My step father, Bob and I circled around the field early so we could be in a better position if he sounded off this morning. The gobbler had been along this ridge twice. This fact gave us a good starting point to listen and, hopefully, allow for a quick and close-set up.
We stood along the field watching two bats constantly flutter back and forth over our heads. Many warblers were singing, a woodcock was “sniping” as the sky appeared to be opening up from the cloudy conditions earlier.
The gobbler gobbled at our eye level, but clear across the big basin-like hollow. Bob didn’t really wish to go around as he listened for a closer gobbler. I didn’t push him, after all he is 78 years old. the gobbler sounded only a few more times. We started around the ridge back to the area where the car was parked. here I told Bob to listen since we were now much nearer to where he was roosted. (While Bob listened I retreated for a nature call. Two turkeys exploded from a nearby tree.)
We proceeded along another field and moved higher in the field to listen. I heard him farther out the ridge. We made some moves trying to better locate the bird and get closer. the gobbles seemed to get softer. I estimated the gobbler to be in the woods at the field’s edge now. We gambled and traveled along the opposite edge of the fields allowing the terrain to aid us in our approach. The foliage would, also, help concealment.
We quietly crept into the woods. This woodlands is about 30 yards of level terrain before drastically sloping another fifty yards before leveling off again onto another field. I called once and moved inward and called again to hear a sharp response from a hen followed by a gobble. We were close!
All we could do was set up and hope I could anger the hen enough to come towards my calling bringing along the tom. She did the norm by taking the gobbler away from us. Bob was ready to go home and harass mom and have breakfast. We quit at 7:45 A.M. 
I saw a grouse, a deer and a family of five young woodcock. The mother did her hurt wing routine. I went towards the flushing point to see the young birds fly away. They were not all that little.
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Yesterday, Laurie and I went to the Pittsburgh Zoo early. I enjoyed the wild turkeys walking outside of the zoo’s main entrance. I, also enjoy the aquarium building. I enjoyed the turkeys and chipmunks more than the more exotic species. But, that’s me!
Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarium area
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
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