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5th Day Gobbler

May 5, 2011 by larrysmailart

  

Scarlet Tanager

  Frost on the pipes this morning made for a potentially treacherous stream crossing. I shuffled along very carefully. Bob drove around to the other side of the hill. He is smarter than I. (rarely)

I set up to listen and was disappointed that this would be the third morning a gobbler wasn’t heard on the roost. The morning was clear, followed by some cloud cover and opening back up for some sunshine around 8:30. I circled around to see Bob. He said he had heard one solitary gobble across the field. I told him I would, probably, be going to another area after circling the hill, calling and listening. While we were discussing options I noticed a red fox with some food dangling from its mouth. I didn’t get a photo. Bob had to leave early today due to a committment.

Beautiful Pennsylvania!

  I followed through with my plan and began the long trek to my destination. I sat down and began taking photos of warblers when around 9:30 I believed I heard a distant, muffled gobble. Later I did confirm, but the windy conditions made direction and distance very difficult to determine. When did the winds start?

I played around with this turkey for about 1 1/2 hours before his silence seemed permanent. He only gobbled about 10 times in all. I am not sure what had happened. I have theories! 

Green Heron

   I chased out another turkey while heading back to my vehicle. I had seen a lot of deer today and a few squirrels too. Upon returning home, I had my springer, Suzie out and was surprised to see a green heron along my backyard creek.

My girl!

Posted in 2011 Spring Gobbler Season, Misc. Nature | 2 Comments »

4th Day Gobbler

May 4, 2011 by larrysmailart

When is the weather going to become like May? Bob and I were rained on today. I guess that is to be expected. We sat from 5:30 to 6:40 and never heard a “peep” of a turkey. I was surprised, but that is why this thing we do is called hunting and not getting. You can never know what a turkey will do.

Dogwood blossoms

  Despite the gloomy morning, I was pleased to see the beautiful dogwoods continuing with their annual flowering. This same area in the fall is loaded with red berries and wildlife eating them.

We began a tour around the area calling and listening. Eventually, I heard what I believed to be gobble deep in a hollow. Unfortunately, by this time, we were near U.S. 422. the highway supplied too much noise. However, I heard some sharp alarm putts and close. I counteracted with alarm putts and shortly a hen came into view. She had seen Bob move and began “cursing” the unidentified movement. I calmed her down and played around with her for about thirty minutes before she circled around me.

    I decided we should check out another area where I had seen the gobbler yesterday. I dropped Bob off at his car. He talked me out of going instead to return home and torment mom for a while. When I checked the time at 10:00 I decided to take up his offer.

Goose family

  I saw some deer too. I, also, saw a  warbler of an unknown specie and a pair of geese with goslings. The warbler photo is not of best quailty. Any one know the specie? Many  warblers are the birds I have least knowledge. One sees them so little to learn.                             

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Day 3 Gobbler Season

May 3, 2011 by larrysmailart

    Bob didn’t show at our predetermined meeting place. I waited until 5:15 A.M. and drove up the road to where I usually park. I sat in the darkness and waited to hear a gobble greet the morning , but was disappointed to hear nothing, but the increasing rain. A tour to listen and call would be the next step.

My calling was producing nothing. At one point, after calling, I began walking downhill only to spook a turkey of undetermined gender. Why didn’t this bird answer my calling?  No one can say why a turkey will one day answer and other days totally ignore a call.

Beautiful wetlands!

  I left this area and went about a mile away to check for activity. At 9:15 I received a gobble to my calling clear across the hill. I hurriedly took off in the general direction until I approached a field. I, cautiously, peeked through the vegetation and quickly noticed that the gobbler was NOT in the field.

I approached the  wood line and field intersection and called twice. No answer. I thought the rain and terrain may be keeping my love-sick calls from being heard by the gobbler. I elected to move farther upslope and call again. WRONG MOVE! I had taken two steps when the gobbler exited the woods into the field. Our eyes met and the tom escaped back into cover. If only……………

I did, however, see seven deer and another hen in a field. I saw some squirrels, catbirds and indigo buntings. (first time this year)

Spring Beauty

   Bob and I are going to try again in the morning. the weather is supposed to improve over night.

Posted in 2011 Spring Gobbler Season, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Second day Gobbler

May 2, 2011 by larrysmailart

  

Turkey hunter????

   Despite the weather people calling for rain the morning hours produced few drops of water. Bob and I split up to cover more area. I was sneaking through the pre-dawn morning when a gobbler sounded off across a small ravine at approximately 200 yards. His first gobble was at 5:35 A.M. He didn’t gobble much and left the roost sometime after 6:20. I could hear hen chatter near by.

    Two shots sounded off, somewhere,  on top of the hill above the gobbler. I later found lots of feathers along a gas line. I walked back around where I had heard the tom and after hearing some hen talk another gobble exploded in the gray woodland.

Mayapples

  I elected to cross the hollow again and try another approach. (I tend to fear hen talk. I treat hen yelping as a potential hunter so I try to avoid any situations such as this.) On the next hill top,I sent some seductive hen calls and was immediately answered by two gobblers and too close for comfort. I sat down in rapid preparation knowing this calling site choice had some issues. There were some down trees and I feared these obstacles could be a deterrent with the birds approach. I had no choice since the silent birds were, no doubt, sneaking on in. Another twin gobble and there the two longbeards were coming on in. I was ready!

    The two toms slowly surveyed the area in search of the hen. They stood at 45-48 yards and stared for a time before becoming suspicious and easing on. I try to keep the shots to 35 yards and under and those distances were much too risky  for me.

Shortly, I went searching for Bob and we returned to the site where the two birds were and waited for some time in hopes of hearing a bird as time went on. The woods were silent.

Fisher tracks?

  All in all, I saw three toms and one hen; two deer; some squirrels and  two scarlet tanagers. (One of my favorite spring birds.) I found tracks that I believe could be fisher tracks and a remains of a beaver. I removed the skull for the native American Room in the museum.

Posted in 2011 Spring Gobbler Season | 2 Comments »

First Day Gobbler & Wheatfield painting

April 30, 2011 by larrysmailart

     A beautiful morning indeed. After weeks of much rainy weather this morning was clear and dry and calm! I sounded off with a goose call and heard an answer. My step father, Bob Miller and I set up hoping the gobbler was not across a rural road behind an eight-foot enclosure.

Button buck

   I called sparingly hoping the big bird would fly to our side of the hill. he didn’t. he worked towards a trailer and two booms were heard. I had heard two distant gobbles and we headed in that direction when I heard hen talk. We paused and I correctly surmised the calling was human. We turned away and went several hundred yards when three shots from two different guns blasted away. We heard and saw a turkey flying away in the distance.

Bob and I crossed the road where we had parked and heard more hen talk followed by two blasts. We went high on the hill to check a field and heard two more shots over in the next hollow. I did see a hen in the field. Bob decided to leave the woods and travel to Ohio to mow the grass at his other home. I went to another place. I heard a hunter and avoided the area and was answered by a single gobble. I began a trek down over and up over the next hill when I heard a shot.

Morel

  I decided to hunt morels and work for turkeys next week! I found some morels..yum- yum! I saw several squirrels and six deer today too. I do not function in high-hunted pressure areas. I needed to leave early anyway for I was to meet my friend Slim Bowser to do a joint Civil war presentation.

*************************************************************************

Commander Bowser & I

  Slim, dressed in Civil war era soldier clothing, and I visited the Worthington Library. This year is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Yes, that is only three 50 year life spans. Slim set up a display of Civil war items of interest. I set up my, yet uncompleted, painting of the Rose Wheatfield Battle of Gettysburg. I brought early sketches and such to discuss to those in attendance.

Slim did his talks basically, on the 62nd, Company D soldiers. Many of these soldiers had enlisted during the war from our area of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The visitors throughly enjoyed the educational and informative talks.

Honorary Membership

  At the completion of our presentation, I was deeply honored to receive an honorary membership of the Company D, 62nd regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 5th Corps.

Sometime I wish to do a blog concerning my ancestors who fought in the Civil war. At least, six out of a family of 15 were in that war. Two died in  battle. My great Grandfather was wounded. One seems to have died from typhoid. Oh well, that is a story of the future.

Posted in 2011 Spring Gobbler Season, Historical | Leave a Comment »

Looking for ‘rooms!

April 25, 2011 by larrysmailart

Service Berry blossoms

Scene from behind the house

   A dreary overcast morning  with fog hanging over the river basin was the norm as I left the house. The weather people were all saying rain and by the looks of the cloud cover I felt my travels could very easily be a wash out!

The camo rain jacket would protect some of me if, indeed, a moderate to heavy rain were to come. I grabbed a plastic bag for my initial reason to walk up over the hill behind the house was to look around for ‘rooms. I you are confused, please, allow me to explain. I was going to see if any morels were out yet. Morels are a spring time mushroom or as some say “rooms.

Easter Bunny..maybe?

   The only problem with me is the fact I have a short attention span at times. When I traverse across fields and forests I am seeking everything of interest .Place me in a woodland scene covered with an array of wildflowers and mushrooms can easily take a back seat. My mind drifts back and forth to flowers; morels; wildlife and anything and everything of interest. I guess this is not a major issue to me though. I enjoy nature.

      I didn’t find any morels, but I was blessed at seeing a lot of critters this morning. I saw two rabbits and, at least, eight squirrels. I saw many birds including flickers; juncos; red-bellied woodpeckers and many other small birds. I saw one deer. She was standing in brush looking at me. She thought she was hid.I managed one photo!

I circled the hill and I abruptly stopped at the sound of a muffled gobble. A minute later I heard the gobbler again and this time he was close. A minute later he was standing there looking at me. I called and he went into strut. he dropped down below the crest of the hill and that was the last I saw him.

I returned to the house in a light rain. A half hour later the sun was shining and the temperature climbing. Good time to cut some grass!

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature | Leave a Comment »

Armstrong County Historical Museum

April 24, 2011 by larrysmailart

 

Armstrong Co. Museum    The Armstrong County Historical Museum opened for the 2011 season on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011. Concerns over predicted rainy weather were unfounded since rain was absent on the day and sun with warning weather proved to be a pleasant surprise.

  The upstairs rooms, known as the Military Room; Sewing Room and Native American Room were opened after much work over the months. The Military Room has suffered water damage and repairs to the problems should soon be accomplished.  Ron Crytzer has repaired damaged walls twice over the last six months and damage has occurred again.

   The opening of the museum was met with a number of visitors throughout the day.Volenteers were on hand, most in Civil War era clothing to answer questions.

An added plus for the event were members of the John T. Crawford Camp 43 and Sarah A. Crawford Auxillary. These dedicated reenactors and historians set up several tents and various weaponry and other items from the Civil War era. Loading and shooting demonstrations were, also, completed for interested visitors.

  One young fellow dressed with Civil War attire was standing on the porch early . I approached him and gave him an order to guard this entrance. After some light corrections due to his wandering eyes he stood at attention. I was called away for a few tasks and returned about twenty minutes later and was surprised to see this young man still there. i relieved him of his duties at that time with a smile.   

The Armstrong County Historical Society web site is: www.achmgs.yolasite.com/

The Crawford Camp web site is: http://crawfordcamp43pa.tripod.com/

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Five Miles In The Woods

April 21, 2011 by larrysmailart

Owl pellet

False Hellebore
Bob walking the plank

 

 After Bob and I ate a hearty breakfast, we left Susie (my springer spaniel) and mom to fend for themselves at home.  We entered the woods after 9:00 to study the Cherry Run area for turkey signs and whatever else we could observe.

The first obstacle we encountered was crossing the gas line bridge. the wood planks have been long gone especially from Hurricane Ivan, but two pipes still exist. Bob, at 76, does very well except when I torment him. This was to be another torment. He was about half way across these pipes and I accidentally began to shake the bridge. (accidents do happen)  I expressed my sorrow with a smile.

We discovered some turkey sign at the two places we walked. We saw nine deer; two squirrels; pileated woodpecker; two hens and a gobbler. We heard some yelping father along, but back, in the woods.

      The honeysuckle and multiflora rose are already greened out. The other trees are  always slower. As the trek continued I noticed a small gray-colored mass among the forest floor. The mass had obvious bones in it. This is owl regurgitation. Owls eat their prey whole and their digestive system push out hair, feathers and bones into an “owl pellet.” Study of a pellet can realize the victim at many times.    

    Other things of interest, at least to me is the plant life. Today, I found  delicate spring flowers known as the rue anemone and others known as Dutchmen’s Breeches. Another plant I like  if the false hellebore. This plant has a tropical look once it matures. They grow and flourish along streams and wetlands. I have planted this plant on my property. However, come summer they have completed their annual cycle and begin to turn brown and fade off the scene until next spring.

   Unfortunately, we observed some things that are negative. Why people feel a need to abuse other lands has always forced me to wonder. Beer cans are often viewed along farmer’s lanes and gas well roads. Today was no different. We looked into the winter wheat fields and it was easy to see the doughnut tracks caused by ATV and other 4-wheel drives. No wonder the farmer posted his land.

Posted in Hikes, My Family, Wildflowers, Wildlife | Leave a Comment »

Thoughts on Good Friday

April 19, 2011 by larrysmailart

In Matthew 12:38-40 some important words are told: Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher we wish to see a sign from you.” Jesus answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign; BUT no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

I have always been a self-thinker with many things. Many years ago while in my late teens to mid-twenties, I first asked myself the question as to how a Good Friday crucifixion could be three days and three nights leading to the resurrection. You noticed I stated here that I asked myself. I didn’t dare ask a trained pastor or priest this question. I figured in my mind that a probable reason is known to the trained individuals and left the thoughts wander off.

However, at times these thoughts would resurface. I discovered an explanation once that the Jews considered even one hour of a day as an entire day. So, a few hours of Friday evening, all day Saturday and and hour into Sunday would make this three day-three night promise fullfilled. I didn’t buy it!

I kept my thoughts privately, until a dozen years or so, I discussed it and received looks of confusion. I wrote these thoughts down and kept them.

I believe that the Good Friday concept happened somewhere way back among some church leaders who didn’t take into account Jewish laws and ways of counting days and nights and their different sabbaths. The tradition has flourished over the years.

In John 19:31, it is stated, Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath for that day was a high Sabbath… (Jewish sabbaths begin at sunset and go through the following day until sunset again). This high sabbath spoken in John can occur any day of the week and is referred to as one of the “annual Sabbaths”. This particular one occurred during the Feast of Unleavened Bread known as “Chag Hamatzah”. This is over the Passover week. So Jesus’ body would need to be entombed before sunset under Jewish law.

We know from scripture the women went to the tomb very early on the 1st day of the week which is a Sunday.

To allow for the 3 days and 3 nights as told by Jesus Himself the High sabbath would need to be on Thursday of that year with a Wednesday afternoon crucifixion.

By writing the days and nights down, I found it easier to follow.

Wed.    night    Thur.  night         Fri.      night     Sat (weekly sabbath)   night  Sun

1 night             2 nights               3 nights

Day 1                    Day 2                     Day 3

Jesus, to fulfill His own promise would have been resurrected anytime after the Saturday’s sabbath ended at sunset.

Something to think about.

Posted in Spiritual, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Time With A friend

April 18, 2011 by larrysmailart

The spring gobbler season is rapidly approaching the Pennsylvania hills and hollows. My friend, Frank Maus, and I know how we are once that season is in place… we are hunting! With the though in mind we decided we needed to get a hike in prior to the gobbler season. Today was te day!

We have had a lot of rainy weather this spring and finding time to get together for a hike was scarce. I watched the weather and this week was looking like another time with rain potential so I made contact and we met to beat the coming water.

   The morning was beautiful, but clouds were on the way. We traveled along Chechak Road and circled through the woods and fields back through the Ford City Sportsman’s Club grounds. We were looking for gobblers in the fields. The birds were absent this morning. However, we did hear an angry hen cutting. Although the bird was fairly close the thick vegetation forbade our view. Frank saw a turkey briefly flying in the woods. I was yapping too much to hear the flush.

We did see one deer; a couple of rabbits (one was the Easter bunny) and a few squirrels. We, also, saw grackles, bluebirds, flickers, geese, wood duck and many other specie of bird life.

   The hike was several miles in total and the conversation was good. The area will traveled consisted of some rolling hills of forest land and fields allowing for some high altitude views. These combinations made for some spectacular views . We stood at several locations just searching the distances in wonderment as to how far we were actually observing.

A great day indeed!

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