Larry A. Smail's Blog

Success

The first two days of the 2021 Pennsylvania Fall Turkey Season were rather noneventful in regards to finding turkeys. I did see plenty of deer over the next for days while afield. Lots of squirrels were searching for food preparing for the winter season.

Tuesday I was out early listening for roosting birds and failed to hear any roost chatter. The walk and call method was in place when I located fresh scratchings under beech trees. I moved ahead twenty yards or so and as I entered onto a gas line I noticed the turkeys moving upslope. I immediately began to rush up hill on the line and went about fifty yards in a run when my chest tightened up forcing a stop. The reason for this chase-down was to break the birds up and call them back. they will make quite a vocalization song trying to get back together. At one time a couple of the birds entered on the line above and within range. I didn’t shoot and watched eight to ten turkeys move up hill and out of site.

I walked into the woods to settle down and eventually began calling. I thought a bird or two may have went the other way. Within a short time I heard a reply and close. I believe I may have underestimated the distance for the woods went silent. I believe the turkey may have seen the shotgun being moved about. However, I continued calling and heard a couple of clucks and would glimpse maybe four turkeys in the vegetation.

I searched for the flock and, believe, they must have gone into posted lands. Later, I was preparing to head off I began calling. I didn’t hear any turks and once I began to go down over the steep hill towards the jeep, I heard something only to see a turkey about twenty steps away moving up the hill. The bird may have been coming in silent.

This morning I hiked the close to a mile distance hoping the birds may have ventured back into this woodlands yesterday afternoon. I was disappointed with not hearing any roost talk. I slowly moved back towards the jeep checking for any turkey activity or sights.

I left the area and drove to another site. As I walked up an old road and uphill. I saw another hunter moving towards me. he was dragging a buck. He had shot the deer yesterday evening and lost the sign. Today he came early and finally found the buck, however, the entire “Gut area” had been eaten away. The top of the hill is posted. The man was part of a lease.

his vehicle was on top and he didn’t want to drag the deer uphill. I offered to take him to his vehicle and he was very grateful.

I began a search for turkeys and spotted four birds at the edge of a right-a-way. I tried to get close and call but they had moved out. I walked about called and heard some turkeys behind. I angled up the hill and moved in for a break and I was successful.

I set up and soon began to hear responses from my calling. About half hour later two young gobblers came to the call and I bagged one at twenty-three steps. I messed around and called another couple of birds in before leaving.

Not the best of terrain for an old feller.

The deer on left was a decent buck, but he avoided the camera.

Dogwood Berries