We Do This Too - Let's Talk Turkey with Shawn Grant
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In this episode of 'We Do This Too - Let's Talk Turkey with Shawn Grant,' host Courtney Williamson sits down with Sean Grant, a pioneering Black turkey caller and competitive hunter from King George, Virginia. Grant shares his journey from a young hunter inspired by his grandfather to becoming the first Black caller to make the finals at the NWTF Grand National. He discusses the nuances of turkey hunting, emphasizing that success comes not from loud calling but from patience, proper setup, and understanding turkey behavior. Grant breaks down key misconceptions—like the idea that calling is easy—and explains how terrain, timing, and silence can be more effective than constant noise. He also reflects on the mental discipline turkey hunting teaches: humility, resilience, and the importance of learning from every miss. Throughout the conversation, Grant offers practical advice on decoy use, calling techniques, and when to be aggressive versus when to go quiet. His deep respect for the sport and passion for mentoring the next generation shine through, especially when he recounts giving his son a turkey call from Stanley Wims, a moment that symbolizes the community and legacy of turkey hunting. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire segment where Grant shares his preferences: diaphragm calls over box calls, private land over public, and running gun over sitting still. He reveals his long-standing preference for ghost-cut diaphragm calls, which he builds himself. The conversation is both educational and inspirational, underscoring that turkey hunting is less about gear and more about mindset, experience, and connection to the outdoors. Listeners are encouraged to embrace the process, learn from mistakes, and stay consistent—because as Grant puts it, 'You’ve got to be in the woods to learn.'
Patience is the most important skill in turkey hunting—silence often kills more turkeys than loud calling.
Setup is everything: positioning yourself in the turkey’s natural travel path increases your success rate by 75-80%.
Turkeys remember hunters who miss them; avoid calling the same spot repeatedly after a failed hunt.
The yelp is the backbone of turkey calling—mastering tone, volume, and timing is more important than volume alone.
Don’t rush—most hunters move too fast and call too loud; slow down and let the turkey make the next move.
Sponsor Intro: Interstate Batteries & Brand Partners
The episode opens with a sponsorship announcement for Interstate Batteries, followed by a heartfelt shout-out to multiple outdoor brands including Moultree, Ula's Archery, Threads Custom Bowstrings, G5 Outdoors, Blackburn Apparel, Dear Pimp Sensen Lures, Vision Clothing, Bluebird Waterfowl Company, Angry Chicken Outdoors, Barley's in Houston, and RetayUSA.
Introducing Sean Grant: A Trailblazer in Turkey Calling
“I was the first to ever call in the Grand Nationals and make the finals. That was in 2002. I made the final. Didn’t make the top five, but had fun doing it, that’s for sure.”
From Squirrel Hunting to Turkey Hunting: A Lifelong Passion
Grant recounts his early hunting days, starting at age 13 with squirrel hunting alongside his grandfather. He reflects on how the school-wide hunter’s ed course helped ignite his lifelong passion for the outdoors, and how turkey hunting became his true calling in his late teens.
The Road to the NWTF: Qualifying and Competing
“When you get up on that stage, it's a lot of heat up on that stage because you got a lot of lights. With all the bright lights and all shining on that stage, it'll kind of almost take your breath a little bit.”
Breaking Barriers: The Rarity of Black Callers in Turkey Hunting
“There's not enough of us to be passionate enough like we are to try to take it to the next level. If they would just step it up and take it to the next level, man, it would make a world of difference.”
“You should be always asking that question, why? Why didn't that turkey come over that hill? Why did that turkey gobble 25 times and not answer my call?”
“Silence kills a lot of turkeys. You just got to know when and where to be quiet. And be patient.”
“You’ve got to be in the woods to learn. That’s the only way to learn. There’s videos. You can look at Facebook and YouTube. But the woods is what teaches you everything.”
Host
Guest
Sean Grant
person
Courtney Williamson
person
NWTF
organization
Stanley Wims
person
Ken Stewart
person
Interstate Batteries
brand
OG
person
David Finley
person
Threads Custom Bowstrings
brand
Ula's Archery
brand
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Bird Brain Is Back: Talking Spring Turkeys with Long Branch Game Calls
Sportsmen's Empire - Turkey Hunting • 1h 9m • 4/1/2026
Are We Losing Touch In Hunting? w/ Tim Knight
Sportsmen's Empire - Turkey Hunting • 1h 38m • 4/7/2026
Ag Land Turkey Tactics with Matt Streim
Sportsmen's Empire - Turkey Hunting • 1h 8m • 4/7/2026
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