POST FALLS - It's the hunting answer to "American Idol."

Duck and goose calling contests are a way to keep youth involved in the sport.

The Post Falls Cabela's hosted its first calling contest recently, drawing entrants from throughout the region.

Practice, practice some more and consult someone who has already practiced a lot are the keys to calling success, according to participants, organizers and judges.

"Practice and learn," said Corey Shamburg of Cabela's. "This area is full of great waterfowl callers who are more than willing to help."

Shamburg said, like any other product, the quality between calls can vary. That can make a difference with bringing in the birds, but nothing beats working at it.

"Some people can take $20 calls and make them sound really good," he said.

The contest drew competitors from throughout the region and getting the youth involved was a major focus, Shamburg said.

"If kids aren't showing an interest in it, it may be difficult to keep the sport going," he said.

Prizes were offered to the top competitors in the Junior, Novice and Open divisions of both the duck and goose contests.

The registration fees went toward benefitting the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's youth waterfowl program. Shamburg said Cabela's hopes to make calling contests an annual event.

Brad Brown of Bill Saunders Calls, a sponsor of the event, said calling contests help keep hunting alive for future generations.

"Some kids don't take advantage of the outdoors and this helps get everyone excited about the hunting season coming up," Brown said. "It's definitely harder to get kids out when they can stay inside and play video games in 10-degree weather."

Chad Eidson, of Moses Lake, Wash., and a contest judge, agreed that practice and good direction are what it takes to be a good caller.

"You might have to upset your wife, girlfriend or neighbor (due to the noise), but there's no other way around it," he said. "Being a good caller is just one more trick to put in the bag to be a successful hunter."

Eidson said that, with goose calling, there's more variability than with duck calling.

Mitch Workinger, a 16-year-old from LaGrande, Ore., won the Junior division for both contests and gave the Open duck callers a run, placing third.

"The competition is fun," said Workinger, who has been calling for five years. "Once you get it down, it's hard to forget it."

Andrew Graham, a 17-year-old from Cheney, Wash., said he picked up calling from a hunter when he was 12.

"I practiced more and more, then started going to calling competitions," he said. "I love being with the people."

Calling contest results

Here are the results of the calling contests held at Cabela's in Post Falls recently (hometowns were unavailable):

Junior - 1, Mitch Workinger; 2, Carson Mackey; 3, Colton Imhoff

Novice - 1, Alex Yerger; 2, Mark Purser; 3, Trevor Austin

Open - 1, Ryan Hansen; 2, Josh Harris; 3, Mitch Workinger

Junior - 1, Mitch Workinger; 2, Carson Mackey; 3, Noah Rich

Novice - 1, Matt Tremblay; 2, Trevor Austin; 3, Carson Mackey

Open - 1, John Plughoff; 2, Andrew Graham; 3, Jake Low