Fire Pink
More rain! I don’t remember a spring with as much rain as we have had this year. I hate to admit it , but, I have the blahhhhhhhhs. Most turkeys seem to have it too. I heard two gobbles (maybe a third muffled one as I circled the hill behind where I thought he was.) and didn’t have a chance to locate him.
Feroce box call
I was fortunate once again to hear the woodcock doing his mating ritual. These little birds fly into the air in the pre-dawn or dusk to then do a spiraling descent. They land and do the raspy call that sounds similar to the word “snipe”. This little guy landed on the gas well road I was on and close. I used my flashlight to attempt to see him. I followed the sound, but the sound is very deceiving. The sound seems to always be just ahead of where you believe he is. This occurred three times while I waited. I, also, saw two of the red fox puppies. (kits)
A Kotchey slate call
Anyway, once the silence was realized, I began a walk and call tour about the area. I couldn’t muster a gobble if hearing it would save my life. I did see six deer and several squirrels while I walked about.
Later, I drove to the site where I saw the two turkeys yesterday in the rain. I toured that area without an utterance. I settled into a beautiful woods, called and sat down on a log. I placed the shotgun across my lap and placed my chin into my left hand to wait and listen. I fell asleep! I realized just how tired I was over these several weeks of early mornings, hill and holler walks and little sleep. I decided to walk and call back towards the vehicle and go home for some rest.
A Gilbert custom call
I walked along a mowed fence row to avoid the high, mid-thigh grasses. I called and soon saw three turkeys out front. Of course, they didn’t answer and I spooked them. One was definitely a gobbler. the other two appeared to be toms. I just had a glimpse of them before they ran into the woods. The Smail curse strikes again!
Upon returning home and eating, I laid down for a nice nap before heading off to look for footware…DRY FOOTWARE!
******************************************************************************
I have included a few photos of turkey calls from my vast collection. The box call, shown above, was made for me by my friend, Kip Feroce. This call was created from sycamore wood .Check out his web site at: http://ferociouscalls.com/
The slate call is from another friend, Shawn Kotchey. I met Shawn over a year ago. Another friend, Dana Gould and I hunted his land last fall. Shawn showed me how to make a diaphragm turkey call while we visited his home. His company is: Millcreek valley Game Calls. His web site is: http://millcreekvalleygamecalls.com/
The third call was a gif t from Lonnie Gilbert of Ohio. He doesn’t have a web site yet. His company is: Buckeye Boxes.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
“For,lo,the winter is past,the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land…”
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
Thanks you cheered me up from my blahhhhhhhhhhs!
Hang in there, old timer! Things are bound to get better. I haven’t been out for two weeks due to a cold/cough. I think I’m going to hit it tomorrow morning… if the Alka-Seltzer Cold Medication works tonight. Sounds like I have missed an unproductive period. I have really been enjoying the blog and the pictures. I’m learning alot at your expense! Remember that good things come to those who perservere!
Old timer…that hits hard! I hope you can get out tomorrow for that is a long time to be ill.Yeah, if you recall last year was like this year in many ways. I ended up getting two goblers in three days during the last week. It is OK to sleep in the woods right?