Larry A. Smail's Blog

  The fog had me out searching for a certain view I was seeking. The photo may become a cover insert for a CD I am making for someone. Prior to the early fog I awoke with my eyes semi-glued shut. I decided to forfeit a gobbler. I needed to have a morning breakfast with my family, too.

I pulled alongside a township road to get that previously described photo. I saw a hen turkey, then another as I exited the jeep.  Just out in front of them were more hens; several Jakes. I could see movement behind some vegetation and I was blessed to see two longbeard gobblers. ALL WITHIN SHOTGUN RANGE! I grabbed the camera. My shotgun was on the seat, but I don’t hunt that way!

I took a number of quick pics as the birds ambled off.

Fire Pink

After 9:00 A.M. I changed into my camies, and everyone knew what I was planning.  Yes, I was going to hunt gobblers. Quitting time is noon, so I didn’t have a lot of time. (I didn’t hunt where I had seen the turkeys earlier.)

   I arrived  and began to walk slowly up a grade listening for any turkey activity. I spotted a hen in a field. Later, as I moved about I gobbled only to be surprised with a gobble in return.  I sat for a time listening for another, but failed to hear. I  needed to hurriedly move to another of the time.

I called and heard afar-off gobble clear across a big hollow. Off I go! I called as I approached the site where I suspected the gobbler to be. Nothing! You have, probably, guessed what happened next! I eased over the hill only to see two longbeards, and the hen moving along. they had suspected something. If they would have gobbled in response I could have tried something. I left the hill at 11:20.