Larry A. Smail's Blog

   I became  a little disgusted when I hadn’t heard any turkeys on the roost, possibly, due to the elevated truck noise. The clear, cold skies allowed for extra volume this morning. I heard something running in the leaves as I slowly approached the listening point. I first thought the turkeys may have been down  on the ground early, but, I heard something easily known to my ears. I heard the grunt of a buck chasing his “doe.”I could hear the rustling work along the side of the hill just out of my sight.

Frosty morning doe

I started a slow tour of calling and listening until I decided, once again, to exit to a quieter woods. Since, I didn’t need to worry about Bob this day, I elected to head a mile farther south along Cherry Run. One needs to go about a mile and a half to begin finding peace from the noise.

I started the ascension up the hill and began a walk and call hunt. While walking I spotted a red fox in a field. I was seeing a lot of deer here and there too. I didn’t see many squirrels this morning. The twenty degree temperature may have kept the little critters in the nest longer.

Red Fox

I was working a flat when I thought I heard a distant cluck in response to my turkey calling. I hesitated and called again and I, once again, heard that sound. Yes, the sound was definitely a turkey!

Those beautiful hills!

I quickly set up and began working the call only to hear the turkey become more vocal. After a few minutes I could tell the bird was moving in towards the calls I was making. Five minutes elapsed when I could see a turkey here approaching me. the briars and fallen tree limbs made seeing the bird difficult at times.

Little buck

The turkey walked into range, but not offering any chance of a shot due to the problems mentioned earlier. I could see the bird for a second or two before loosing sight for a second or two.

Adult hen

The turkey worked to my left and I followed it with the shotgun when safe to move the barrel. the bird stopped and I sensed it was become slightly nervous because she couldn’t see the turkey that had been making the calls. I waited and clucked and the bird turned some allowing for a shot through an opening between two trees. The thirty-five yard shot was accurate!

Cherry Run