Larry A. Smail's Blog

  I was high on the hill by 5:15 A.M. listening as intently as I could for that first gobble. The atmospheric conditions caused the road noise to be extra loud as I strained my ear drums!  The highway is about one mile away, but the trucks  sounded way too close.  

I heard a far off gobble south of my listening position. I circled around hoping to hear other gobbles. I knew the gobbler would be in lands that I do not know the landowners. However, I walked to the property line just to listen to the tom gobbling a lot.

I went about two miles father south, and walked a reclaimed strip to get to the top of one of the higher elevations. I was soaked from mid-thigh down! The water wicked down my pants to my socks as well. A heavy fog enveloped the area until about nine o’clock. I hoped things would change in regards to turkey hunting. The full moon phase was worrisome to me. I heard nothing here. I circled the woodlands calling, and listening for that elusive gobbles. Two dogs came through the woods barking at me.     

I came through the woods back to the reclaimed strip when I saw two gobblers way across the hollow. they were feeding at the woods edge of the reclaimed strip on the other hill. I went to the jeep, and drove to a closer park.

I circled around where I watched the two birds enter the woods. I called periodically and maneuvered around and I could not muster any turkey sounds from the birds. I felt they had to hear me. the time was almost noon when I left to hit another hill. The area was very quiet and I could have heard gobblers from far off. They are not enthused at all.

Shed Black Snake skin.

I walked up a steep hill and made a circle along a ridge calling, and hoping to hear anything pertaining to a turkey. Nothing! I returned to the jeep at almost 1:30.                                            

Detail of snake shed

I saw plenty of deer; squirrels, a rabbit and countless warblers, but couldn’t hear a turkey.  A few other friends are experiencing similar activity.