Larry A. Smail's Blog

I was prepared for rain. All I heard was rain was going to happen! Agreed the morning was dark and gloomy. This was a far-cry from last Wednesday morning as I sat near this spot listening for turkey activity on the roost. Wednesday morning, I heard two great-horned owls, saw plenty of squirrels and six doe. The day was sunny and very warm for late October.

A gray squirrel began scolding in the pre-morning gloom. I threw a couple of sticks at it hoping to shut its mouth. I called a few times imitating an early morning scenario. Suddenly, I heard what I believed was a cluck. A few minutes later I heard a couple of more clucks and took off in the direction hoping to find the turkeys in the tress and break them up to help Bob in the hunt. Bob was stationed higher above me to listen for birds too.                                                                                                                          

As I approached the area where the clucks originated from I heard a series of yelps over the hill’s edge. I circled and heard running turkeys. I quickly ran after them seeing half a dozen taking to the air and running. Then it happened…I fell hard! I felt pain immediately knowing  some injuries were upon this aging frame. I remember saying to myself that, maybe, I am getting too old for this! I located  Bob.

We were planning to set up and I could already hear some turkey calling below us. Soon I heard the sounds of the mother hen. I hated to go down over the slope, but I told Bob I was going to try to spook the hen away. I saw her and she went away. The hunt was looking good for I could hear two young birds doing their kee-kee calls and whistles.

I reached Bob and began calling and that old hen came back doing her assembly calls and in short order the woods was silent of turkey calls. I began to walk across the hollow and circle around to locate them again, but I failed finding them.

I went back to Bob and we began going the opposite way. I saw two turkeys twice in the next hour or so. Later, as I circled again I saw another lone bird. I had a nice seven-point walk to about 15 steps and my camera was not with me for the forecast of rain told me that we should be getting wet by this time. Later, I saw other deer and another buck. Lots of squirrels were to be viewed this morning, I heard two grouse.

By noon, the pains from the early fall were taking their toll on me and I was soon to be heading home. The first day of turkey and I was done by noon. I went home and took a shower and took a pain pill before going to sleep. As I type the forecast is for rain through Thursday with some high winds due to the approach of Hurricane Sandy. A turkey-less year…maybe?                                                                                                             

I am including some photos from Wednesday!