Larry A. Smail's Blog

Skunk Cabbage

I heard three gobblers from my listening point this morning. Of course, one was in the posted property. The gobbling didn’t last very long for hens could be heard. I actually called a hen to the call early. She didn’t have any male suitors. I would later cross the hollow at a diagonally angle and work to the top of the hill. I called several times and received no answers. However, as I peaked across the flats I saw a gobbler and hen moving away from me. I hate when they don’t answer my calls.

I moved along a few areas to call and listen. (And nap) I did see a number of squirrels and deer. I left to check out a new place by  around nine thirty. I talked with my step-father a few minutes to tell him my plans.

I walked up a steep hillside to begin calling. I worked a ridge to no avail, but I searched for some morels at a few places I had found them in past springs.

I was moving up another steep hill along an old gas well path. This area had a lot of Multiflora Rose, but I have received action as I would call down over the back side. Suddenly, I saw two turkeys feeding.  I crouched immediately and set up. I didn’t have a great place due to the roses, but that was all I had to work with. The calling began. I flushed a hen and gobbler from the hill’s side.

The gobblers walked to with gun range. Now there were three. I assumed all were jakes, but I couldn’t see their beards in the vegetation. They looked around for fifteen minutes as I listened to another turkey walk about within the brush. It was a gobbler, too, although I never saw it. I couldn’t move as the bird walked back and forth. I heard coarse gobbler clucks a few times. Talk about nerve wracking’. After a while he moved on. I moved and set up to try to call him back. The time was 11:20.

Myrtle warbler

I saw a Myrtle warbler and he allowed some photos.