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| The bobcat mentioned in the comments put this guy up a tree. |
As I do every year prior to the opening of turkey season, I went scouting yesterday AM for turkeys. It's an excuse I use to get out and wander the outdoors w/ my camera and turkey calling garb. I enjoy it every year as much, and sometimes more, than the actual turkey hunting; plus it's good exercise, and it gets me in shape for the season.
I had been out last Thursday AM doing the same thing, but in another area I knew would hold turkeys. That AM I heard a few gobbles at a distance around daylight w/ one answering my owl hoot call, but only once.Yesterday I was exploring a new area where I had seen a big longbeard come over the road back in January... and maybe a mile from where I had been last week. But the difference in a week was remarkable. Yesterday I had 2-3 gobblers sounding off from before daylight till flydown... and periodically after that until about 9 AM.
The closest roost was only about 200 yds from where I started calling before daylight, and he would answer my owl hoots every time I called. The others were too far off to pinpoint, but they joined together following flydown and moved ahead of me to the east... as I explored the new area in their direction. They would gobble every now and again and let me know where they were.
I didn't break out the turkey calls but once for fear of educating them before the season. But about 9 AM I thought I was close enough to maybe call them in for a picture, so I got hidden and answered one of their gobbles w/ my box call. This time I got answers from 3 gobblers, I think, and not too far away. So I waited a minute or so and hit it again... same thing... gobbles answering back, but further away. I tried one more time... same thing... so I shut up. They obviously were being led away by their hens, IMO.
This time of year I have seen small bunches of hens and jakes and maybe a couple of longbeards hanging together, but about to bust up as soon as the hens get receptive. The longbeards will run the jakes off pretty quick when the hens get receptive. And, having not actually seen these birds, there may not have been any jakes among them; but some of the gobbles that I heard didn't sound mature to me. But they could have been jakes that had already been run off and just following along nearby.
Anyway, I would say the breeding season for turkeys has officially begun in N. Texas. And it made for a glorious AM for this fat, old man. I truly enjoy the encounters as much or more than the bagging of the birds. As long as they will talk to me, I'm happy. But then, choir practice has always been more fun than singing in church... for me, at least...
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| After awhile this hen came to my call. |
2 comments:
I went back to listen to some more choir practice yesterday and further explore the area where I had been last week. But this AM I had a most unusual and gratifying encounter.
About 9 AM I heard some clucks not far in front of me. Then a gobble, followed by numerous putts, and finally a bunch of cackling and sounds of birds flying up into the trees. I was behind some cedar trees from all the commotion and immediately dropped to my knees, thinking I had boogered the birds. Then I saw what I thought was a coyote slipping through the brush toward me. As it got closer I realized it was a grizzled old bobcat, and he was coming right toward me. I had my camera ready trying to get a picture of him, but he evidently winded me and vanished before I could get a shot.
But what an encounter!! Those kinds of experiences make you live longer!!
I was able to get some pictures of a gobbler in a tree and a couple on the ground, after things settled down. But I would surely have relished getting a close up picture of that old bobcat slipping through the brush...
Sorry about the gaps and words out of place on this post and a few others. I'm not sure why, but when I add pictures and then try to edit it goes crazy on me. If someone knows how to correct that problem, please tell me how.
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