Larry A. Smail's Blog

This was the best morning all season in regards to the weather…high pressure system; cool and no wind. I had stealthily maneuvered myself 130 yards  within the site where the big gobbler usually roosts. I was about 100 yards below the crest of the hill. A Lenni-Lenape warrior would have been proud!

Shortly after 5:00 A.M. the gobbler from way off in the posted area sounded off. I mentally spoke to myself refusing to fall for that temptation.  I could hear another gobbler  later.  I elected to sneak back out to the gas line even after telling myself the manuever I had just completed was the best thing to do.

As I rounded the point of the hill I heard a gobbler much closer and he was across a shallow gully in an open woods. I raced up hill and quartered around to plan my attack. Gil-Obble-Obble-Obble directly behind me was loud and clear. My earlier plan was right on. He was about 120 yards from me. The other bird was about 200 yards from me. I decided to try from this tree.

The big bird apparently henned up for after about 8 gobbles he was quiet. Now,I focused on the other bird who was down from his roost and walking uphill away from me. I bee-lined at an angle and soon realized this gobbler had made his position on the top of the hill. I set up and called and was immediately answered back. In moments the big bird was strutting and gobbling about 120 yards from me at the crest of the hill. He began to walk downhill as I kept the Remington 12 gauge focused on his vital area.

    The bird was coming at such an angle that I needed to adjust my head and eyes. Bad move! The glasses began to fog up and I purposely forced my breath (I brushed this morning!) from the side. I moved my trigger finger slowly and attempted to clear my right eye area. I could see the turkey, but he was clear. The site, however, was on and the shot taken.

The gobbler was just shy of twenty pounds. He sported a one inch spur and an 11/16 inch spur. The beard was 9 3/4 inches long and rather thin.

I saw three hens and 6 deer while driving home. I located my cousin, Donnie Smail’s truck and followed our usual custom by placing a feather on his windshield.