Larry A. Smail's Blog

Dogwoods galore!

   My recent routine is to travel through the pre-dawn grays to wait and listen for a gobbler to announce his presence. This morning was no different for I traveled up the hill in an area that just glows. Hundreds and hundreds of dogwood trees dot the landscape with millions and millions of blossoms. Scattered among these trees are many crabapple trees , also, in bloom with pink flowers. Add to this are autumn olive and honeysuckle with their beautiful blossoms. The fragrances are non stop. Savor the moment!

    My earliest remembrance of this area was in the latter 1960s. My dad and I would hunt morels in the adjourning woods. At this time, this area was abandoned pasture lands covered with various vegetation; briars and small trees and saplings. Today, those saplings are trees. I transplanted some wild geraniums from my place to this wooded area.

I walked to within 10 steps of a deer before it noticed me and bolted. I saw 5 deer today. About that same time I heard a gobble two hollows away. I immediately took off in pursuit.

Canada Mayflower

  I crept in close to the still roosted bird. I guess I was no more than 100-130 yards away. The woods was relatively open. I had crept to the same level of him. Things were looking good. Soon I called and was greeted with an answer. I stopped calling and another gobble exploded. I then heard two yelps and two clucks….a hen! I never heard that gobbler again.

Bob's decoy

  I went back across to check out Bob and his experiences. He had seen two deer and a hen turkey approaching his decoy. Around 10:00 I reentered the area where I had heard the gobbler only to tour the country without any response. The birds, no doubt, went well into the posted lands.

Pennsylvania, for the first time has full day gobbler hunting during the last two weeks. This seemed weird as I walked up hill at another site.  I checked out some areas where I had worked or heard gobblers earlier this season. No luck today.

Rufous-sided Towhee

While setting and waiting for a gobble I was fortunate to observe a pileated woodpecker up close and personal. The crow-sized bird was about 15 feet from me pecking on a log and even walking about the ground. The woodpecker flew up to a nearby aspen and I realized that a nest was within a cavity on that tree.

I am assuming that besides hens, the low pressure system that has settled in for a few days may be curtailing gobbling activity. It is supposed to last into Thursday. Maybe my soaked feet are causing the birds to head for other hills. (sarcasm)

Yellow warbler

Other sightings included a red fox kit; ‘possum; several squirrels and a host of warblers and other birdlife. Of course, I will be out again tomorrow!