Larry A. Smail's Blog

The sky was perfectly clear with a full moon casting long shadows. My plan of attack on this first morning of the 2013 spring gobbler season was to try to get up on the hill behind a ridge where gobblers often roost. I was surprised to see Bob already parked at 5:30 A.M. We quickly discussed or plans and off I went. I was moving a little later than I had hoped. I was blessed to hear the mating ritual of a woodcock as I climbed the slope.   

The edge of thetop of the hill was in sight when a gobbler thundered from across the hollow. I stopped and thought the bird was below where Bob was going.

My stoppage forced another situation as a turkey erupted from a tree not 40 yards from me. Just my luck I thought. I decided to set a while and I did some turkey yelps earlier than the books say as the hens tend to call later after the gobbling starts.

Wow! Several turkeys began gobbling in sync behind and across another hollow. I imagined these birds may have been jakes from the 2012 hatch. I thought I may as well have some fun regardless and made a move to set directly across from their roosting tree. I estimated the distance to be 150 yards or so. They liked my calling until a real hen could be heard near them. Their enthusiasm waned, but another turkey far from the three could be heard.  I called excitedly and soon realized the bird had left the roost and seemed to be coming down slope towards me. He, soon, gobbled directly below me and I prepared the Remington 870 shotgun for action.

2013 Spring Gobbler

The tom became quiet for quite some time before’ once again, announcing his whereabouts. He was now on the same side of the hill as I was and to my right. I watched for any sign of his approach. He continued to circle me and I maneuvered a spin around the tree to get keep into proper shooting position.

After a time I could see the top of the fanned tail and the shotgun’s sights were aligned. I clucked and the gobbler raised up allowing me to see a beard and take the shot. The twenty-five yard shot dropped the gobbler. The time was 6:45 A.M. I gave thanks for the harvest and prepared the tag.

I met an old high school buddy as I was leaving. Ed Orr was hunting turkeys too. We chatted a bit and I went in search of Bob.

King of the Rock!

The temperature was to become warm as I headed down the road towards where my cousin, Donnie hunts. I left a breast feather on his windshield as per our tradition.

The beautiful gobbler was a very nice two-year old bird. His beard was nine inches with 3/4 inch spurs. He weighed in at 21 pounds!