LUCKY TURKEYS

I went after a turkey Saturday morning. I went in the woods close to where I had heard Mr. Tom gobbling last Saturday. When I got close to the spot where I thought he was roosting I set up a hen decoy that TJ let me use. I picked a nice big tree to sit against. I had about half an hour to wait till first light. Then I heard a 4 wheeler on the other side of the woods so I knew someone else was hunting too. I was using the 11 hundred, a shotgun my dad bought when he was duck and goose hunting a lot in the old days. Somehow I have had possession of it for many years and he hasn't asked for it back. I usually only use it for deer hunting. I bought a slug barrel for it back in the early 70's and just last year bought a new one that has a scope mount. Anyway, for turkey hunting I put the original full choke barrel back on it. I remember going quail hunting with my uncle Buddy and using it for the first time, when I was about 13. We must have found 6 coveys and I never got a feather.
Anyway, back to the turkey hunting. I heard the first gobble 150 or so yards to my left. It was early, not much light in the woods, so I didn't try to call him. I was afraid if he did come to me I wouldn't see him. Then a little later one started gobbling really close. The other hunter started calling with his hen call. He sounded like he was 200 yards behind me, so I started calling too. I'm using this box call. The call was given to me by a customer, he gave me the box of shells too. The turkey was gobbling back real nice but he seemed to be moving. It sounded like he was in a tree but I couldn't see him. The other hunter and I must have called to him for half an hour. Then I saw him coming. He was struting to my left behind me about 60 yards or so. He went out of sight and moved around to the other side of the tree. I got my gun up in position for the shot. He came back through the opening and I was afraid he wasn't close enough for a sure shot. Then out from the top of a tree, right behind me, flies a turkey to the ground - just past my tom and then another one too. I never saw or heard them again. I decided to head back and check the field before leaving. I measured the distance and he had been about 48 yards when I had a shot. That may be a little far - I have till the end of May to get him. I picked up my decoy and I'm walking out the path and right at the end stand two big turkeys! I dropped to the ground, stuck the decoy in the path, and crawled to the side of the patch and gave them a couple of calls. In just a few minutes I see a turkey coming to me from the left. I tried to get my gun on him and he saw me and away he went. He was close, if I had a little cover he would been in the pot!
I walked to my clover field and checked it. Nothing there. Back down the path I go.
I get half way and I hear a big flush, I look to the right and see some doves, then the biggest turkey yet flies right over me. That was 3 chances - a very exciting morning hunt. This may be one of the turkeys - the deer cam got these pictures. He is in the clover going past my camera

HEARD THE FIRST CALL

This morning, when I was listening for turkeys,I heard 3 quail giving the Bob White call for the first time this year (last year it was May 11th). I went turkey hunting Monday morning.I had two gobblers answer my call and one was coming my way when a lot of hens started calling and I guess he went their way.
I did a squirrel check Sunday - here's the pic. This may be the last time I can handle them without a fight. Here's a picture of them in the box. They do their best to hide. Ed from Jersey came down Saturday and we opened up more area around the old house for a food plot.I moved the wood duck box that I had put at the ditch to the wetlands. I have ducks sitting on eggs in two boxes. I checked on them, the one at the pond by the cabin has eggs that are going to hatch any day. I got a picture of the fox families close neighbor. Mr.Ground Hog.
I had to go to extreme measures evicting a sparrow from a blue bird house.

MEET THE FOX FAMILY

On one of my walks,Janey stopped and pointed. I walked up and saw 4 little foxes sitting on the dirt mound. They just sat there for few minutes checking us out.
The next day I put my trail camera on the hole.Here's mom. And here's her pups.That's a really nice looking family. People like to blame them for killing rabbits and quail. But I think they eat lots of mice and little critters like that. But then again that's a lot of foxes. I may have to get the 17 out when they get older.They're safe for now. They're too cute to shoot. Looking forward to getting a picture of her bringing food back home. Hopefully no quail - a rabbit now and then would be ok.

EASTER WEEK END

Started the weekend off with a jitney ride. Jitney's go back in my family history.
My Mom's family had one on their farm when she was growing up. Theirs was made from a Model A Ford. Then in the sixty's my dad made one. I remember going to dads friend, Jr Sylvester's, and picking up a Studebaker pickup. Mine was born from a Toyota, it's top of the line, 4x4, power steering and A/C. Bother Brian's daughter, Emily, is one of the many who loves a good jitney ride. This baby will go any place and I only think I was stuck once. That happened a couple of years ago when we were on a night ride. Emily was in charge of the flash light and we ended up on our side in a ditch. This weekend, Emily's friend Blake got his first ride and loved it. The grand kids came down for the weekend and wanted to go fishing. Three out the four were up and ready at 6:30 a.m. We went to the pond at mom and dads and the fish were biting.






Molly got the biggest cat fish.
Xander got the biggest blue gill. Here's Xander with the runner up cat fish.Dan took the fishing rod away from Max to show his friends at work that he can fish. We got a fire started and roasted marshmallows.





We checked on the baby squirrels and they were a big hit. The mom wasn't home and the little ones were doing just fine.






On Sat night we all piled into Lori's bus and I gave a short tour of the wetlands on our way to get pizza.

We got up early on Easter and went to 7:15 a.m. mass.
Three out of four would stand where I asked. Mike took his VW Thing back with him now that he has a place to keep it inside. Becky put on her head gear and off they went.