Larry A. Smail's Blog

Light and moderate rain was the norm this morning. The winds were calm, but a dreary sky permeated the woodlands.  I heard my woodcock friend “sniping” in the pre-dawn moments. I waited to see if Bob was showing up to hunt until the last moment. Finally I had to embark the hill!

I sat in wait to see what events would transpire on this second day of the 2013 gobbler season. Warblers began chirping about and the crows opened up with their raucous cawing. A gobbler from across the hollow responded to their noise.  I debated, with his second gobble to cross over. Finally, I decided to go after him  while the grays would help conceal my approach.

I set up approximately 130 yards from the gobbling bird. He, now, was double and triple gobbling. I seduced him with some soft calls and was met with an anxious reply.

The moments crept on when I could hear a dog barking, up the hollow, at a friend’s home. I remembered wondering what made the lab bark.  The tom gobbled a few more times and then silence! I thought something isn’t feeling right with this bird. I waited a bit and called again. SILENCE!  I watched a hen fly from a tree directly above me, but no sounds from the gobbler.

My gut feelings are usually correct. I exited down hill and circled around to the top. I saw two birds and thought I may need to beak them up as a fall hunter might do. I turned and I saw another hunter. I approached him and we chatted and became acquainted. He was a nice fellow and we, both, apologized if we interfered with the hunt. We parted. he remained on the property and I went back across the hollow to seek out other gobblers.

Hindsight has made me believe the tom had seen the hunters approach. he was roosted along the ridge’s edge in trees with little foliage. This may have been the reason he clammed up so quickly. I will never know for sure., but, this is why it is called hunting and not getting. Things happen!

I did see a hen  later. I reached for my camera and realized the memory card was absent. This really bothered me as I walked around the hill calling for turks. I saw two more hens in a field and I had to go home and find that card! (And I did at home!)

I saw some squirrels and had nine deer spotted so the day was still a success. Tomorrow will be another day!