Larry A. Smail's Blog

The temperatures were in the upper thirties as I walked  in the pre-dawn lights. A steady breeze was felt throughout the day too. A woodcock doing its mating ritual air dance descended and when the Timberdoodle was only about ten feet from my head spotted me and diverted to land behind me. I would hear several while walking  and later I would see one fly from the ground. (I looked for eggs, but didn’t find any.)

Steep enough for ya?

I heard the gobbler from the last several mornings and I told myself I would NOT be falling for that game this day.  I walked up and over trying to hear a gobbler over the distant road noise which was exceptionally loud this  morning.  I circled back around and I heard a gobbler across the hollow and road. I detoured at an angle hoping to locate and move in prior to his flying from the roost. I failed. I heard a few gobbles while he was on the ground. Soon, I set up and he was silent. I wondered if the turkey could have spotted me in the open woods. Gil-obble-obble! I made one call after hearing him and he was silent . I waited an hour before taking a walk and call tour.

At 9:30 I was heading towards the steep hill country to try to stir-up the gobbler I messed up on yesterday. Cherry Run, although still swift and high was now managable to cross with the aid of a limb working as a third leg. The water was within an inch of going over my high boots. I hurriedly began the climb. I was within twenty yards of reaching a high point when I heard voices to my right.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Reluctantly, I began to climb down the steep hill. I, once again, crossed the waters and looked up a recent right-of-way and could see about 6 workers doing erosion control work. I went back to the original hill to see if the gobbler would answer my calls. he wouldn’t and didn’t and before 11:00 I bumped into him and a hen near a field’s edge.

I saw lots of deer this morning. I  saw warblers and squirrels as usual too.  I know I am getting tired. these aging bones and muscles are crying out for me to either bag a bird or lay down for a day!!!