Larry A. Smail's Blog

Last evening when I took my springer out to a business call our ferret, Quincy eluded me, passing by the door before the spring pulled it closed.  He is fast and I never saw him. His bell and collar was removed for a bath and he carried it under the bed and Laurie failed to search for it. With Suzie taken care of I jumped in bed. Laurie, began to call for Quincy and he didn’t respond. I grabbed a flashlight and his treat container and went outside. Lucky for me our neighbors were still setting outside their garage, Portia saw me and immediately called to me. Yes, Quincy had just been past them. I found him and lured the little weasel to me with a treat. Thankful the neighbors were out!

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   I was perched at the highest point well before daybreak. The gobblers were, both, opposite this hill today. Both were in inaccessible areas. I checked around and failed to locate any other birds. I went to site where Bob is hunting and after a brief discussion I went onward to call and listen.

Sometime prior to eight o’clock I called ans was answered by a lusty gobble. Unfortunately, for me he came in quick and caught me ill-prepared. he wasn’t overly spooked just aware something wasn’t right. I made a large semi-circle around and below this position an shortly he was gobbling again. The mood was not the mood I was hoping for and he had periods of silence too. I actually laid down for a nap.

Two deer

  Upon awakening I called and a distant gobble was heard. I maneuvered several times  often receiving answers to my calling at distances of as close as eighty yards. The big bird eventually dropped across a ravine into an area with  pines. I actually began to walk and call and the gobbler was going nuts following me but refusing to come back across to me.

I retreated because quitting time was rapidly approaching. I circled and came into the pine area. He would gobble and I would move. Finally, I reached the top of the hill. For what ever reason, the winds picked up around 11:00 and before long the bird was silent. I wondered if the winds had a role with his silence. Could he have seen me during a move?  I doubted that idea.

Bear sign!

  I slowly toured along the ridge calling periodically when I discovered a place where a bear had been sleeping. Now, I am not sure if this happened, but could the bear have winded me during the windy times causing it to leave the bed and walk towards the turkey?  The answer is .. yes! I have been seeing plenty of bear signs on my hunts. I tasted this pile twice and still couldn’t determine what the bear had been eating.

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What a fragrance!

While working the bird my mother called me concerning my uncle. Harold Yount is in the hospital with some potentially serious health issues going on. Also, my aunt, Ethel Burkett fell and is at the hospital too.