participation in subsequent WTHC sanctioned tournaments. Subject to the appeal process set forth, the decision of the tournament director, his designee, or rules committee, The WTHC official ruling shall be final in all matters.
1. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: The World Turkey Hunting Championship tournament is open to anyone who is 18 years of age or older who registers as a part of one of the first fifty teams for a particular year who is of sound mind and body and able to physically and mentally participate in an active competition of skill. Employees, staff members, officers and directors of WTHC or it’s parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies and members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, children and sibling, regardless of where they live) are ineligible. Proof of age to the satisfaction of tournament officials is the responsibility of the competitor. Any candidate for competition who, in the judgment of the Tournament Director, is disabled in such a manner as to unfairly hinder their partner or endanger the safety and well-being of their teammates or themselves or anyone else involved with a WTHC sanctioned event may not be eligible to participate. A properly completed and signed official entry form must be provided to the WTHC tournament administrative team prior to the first day of competition. Tournament entry fees must be received by the official due date posted on WTHC website and email correspondence. Any balances or new entries received after the entry fee due date will be subject to WTHC approval. The WTHC reserves the right to discontinue acceptance of applications prior to deadline and/or extend the acceptance date. ANY AND ALL DEPOSITS AND PRE-PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CANCELLATION. The preferred method for tournament registration is via the WTHC Registration phone number listed under Registration/Contacts www.worldturkeyhuntingchampionship.com. The preferred payment method is personal or corporate check made payable to PumpJack Promotions to be mailed to the mailing address listed on the WTHC Website contact page. Credit Card payment of the entry fee can also be arranged by contacting the WTHC office. 3% service charge will be applied.
2. HUNTER CODE OF CONDUCT: Hunters participating in any WTHC sanctioned event shall observe this code of conduct and the applicable rules for the specific event in which they are participating. Hunters shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a manner becoming professional hunters that will not reflect unfavorably on the WTHC, its competitors, officers or representatives, tournaments, property owners or sponsors. To this end, hunters shall use their best efforts to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in support of the sport of professional hunting. Any hunter who violates any of the provisions of the Hunter’s Code of Conduct may be subject to fines, reduction of points, forfeiture of tournament winnings, suspension from competing in future WTHC sanctioned events, permanent ban from WTHC competitions, or any combination thereof deemed appropriate by WTHC.
3. REGISTRATION: Each team must have at least one team member/competitor check-in/register in person with official WTHC registration staff at the time and place designated in the schedule of events. Failure to register in person could result in a team’s automatic disqualification with a non-refundable entry fee.
4. LIABILITY WAIVER AND RELEASE FORM: as a condition of participation in each tournament, each competitor must execute a waiver and release of liability, and a name and likeness release. All forms must be complete on the day of registration prior to participating or engaging in any WTHC activities or events. (This includes property drawing and scouting) Failure to do so will result in disqualification and removal from the WTHC sanctioned event cutting all ties between all of the team’s individual members and the WTHC.
5. SCOUTING: WTHC teams will draw their land units and be assigned a WTHC regulator (Judge) at the day and time and location specified in the WTHC schedule of events. Teams will then be allowed to go to their properties to scout, track and roost turkeys (without weapons). Scouting is optional. All three team members do not have to be present for the scouting process. THE WTHC TEAM’S REGULATOR MUST BE WITH THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE SCOUTING FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT THE TEAM IS ON THEIR LAND UNIT/PROPERTY OR TRAVELING TO AND FROM SAID PROPERTY. WTHC TEAMS ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT PERMITTED TO STEP FOOT ON THEIR ASSIGNED PROPERTY AT ANYTIME DURING THE WTHC COMPETITION WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THEIR ASSIGNED WTHC OFFICIAL/REGULATOR.
6. TEAMS: A (Team) consists of three (3) members no more, no less. A team must have a minimum of two shooters and one cameraman. Note: If the camera man wishes to be an eligible shooter, he must have all applicable licenses, tags, and permits (The camera man is not required to have a license if he does not wish to be an eligible shooter). IF A TEAM MEMBER CHOOSES NOT TO PARTICIPATE AS A LICENSED HUNTER, HE MAY NOT ENGAGE IN ANY ACTIVITY THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED HUNTING OR OTHERWISE REQUIRE HUNTING LICENSES AND PERMITS. (Including but not limited to, carrying guns and equipment or calling a wild turkey etc.) Only four (4) birds maximum per team can be taken regardless of whether or not all three team members are eligible hunters. Any of the three licensed and permitted team members can be an eligible shooter as long as the hunt is captured on video by one of the team members (See video requirements.)
7. LICENSES, PERMITS, AND GAME TAGS: All eligible shooters must obtain and possess: All pertinent resident or non-resident HUNTING LICENSES, PERMITS and GAME TAGS required by the state in which the WTHC is being held. The 2017 WTHC assigned Properties are in the State of Kansas Zone 6. All Licenses, Tags and Permits should be purchased for the State of Kansas Zone 6. ANY HUNTER WHO PURCHASES ONLY A STATE OF KANSAS HUNTING LICENSE WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL APPLICABLE TAGS AND PERMITS WILL BE IN DEFAULT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS HUNTING REGULATIONS AND WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE COMPETITION AND SUBJECT TO ANY AND ALL STATE AND FEDERAL FINES AND PENALTIES. The WTHC is not, and will not be held liable or responsible for or legally tied to any individual team in any way. By signing the WTHC registration, each team acknowledges and agrees to follow all State and Federal Hunting rules and regulations and agrees to hold harmless the World Turkey Hunting Championship for any and all illegal actions committed by any WTHC team member. The WTHC will work hand in hand with State and Federal officials to make sure that all rules and regulations are being adhered to and all hunting licenses, permits and tags are being obtained. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED !!! NOTE: All hunters born after 1957 must show proof of a hunters safety course completion certificate (from any State) in order to obtain a Kansas Hunting License.
8. WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT: A WTHC competitor is allowed to attempt to harvest an adult male turkey with any weapon deemed legal by the state in which the WTHC event takes place (including but not limited to Shot guns, bows (recurve or compound), cross bows, sling bows etc., on a state by state basis). (The use of rifles is prohibited) A competitor is allowed to attempt to harvest an adult male turkey using any hunting decoy that is deemed legal by the State in which the WTHC event takes place (including but not limited to moving or motion making decoys, turkey fan apparatus, and stationary decoys with retractable fans) on a State by State basis. Note: any use of a drone is absolutely prohibited during the WTHC competition. A competitor is allowed to attempt to harvest an adult male turkey using any hunting blind that is deemed legal by the state in which the WTHC event takes place (including but not limited to pop up/ground blinds, ghost blinds, Camo net type covering or shield).
9. TURKEY CALLS AND CALLING: Any of the three eligible, legally licensed team members are allowed to attempt to call a Wild Turkey during the WTHC competition. The WTHC is a contest of skill therefore:(a) Any use of digital turkey calls or any pre-recorded nature calls of any kind is prohibited and will lead to disqualification from the WTHC (See Kansas and State Hunting Regulations). (b) Any and all types of “legal” manual Turkey calls, devices, and apparatuses are allowed in the WTHC, including but not limited to: mouth calls, diaphragm calls, box calls, friction calls, gobble calls, owl calls, crow calls,etc. Any devices or hunting techniques or methods that are illegal in the State in which the WTHC is being held, will be forbidden in the WTHC. (c) No dogs or any other types of living decoys are allowed. Only non-living decoys are allowed.
10. PERMITTED HUNTING LOCATIONS: Teams will draw for their competition land unit on the first official day of the WTHC competition. Each team will pick a random number 1(one) through the number of teams competing. This number will determine the order in which a team draws it’s property (land unit.) Teams will not draw in alphabetical order. Also during this process, each team will be assigned their competition regulator after drawing their land unit. Once a team draws it’s land unit and is assigned it’s regulator, they will wait in the marshaling area until the marshal assigned to their property takes them to or directs them to their designated hunting parcel . Teams are absolutely under no circumstances allowed to visit, view, or scout their property without the presence of their assigned regulator. Once registration, land unit drawing, and regulator assignment is complete, teams accompanied by their regulator will have the remainder of the day to scout their assigned competition property. Scouting will end at sunset . Teams may utilize legal calls but are not allowed to carry any kind of weapon on to their land units during the scouting process. WTHC pre-approved properties will be drawn by each individual team. A Team is only allowed to hunt on its assigned and designated properties. Under no circumstances will a team be allowed to hunt on any piece of undesignated private property, private land unit, private ground or private space/area other than it’s officially assigned private land unit. As of Jan 1, 2017, WTHC Teams will not be allowed to turn in and measure wild turkeys harvested on State of Kansas public land. No Exceptions! NOTE: All hunters who purchase and posses a valid KS state hunting license are eligible to personally hunt KS public hunting land outside of the WTHC competition. However, any Wild Turkeys harvested on public ground will not be eligible to be registered with the WTHC and will not count towards a teams total score. If a team leaves it’s officially assigned land unit and hunts or scouts any other unassigned private or public property, the team will automatically be disqualified and subject to any and all legal action. All rules and regulations, laws and stipulations pertaining to the State of Kansas must be adhered to and obeyed by all WTHC teams.
11. HUNTING/SHOOTING: The WTHC is a two and a half day hunting competition. All teams will stop hunting (guns down) by 1 pm sharp on the third day of hunting in the WTHC competition. NOTE: the shooter must be considered an eligible shooter for each particular hunt according to WTHC rules and regulations Each member must hunt in the same location in the same set up as his teammates. Team members are not allowed to separate from the group set up for any reason. Unauthorized member separation will result in immediate disqualification of the team. Any previously scored birds will be disqualified and said team will receive a no score. An exception may possibly be made in the event of an emergency or extreme circumstance. In this instance, both the team captain and the regulator must contact the WTHC event coordinator prior to team member separation for a ruling on how to proceed. The team’s WTHC Regulator has the final say as to what distance constitutes the “same set up,” based on terrain. Team members are not allowed to hunt separately at different locations. Teams are required to leave their property immediately after dark on all days during the hunting or scouting process. No camping or spending the night on assigned land units is allowed at any time in the competition. Hunting equipment, i.e. Pop up/Ground blinds are allowed to be left in position on the assigned property at the contestants own risk. Teams are absolutely prohibited to be on their assigned properties for any time for any reason without their assigned regulator present. Kansas is a two-bird state. The state of Kansas allows an individual to take two birds in the same day, however the WTHC only allows an individual hunter a maximum of one bird per day for competition purposes. All three hunters can harvest a bird in a single day for a total of three (3) birds on any given day. HOWEVER, the maximum team total is still just four (4) birds. A team harvesting three birds on the first day puts themselves at an automatic disadvantage by eliminating the opportunity to “double up” for five bonus points on the second day. Only two birds can be harvested in one set up. Any third bird in a particular day must be harvested from a different team set up by a different team member. The maximum team total is three (3) birds on any given day with a maximum team total of four (4) birds for the entire two-day and a half day competition. (it is not two birds for all three team members for a total of six, the maximum team total is four birds). Any birds taken in excess of the maximum daily allotment or total team allotment will lead to disqualification of the particular harvested bird(s) and possible team disqualification). See disqualification for details. In the event a hunter kills two birds with one shot, only the lowest scoring bird of the two will be counted towards the team’s total score. However, both birds will count towards the team’s total bag limit, handicapping the team with a maximum of only three scoring birds. The particular hunter who shoots two birds in one shot will be ineligible to shoot at or kill another bird for the duration of the competition. NOTE: If an individual contestant does not harvest a bird on the first day, they will still only be allowed to take one bird on the second and third day. Teams will abide by all Federal and Kansas State Hunting Rules, Regulations, and Restrictions. WTHC stipulations, limitations, preferences, and contest rules take precedence in all WTHC findings, rulings, and determinations for WTHC contest purposes. No trapped, road killed, poisoned, pen raised, snared, previously killed birds or any other means that deviates from calling to and shooting a Wild Turkey will be allowed. A Turkey shall not be altered or tampered with in any way that would cause an inaccurate measurement or weigh-in. All beards and spurs must be intact and attached to the adult Tom Turkey in order to be measured and scored by WTHC Officials. No night hunting will be allowed. (Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset). The use of UTVS, ATVS vehicles of any kind will not be permitted during the competition by any team member. No shooting across legal, maintained or well-traveled roads. CONTESTANTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO HUNT ANY PROPERTY OTHER THAN THE SPECIFIC PROPERTY PROVIDED BY THE WTHC AND WICKED OUTFITTERS. Under no circumstances will a contestant(s) pay a fee to have exclusive rights to private property. Fees include money, favors, or material objects having a value of $00.01 or more. Dealings made by families, friends, or business associates in exchange for “an advantage” in the competition are also illegal.
12. WTHC REGULATOR – JUDGE: Each team will be assigned a Team Regulator/Judge who will monitor Hunting Operations of each team and make sure all WTHC Contest rules and regulations as well as Kansas State hunting laws are being adhered to. The WTHC regulator will meet his assigned team at a designated “check in” point at base camp prior to the morning roll-out and escort the team to it’s hunting property. NOTE: It is the team’s responsibility to make sure that their regulator is with them at all times during the hunting and scouting process. The team is responsible for transporting their regulator to and from their assigned property each day. If the regulator chooses to meet the team at an agreed upon central location as a matter of convenience, it will be allowed. However, such decision is at the sole discretion of the regulator who will have the final say. In many cases, the regulator will not have their own vehicle/transportation and they will simply not be able to meet their team. In the unlikely event of a “no show regulator,” it is the team’s responsibility to contact the WTHC officials, prior to stepping foot on their designated parcel in order for a next course of action to be determined. All strategic decisions will be discussed by the individual teams and finalized by the Team Captain. The WTHC Regulator is simply a passive observer and will not be involved in any of the critical decisions involving hunting strategy, set up, or tactics, etc. The regulator is not allowed to carry the teams gear or harvested birds or act as a camera man. The regulator will under no circumstances what so ever,, act as guide/navigator or offer any input or opinion related to the hunt in any way. The regulator will be a part of the “set up” and will locate him self away from the team at such a distance where he will have adequate visibility to observe hunting and filming operations. The WTHC Regulator (not the team captain) will have final say in his personal “set up” location. In the event of a dispute in regards to the regulator set up, the WTHC official must be contacted immediately. NOTE: If any team member changes its location or advances from its original set up, the Regulator has the option at their own discretion, to relocate in conjunction with said team member. All team members must remain visible by the regulator at all times. A team member cannot and will not tell a regulator to ‘stay back’ or instruct him to disappear. The regulator has the final say regarding his actions. In the unlikely event of an issue involving a WTHC Regulator, all complaints and disagreements about a WTHC Regulator can be brought to the rules committee chairman via cell phone or radio or brought to the attention of the rules committee.
13. VIDEO FOOTAGE: All WTHC Wild Turkey kills are required to be captured on clean, clear, and legible digital video as determined by the WTHC Rules Committee. In most cases, it will be in a team’s best interest to designate which team member will be primarily responsible for capturing the video footage of a particular set up. However, in the event that the camera man has “the best shot” on a turkey, he can become the shooter as long as the camera is given to a teammate to take over the filming duties. Each video of each kill will include the following minimum footage: The video must show the actual kill shot including the Turkey being killed and then immediately panning to the specific shooter. NOTE: All Turkey kills shot not on camera or “out of frame” are subject to not be counted. The video must show the specific shooter responsible for the kill with absolutely no breaks in video footage i.e. edits, out takes, cut aways or any other disruption of the videoing process. (Note: the video must include uninterrupted video footage of the kill while immediately panning to the shooter responsible for that particular kill removing his mask immediately after the kill before stopping the videoing process. The primary purpose of this footage is to show “proof of kill.” There is no minimum time requirement in regards to length of footage. There must be enough video footage for the WTHC Rules Enforcement Committee to determine that all video requirements mentioned above were fulfilled. In the event that the video is inconclusive, the WTHC Rules committee will interview the regulator to try to obtain as clear of a picture as possible to determine the events that actually took place. The regulators testimony will be considered in the determination of a particular outcome regarding disqualification of a team or a particular hunt. Each team is required to allow The WTHC access and non-exclusive usage rights to all videoed “kill” footage. (All video is deemed the property of the individual team, not the WTHC.) All teams must turn in footage for each bird that is being checked in. It is at the team’s sole discretion whether or not to turn in video footage of a particular hunt. However, any and all hunts without video will be disqualified, no exceptions. Any video footage with incriminating evidence of any kind will fall under the governing evidence laws of applicable jurisdiction and will be required by law to be released to appropriate authorities. Any and all videotapes and digital memory cards must be turned in to the WTHC Official weigh In Station before proceeding with the Weigh in and scoring process. In the event of an issue or controversy, the footage will be required to remain in the possession of the WTHC until a determination is reached and a ruling is made. Therefore, cellphone and iPad video footage is discouraged. All data chips/ cards will not be returned to the teams until a judgement by a WTHC official has been made. Any video footage deemed ineligible and inadequate due to clarity issues or failure of “proof of kill” by the WTHC Rules Committee will be disqualified therefore disqualifying the particular “kill” in question and the scoring process of that particular bird will be discontinued. In other words: if the video is inconclusive, the kill will not count towards the team’s total score essentially wasting one of the team’s four potential scoring opportunities. Any birds killed that are not captured on video will be disqualified and won’t be counted towards the total team score, but will, however, be counted as a kill and go towards the individual hunter’s kill total and the teams total bag limit, posing a severe disadvantage for that team. Note: The determination of a fair and legal kill is to be determined by a combination of the video footage and the regulators testimony as to what he or she saw. All findings, determinations, and rulings by the WTHC rules committee are final and non-negotiable.
14. TURKEY CHECK-IN AND MEASURE: All teams must check in before 10 PM Central Standard Time on the day of the harvest. (ii) in the instance a team is not likely to make the 10 pm check-in deadline, the team captain must contact the WTHC event coordinator with a reasonable explanation that must be verified between the event coordinator and the team’s regulator. Failure to do so could result in disqualification of the birds harvested on that particular hunt. Check-in area will be clearly identified. Turkeys must be brought in whole. Turkeys must have all legal tags attached to each particular bird prior to check in and throughout the entire time that the birds are being held in the possession of the WTHC. Harvested turkeys are the sole property of the individual contestant. The WTHC will store all legally tagged and identified birds for team members for the duration of the competition at the contestants own risk. The WTHC is not responsible for any harvested turkeys being lost, damaged, spoiled or stolen etc. Any team member caught transporting an untagged wild turkey or bringing an untagged wild turkey on to Wicked Outfitter’s property or any other property affiliated with a WTHC sanctioned event will automatically be disqualified from the WTHC competition and authorities will be notified. ZERO TOLERANCE. All firearms must be unloaded and stowed before entering base camp (Wicked Outfitters). DO NOT TAKE FIREARMS OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE ON WICKED OUTFITTERS PROPERTY FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN A SANCTIONED WTHC WEAPONS INSPECTION. DOING SO WILL RESULT IN TEAM DISQUALIFICATION AND POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION.
15. SCORING: All birds will be weighed and measured according to the NWTF scoring system/method. All measurements are taken in 1/16-inch increments and converted into decimal form. Birds will be weighed in pounds and ounces and will be converted to decimal form. Spurs will be measured along the outside center, from the point at which the spur protrudes from the scaled leg skin to the tip of the spur. Both spurs will be added together and the combined measurement of both spurs will be multiplied by 10 The beard will be measured from the center point of the protrusion of the skin to the tip of the longest attached hair and multiplied by 2. The weight of the Turkey will be added to the points scored by the spurs and the beard for the total score. In the NWTF scoring system, non- typical Turkeys(birds with multiple beards) will be added together for the total “beard score.” However, in order to omit or alleviate any potential “luck” of a-typical or non-typical genetics, the WTHC does not honor or recognize multiple beards or spurs as an aspect of a team’s total score. In the event of a multi-bearded bird, only the longest attached hair of the longest beard will be measured and counted towards the total points scored. Non typical, multi-bearded birds, will not receive extra points for their multiple beards. In the highly unlikely occurrence of double spurs, only the longest spur will be measured. Note: each beard of a multi-bearded bird and each spur of a multi-spurred bird will only be counted towards a turkeys total score in the “Big Bird” competition. 15.2. BONUS POINTS Bonus points will be added to the team’s total score, not an individual/particular turkey score. (5 bonus points) will be awarded for each act of “doubling up.” Not 5 points per shooter (5 bonus points) will be awarded for each wild turkey shot with a crossbow (5 bonus points) will be added for 3 wild turkeys killed in a single day (10 bonus points) will be awarded for each wild turkey shot with a bow (archery kill) (10 bonus points) will be added for 4 birds harvested in 4 completely different set ups (4 Different Times)
16. DISQUALIFICATION: (i) Each competitor agrees to report to the Tournament Director immediately any violation or infraction of any tournament rules. Failure to report any known violations, or suggestions to another competitor and or regulator that they violated these rules, may be cause for disqualification. OFFICIAL PROTESTS MUST BE FILED IN WRITING AND ALL PARTIES OF INTEREST WILL BE PROVIDED A COPY. (ii) A team can be disqualified and/or a particular “Turkey Kill” can be disqualified and uncounted depending on the magnitude of the offense. Any action believed to be done with intent to deceive will lead to automatic “Team Disqualification.” A committee of a minimum of 3 judges will settle all disputes and disqualify Turkeys or teams and confirm kills and methods of take. ALL DECISIONS ARE FINAL. In the event of a questionable Turkey or its method of take, the judging committee will do a further examination and their decision will be final. Each team could be required to submit to a polygraph or voice analysis test and will abide by its results. (iii) Hunters will obey and abide by all hunting rules and regulations as set forth by the state of Kansas. Any consequence or disciplinary action brought against a member or members of an individual team due to failure to adhere to Federal or State Hunting Regulations is solely between the individual teams and the State of which the alleged offense occurred. It is the responsibility of the team members to familiarize themselves with any and all Federal and State Hunting laws, rules, regulations, and restrictions. ALL WTHC contestants, teams, team members and team sponsors agree to hold the WTHC and any and all of it’s multiple entities harmless in the event of said team being prosecuted for any alleged legal offenses. (iv) All ties will be broken according to your time of departure from the event. (v) Remember you have signed a liability release and in doing so have agreed to follow all wildlife regulations in the area you are hunting in, this also applies to how you handle a motor vehicle so please allow yourself to have enough time set aside to drive safely to and from your hunt.
17. RULES, VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES, AND APPEALS: An appeals committee will be established by the WTHC, which shall be comprised of three WTHC officials. Appeals for penalties and disqualifications assessed must be presented in writing to the tournament director 48 hours from the time and date of ruling. Appeals hearings shall take place within thirty (30) business days from the date of receipt of the written appeal and all parties must make themselves available at prescribed time of hearing. If competitors admit to a rules violation, they may not file an appeal of either the finding that they have violated the rules or the penalty imposed for the violation. Decisions of the appeals committee shall be final. Penalties for rules violations may include the following: Reduction of days allowed in competition as determined by the Tournament Director/Rules Enforcement Committee. Loss or omission of one or more harvested bird(s) in question. Omission of “kill count” for the day of the violation. Disqualification from the tournament in question. Disqualification from future WTHC events, which may be from a specific number of events, a specific period of time, or a lifetime disqualification.
18. LIE DETECTOR TEST: By his/her signature on the WTHC official entry form, each competitor agrees to submit to a truth verification test and abide by its conclusion should he/she be accused of any rule violation. The Team captains of the top three “unofficial” winners will be required. The WTHC Tournament Director or his designee shall be responsible for selecting an independent expert to administer and interpret the results and establishing, in consultation with the expert administrator, the scope of the questions which may be asked during the test. The WTHC Tournament Director or his designee shall have sole responsibility selecting the location, and time of the test. The competitor shall make himself/herself available at the location selected by the Tournament Director and shall cooperate in all respects.
19.SAFETY: Tournament officials have the right to delay, shorten or cancel an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament properties may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather. Ultimately each team is responsible for determining its own parameters for what is and is not deemed to be weather conditions conducive for safe hunting. The WTHC will use its best efforts to safely and effectively determine and discern inclement weather conditions, however the WTHC assumes no (zero) risk or liability for weather based accidents, as the ultimate judgment call falls solely on the individual members of a team. The WTHC will be held harmless, faultless and blameless and free from any claim of negligence caused by or due to any incident occurring due to adverse or dangerous weather conditions or acts of God. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, COMPETITORS SHOULD CALL 911 FIRST AND ONCE SAFE, NOTIFY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. COMPETITORS ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THEIR ASSIGNED PROPERTY AT ANYTIME AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER IN BAD WEATHER WHERE DANGER MAY BE IMMINENT. The need for personal safety and shelter takes precedence over any other “location based” rule or regulation.
20. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in the WTHC are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Use of drugs (other than those purchased over-the-counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) or alcohol by any competitor, during the official “scouting and or hunting period” of the tournament, will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future WTHC tournaments. In the event of a drug or alcohol related incident during the official scouting or hunting period, violators will be subject to penalties and punishments set forth by State and Federal law. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to traveling to and from the designated hunting properties as well as hunting close to property lines/borders. Any act of a competitor, which reflects unfavorably upon efforts to promote hunting conservation, and courtesy, may be reason for disqualification. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the various states in which a WTHC Tournament is held. Competitors are responsible for research of all state hunting regulations. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and/or for disqualification after circumstances are reviewed by the Tournament Director. Any disqualification, suspension from, or other disciplinary action regarding any tournament or hunting organization, shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation in the WTHC tournament, and/or disqualification from any WTHC sanctioned tournament, after circumstances are reviewed by a WTHC Official.
21. PATCHES AND/OR SIGNAGE: Hunters are encouraged to wear their own clothing which may bear patches, logos and other signage promoting the “Team/Event sponsor’s” logo only. Team/Event sponsorship is a pre-determined, paid, sponsorship level as set forth on the WTHC website and official WTHC promotional materials. WTHC, however, reserves the right to ban, restrict and or refuse the use of patches, logos, signage, etc. that promote or advertise products which are, in The WTHC’s sole judgment, in competition with the products or services of official WTHC sponsors, or which are, in WTHC’s sole judgment, in poor taste. WTHC will provide as much advance notice as possible to the competitors in such instances. By signing this document, each pro team member agrees to wear any and all official WTHC promotional clothing on a case by case basis for purposes of any and all promotion or award ceremony photos and or media/television interviews requested by WTHC tournament official, including but not limited to WTHC official caps, shirts or jackets.
22. TAXES: Where and when state laws require income taxes be paid on cash awards to non-residents, the taxes will be automatically deducted prior to the awards being presented to the winners. All winners will be required to complete a W-9 provided by WTHC. WTHC competitors are responsible for all applicable taxes on both cash and merchandise awards. Various States require withholding tax on merchandise be paid upon the awarding of certificates and competitors awarded merchandise certificates in these States are responsible for remitting their tax to WTHC. Failure to meet these obligations may result in fines, and/or disqualification from all future WTHC events in addition to any applicable State penalties assessed due to a taxation violation.
23. MEDIA COMMENTS AND PUBLIC ATTACKS: The favorable public reputation of WTHC as a sanctioning organization in the sport of hunting, the integrity of its officials, and the reputation of its media properties are valuable assets and tangible benefits for The World Turkey Hunting Championship. Accordingly, it is an obligation of competitors to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage the integrity of tournaments, tournament officials, sponsors, fellow members, fellow hunters or the WTHC organization. Competitors are encouraged to express themselves and have the right to question the rules officials. Responsible expressions of legitimate disagreement with WTHC policies are encouraged, as opposed to attacks upon the integrity of the rules or officials. However, public comments that a hunter knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the reputation of The WTHC, WTHC officials or sponsors, shall be considered conduct unbecoming a professional and may result in disciplinary action.
PumpJack Promotions, The World Turkey Hunting Championship, and its committee, sponsors, property owners, affiliates, associates hosts or judges cannot and will not be held responsible for any accidents, losses, forces of nature, or acts of God.