Larry A. Smail's Blog

   I continued the elevation along the hill until I entered a gas line. I called and was immediately answered by a gobbler up on top of the grade. I walked up and called prior to going up and over the crest. He answered again and much closer. I searched for a good set up place and finding none I squatted low among the ferns and limbs, shotgun ready. I called again and an answer. I visualised the event as my friend Kip Feroce always says to do.

Shortly, I could hear the drumming sounds of a gobbler in strut. Hearing these sounds means one thing to the turkey hunter. ..HE’S CLOSE! I could see the fanned-tail at the crest of the hill. The bird continued looking and strutting.  The sights were aligned and the gobbler was harvested. Laurie has turkey for her famous meatball recipe again!

   The shot was at 26 yards. the bird was over twenty pounds with a beard length of eleven and three-fourth inches. The pointed 7/8 inch spurs told me he was a three-year old gobbler.

However, the day up to this time, had some issues. I set up on a gobbler at another hunting site. I was approximately 100-125 yards from the roosted bird. The woodlands were relatively open and I was on the same plateau as he was. All seemed good. His last gobble, still from the tree, was at 7:00. His next gobbles (three of them) was across the hollow and towards the top. I figured had to be a female (hen) involved somehow.

I edged along the side listening up and over when suddenly the coughing associated with asthma began to occur. I muffled the first series. I eased up over to look across an open woods and just as I began to call the second phase hit me and hit hard. I coughed loudly and saw a hen and gobbler running. The third series forced me to throw up some phlegm. After that I was tired. frustrated, and not sure what to do. I laid down for a sleep and later wrote down some writings for future ideas.

Bob thought it was a grouse!

  At 9:30, I decide to head to another spot. I felt the need to get away from these hills and hollows. I have been concentrating at these areas for Bob’s sake. It is fairly easy for him to walk about across the hollow. (Bob saw several turkeys and a deer smelling his decoy.)

I returned to the car to see a feather on the wiper. This is cousin Donnie and my way of communicating a kill. He called in two 2-year old gobblers and bagged one.

I arrived  about a mile away and crossed Cherry Run and began the climb to the top. The rest of the story is above!!!