World Championship Duck Calling Contest

View on map
UniqueStuttgart
DatesDates TBA · Usually NovemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesCompeting here requires more than showing
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

World Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart

The World's Championship Duck Calling Contest is the anchor competition of Stuttgart's Thanksgiving weekend festivities, pitting duck callers who have won qualifying contests across dozens of states and Canada against each other on a downtown stage. First held in 1936 alongside the Arkansas Rice Carnival, it remains the sport's most prestigious title in competitive duck calling.

Stuttgart sits in the heart of Arkansas's Grand Prairie, a flat expanse of rice fields and flooded timber that happens to lie beneath one of the busiest waterfowl flyways in North America.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Competing here requires more than showing up: contestants must first win one of roughly sixty-five sanctioned preliminary contests held across nearly forty states, plus a Canadian qualifier, before they can step onto the Stuttgart stage

02

The mystery stays covered

The event actually began as a local dispute-settler, originated in 1936 by Thad McCollum after Arkansas County hunters argued over who called ducks best, and grew into a sanctioned national championship watched by a specialist audience of hunters and callers

03

The city starts moving

Alongside the main title, Stuttgart also crowns Women's, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior World Champions, plus the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial contest and a Champion of Champions, giving the event a full competitive ecosystem rather than a single trophy

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The contest grew directly out of Arkansas County's duck-hunting culture

Water and renewal

Living ritual

formalizing an argument among local hunters about who called ducks best into a structured

The sacred route

Living ritual

judged competition

The local code

Living ritual

Its qualifying system

Tradition 5

Living ritual

run through sanctioned state and regional contests across the country and in Canada

Tradition 6

Living ritual

continues a nearly ninety-year tradition of treating duck calling as a competitive craft with its own judged standards

Tradition 7

Living ritual

distinct from hunting itself

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually November

Getting around

For World Championship Duck Calling Contest, plan transport around the exact Stuttgart venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Practical cold-weather outdoor clothing is typical, since the contest is held outdoors in downtown Stuttgart over Thanksgiving weekend; many attendees wear camouflage or hunting-brand gear...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For World Championship Duck Calling Contest, stay near the part of Stuttgart you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map34.50 N, 91.55 WOpen in Google Maps

Stuttgart, AR

Nearest airportPBF — Pine Bluff Regional Airport, Grider Field
TransportFor World Championship Duck Calling Contest, plan transport around the exact Stuttgart venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor World Championship Duck Calling Contest, stay near the part of Stuttgart you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Stuttgart via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Stuttgart, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare faresFestival gearPractical cold-weather outdoor clothing is typical, since the contest is held outdoors in downtown Stuttgart over Thanksgiving weekend; many attendees wear camouflage or hunting-brand gear reflecting the area's duck-hunting culture, though it is not required.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is World Championship Duck Calling Contest?

World Championship Duck Calling Contest is listed for November · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does World Championship Duck Calling Contest take place?

The festival is listed in Stuttgart, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Stuttgart, AR

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLstuttgartarkansas.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually November
Source statusOfficial source linked
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