Bob, my step-father, and I slowly walked along the right-of-way as the dawning light from the east intensified by the second. I had heard birds on the roost in this area on an earlier scouting expedition. I was hoping the turkeys would be repeating that roosting habit this morning.
I continually watched the trees for dark masses. Suddenly, I told Bob to look up there…turkeys in the tree. I told Bob to wait while I tried to get above them and break the flock up. The birds had other plans when suddenly birds took to the air with me shouting and running towards them. I didn’t go far up the hill before the asthma took control and locked up my chest. However, a few birds seemed to break away from the main flock.
We set up and shortly birds were answering my calling.One turkey came at us and at 28 steps saw us and departed. I could have easily taken the bird, but, my concern was for Bob to get the first turkey. Surprisingly to me, he couldn’t see the turkey. Later, my calling produced answers and rustling leaves. I saw two of these turkeys and Bob saw one. Minutes later all that was heard was silence.
I set Bob down at another site and circled to relocate the birds and corral them towards Bob. My plan worked and Bob missed one. I called in another bird that remained out of range. I could hear others walking behind me. An hour later Bob missed number two bird!
The turkey patrol continued when I heard a turkey far off. The bird eventually answered my calls and was close. We, hastily, set up and moments later I saw six turkeys feeding in front of me at about the 42 to 45 yard range. They fed and circled, but Bob didn’t see them. I charged and broke the birds up.
Bob and his first fall turkey!
Bob and I set up near the breakup site and shortly called and received turkey talk in return. The young gobbler walked in and stood looking at twenty yards. Finally, Bob shot and a first fall turkey was on the way to the skillet. The time was 12: 05 P.M.
I congratulated Bob and we set for a short time hoping another would answer my calls. I decided we better take to the road and get the bird cleaned since the temperature was warm.
We had viewed or heard turkeys much of the morning. We saw deer, grouse and squirrels too. The day was perfect… the day was beautiful, the wildlife plentiful and I was blessed to see a man with a smile or two!
I walked non-stop from 6:15 A.M. until a little after one. I didn’t see a turkey, but that was alright since I had time to reflect on my past once again. Like I said …lots of memories!
Larry A. Smail's Blog 