Larry A. Smail's Blog

This was the best morning all season in regards to the weather…high pressure system; cool and no wind. I had stealthily maneuvered myself 130 yards  within the site where the big gobbler usually roosts. I was about 100 yards below the crest of the hill. A Lenni-Lenape warrior would have been proud!

Shortly after 5:00 A.M. the gobbler from way off in the posted area sounded off. I mentally spoke to myself refusing to fall for that temptation.  I could hear another gobbler  later.  I elected to sneak back out to the gas line even after telling myself the manuever I had just completed was the best thing to do.

As I rounded the point of the hill I heard a gobbler much closer and he was across a shallow gully in an open woods. I raced up hill and quartered around to plan my attack. Gil-Obble-Obble-Obble directly behind me was loud and clear. My earlier plan was right on. He was about 120 yards from me. The other bird was about 200 yards from me. I decided to try from this tree.

The big bird apparently henned up for after about 8 gobbles he was quiet. Now,I focused on the other bird who was down from his roost and walking uphill away from me. I bee-lined at an angle and soon realized this gobbler had made his position on the top of the hill. I set up and called and was immediately answered back. In moments the big bird was strutting and gobbling about 120 yards from me at the crest of the hill. He began to walk downhill as I kept the Remington 12 gauge focused on his vital area.

    The bird was coming at such an angle that I needed to adjust my head and eyes. Bad move! The glasses began to fog up and I purposely forced my breath (I brushed this morning!) from the side. I moved my trigger finger slowly and attempted to clear my right eye area. I could see the turkey, but he was clear. The site, however, was on and the shot taken.

The gobbler was just shy of twenty pounds. He sported a one inch spur and an 11/16 inch spur. The beard was 9 3/4 inches long and rather thin.

I saw three hens and 6 deer while driving home. I located my cousin, Donnie Smail’s truck and followed our usual custom by placing a feather on his windshield.

The temperatures were in the upper thirties as I walked  in the pre-dawn lights. A steady breeze was felt throughout the day too. A woodcock doing its mating ritual air dance descended and when the Timberdoodle was only about ten feet from my head spotted me and diverted to land behind me. I would hear several while walking  and later I would see one fly from the ground. (I looked for eggs, but didn’t find any.)

Steep enough for ya?

I heard the gobbler from the last several mornings and I told myself I would NOT be falling for that game this day.  I walked up and over trying to hear a gobbler over the distant road noise which was exceptionally loud this  morning.  I circled back around and I heard a gobbler across the hollow and road. I detoured at an angle hoping to locate and move in prior to his flying from the roost. I failed. I heard a few gobbles while he was on the ground. Soon, I set up and he was silent. I wondered if the turkey could have spotted me in the open woods. Gil-obble-obble! I made one call after hearing him and he was silent . I waited an hour before taking a walk and call tour.

At 9:30 I was heading towards the steep hill country to try to stir-up the gobbler I messed up on yesterday. Cherry Run, although still swift and high was now managable to cross with the aid of a limb working as a third leg. The water was within an inch of going over my high boots. I hurriedly began the climb. I was within twenty yards of reaching a high point when I heard voices to my right.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Reluctantly, I began to climb down the steep hill. I, once again, crossed the waters and looked up a recent right-of-way and could see about 6 workers doing erosion control work. I went back to the original hill to see if the gobbler would answer my calls. he wouldn’t and didn’t and before 11:00 I bumped into him and a hen near a field’s edge.

I saw lots of deer this morning. I  saw warblers and squirrels as usual too.  I know I am getting tired. these aging bones and muscles are crying out for me to either bag a bird or lay down for a day!!!

Foggy Morning

I was listening intently from a field’s edge. The heavy fog wasn’t causing any slack in “bird music”. The warblers, cardinals and even the blue jays were all in great tune. However, the gobbler music was absent. I slowly walked along listening and even called a few times. NOTHING!

I walked back towards the car to see if any other hunters were around and I couldn’t see any cars . Just then I heard it… a gobble!  I heard the second and the bird was across the road on a familiar point. I circled his position to eliminate any chance of him seeing my approach from below. The big bird was silent.

Crow in the fog

I, once again, circled further around and heard him gobbling once more  but the gobble was muffled.  I set up along the hill’s ridge and I never heard another “peep” from him. Turkeys are known for such behavior. I sensed he was “henned up” again.

After a spell I crossed the road again and began a short tour around the hill to try to stir up a gobbler with loud calls. The morning was quiet.   

I saw three deer; some squirrels; heard grouse drumming on his log; pileated woodpecker; ‘coon and a hen turkey. I quit early for I had to play gospel music later on near the community of Corsica in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. And I had some chores around the house to do too.

I have been having difficulties placing photos on my journal/ blog site here. Please, bear with me until repairs are made.

The skies were illuminated often and the rumbles of thunder were prevalent as I trekked up the slope to where I hoped to hear a gobbler. This was May 3. The lessening rains began to become stronger and I wondered how nuts one needs to be to be stumbling around in such conditions. My woodcock friend from an earlier morning didn’t seem to care about the weather. Shortly, the warblers and cardinals too would be singing.

I reached the road and the rains lessened again. Back up the hill once again for me. I reached the top ans settled on a stump when I heard two gobbles across the big hollow..across the road .. and high on that hill. Off I go!

Of course, once I reached the area I believed the gobblers were all I heard was silence. I approached a field and waited. Here I saw two deer and watched a hen turkey feed for over an hour. I was blessed to watch a brown thrasher and towhees in and around the vegetation.

I made a circle, all the while  calling  and failed to stir up any gobblers. Where were they? I was walking about near to where the field is when a flock of crows angered by a hawk forced a gobbler to respond. I moved in and later received a gobble to my calling. The time was after 10:00!

I heard the next gobble way down the hill near to the road and all was silent. later, I walked towards my vehicle and could hear people talking. This may be the reason why the bird became so quiet. I left the camera in the car due to threats of rain and I missed some great bird photos!

I stopped at my old homestead to visit. Bob had said earlier I wouldn’t be hunting today. Mom corrected Bob for she knew how her son thinks when spring gobbler hunting is on his mind.

The gobblers began to shout in an enclosed non-huntable area. A third gobblers sounded off one time and I began heading downslope when a fourth tom began about 100 yards from me along a round top. I quickly circled around and set up above him. he left his roost and gobbled occasionally. AT one point, he was only about 40-50 yards from me, but the multiflora rose patches always keep the bird from coming to my calling.  This particular area has had similar scenarios in the past with gobblers within range, but with my inability to see them. The birds eventually tire and exit the round top.

Multiflora rose…ouch!

I started to circle him as the bird crossed a hollow and went up and over the next ridge. BAM!!! Turkey hunters always hate to hear shots that are not their own!

I started the return trip and could see a gobbler and hen way across a hollow in a field. This is another difficult place to hunt them. I elected to go back to the areas I had been hunting. I saw a buck and three other deer, some squirrels , grouse and rose-breasted grosbeaks.

I exited the car and immediately heard a gobble way across the hollow. I took off! I cautiously approached the area where the gobbling was and failed to hear anymore. I called and nothing! I slowly walked along the ridge calling and found very fresh bear sign. I wonder if the bear scared the gobbler???? I saw a jake walk across a field later on before quitting for the morning.