Yes, recently this week I ventured out in some cold weather with stiff breezes to hike around a game lands. I hunted bear at this site last fall and wanted to explore some areas I hadn’t ventured into as of date. Immediately upon leaving a gas well road to move upslope the signs of deer beds were prevalent. This area was shielded from the wind gusts and I suspect the deer made use of that fact. Numerous tracks were present as I hiked this adventure. I would see three deer later during the hike.
I circled around the hill’s side and old long-abandoned highwalls to fight Multiflora Rose and autumn Olive. I still have several thorns embedded into my hands as I type.
Once I moved up onto the top flats of this hill the winds became more brisk. They felt, almost, as a personal attack on me. However, I was prepared for the cold.
Turkey scratchings
I spotted some exposed leaves among some downed trees and discovered turkeys had been scratching the day before. Several hundred yards away I
Deer bed
came across fresh tracks. the tracks soon led to six to eight turkeys. I managed a few quick photos. I actually broke the flock up. If the cold was so demanding and may have set up to call some back, but I elected to continue moving to keep the old blood moving.
I walked a quarter of a mile and heard something moving in the brush only to see an adult gobbler. The brush did not allow any photos.
The cone of a Tamarack. (Larch)
Note the swollen left side of this deer’s head.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
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