Wednesday I left the house about noon to take a turkey calling trek at a local game lands. I still find hunting in the afternoon slightly weird. I’ll get used to it I am sure. The weather produced rain in the morning. 
I began working along a food plot area calling, and hoping a gobbler would answer. I circled a bend in the field only to see a turkey run off. Gobbler? I can’t say. If this was a gobbler he didn’t respond to my calling. these are tough times to hunt gobblers. The hunter can never know where he is unless the bird gobbles once in a while.
Mollusks on a bee hive.
I worked a ridge, dropping downslope and working back. I heard no gobblers. I did see two opossums in the forest. I hunted for one and a half hours.
Fox Squirrel
The next morning (Thursday) found me high at a listening point. I heard the gobbler clear across the big hollow. Off I went to try to refine his position.
Scarlet Tanager
I ended up about thirty yards from an old township road with the gobbler in a tree above my location. I had no other options, but to play the cards!
I called softly. I was watching a warbler specie known as the Black and White warbler. The bird was close to me, and not appreciating my presence. I thought about getting the camera out for a photo when I heard the gobbler fly down. He was close! I prepared for a shot.
I waited when suddenly the gobbler appeared 18 yards from me. I froze of course. The bird would lift his tail feathers slightly, but not into a full fan. I suspected from what I could see that this gobbler was a bird from last year. He gobbled, and went into full strut. I could see the middle tail feathers sticking up above the others. Now I could see and entire beard, too…all five inches on beard. I allowed the bird to pass.
The gobbler didn’t go far, but my leg felt as if it weighed two tons. My leg had fallen asleep! I had to move. The bird walked away “putting” loudly.
I went to my mother’s home for breakfast with family. I arrived there by 7:20 so you can see this all happened quickly. Afterwards, I went out until about noon, but never heard a gobbler.
A native Azalea.
Awww. Friday morning! No gobbling! I quickly headed for a secondary place. I arrived at seven, and slowly worked diagonally along the steep hill. I walked about until about 9:30, and did not hear any gobbling, with one exception.
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
I called loudly form an open area, and heard what I believe was a gobbler three-fourths of a mile across the big Cherry Run hollow. I elected to not go after that probable reply. Five years ago I would have been off in a hurry. Today, with age that may not have been a good idea. I saw a hen that was acting like she had a nest nearby.
Porky!
Fire Pink
I went to another area to walk and call. I had taken a couple of toms here in past hunts. The only problem these days are the steep hills to get there! As I approached the summit a hen turkey flew from a tree. It was 11:00 A.M. I pondered as to why she was in a tree at that time.
I walked the ridgeline calling periodically. I saw something dark, and at first thought I was seeing a gobbler in strut. However, a second later, proved I was seeing a Black Bear, and a big male at that!
The bear was walking towards me. I placed the box call between my knees as I began trying to keep a focus on the bruin. At about 17 steps away, he stopped. A second later he turned around in high gear. I guess I must have had an odor about me. I was happy the big guy didn’t want to mate. Mating season is upon the bear population.
Chestnut-Sided Warbler
I was basically finished with turkey hunting. All I wanted to do was check my photos out. I did see a porcupine in a tree allowing for some pics.
I continued calling as I circled towards the jeep. No responses! I peered over en embankment on the gas line I was calling from only to see two gobblers moving away. If only one would have answered…….
Mountain Laurel ready to bloom.
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The first cast into the swift water ended up with a snagged , and lost, line. The second cast brought forth a 14 inch catfish. I continued to fish having a couple of light bites, but no strong tug to force me into action.
After the third time of snagging the bottom plug of the river, I decided to head along the river, and take some wildflower photos.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 