There's been a gobbler roosting in a creek bottom below a large field on our farm, or on the ridge on the other side of the stream. Gobbles a lot, but not flying down into the field. I figured he was headed toward a clear cut on the neighbors.
So this morning I got out in the rain in the dark and posted on our property between possible roost sites and that clearcut.
When I finally heard a faint gobble it sounded hundreds of yards off. I decided to close the distance. Dropped down to the bottom, heard him again, a little less faint....coming from a holler with a branch feeding into the stream. Move 100 yards into that holler and he gobbles again, sounds much closer. Make my way a few steps and he gobbles again...sounds real close, I just need to find a tree to sit down. Take a couple steps and there he goes directly above me. Gone.
This is the 3rd or 4th time I've learned this lesson over the years. If you can hear them when the leaves are filled out, they are close. Should have stayed up in the field. Maybe get one more chance this weekend.
So this morning I got out in the rain in the dark and posted on our property between possible roost sites and that clearcut.
When I finally heard a faint gobble it sounded hundreds of yards off. I decided to close the distance. Dropped down to the bottom, heard him again, a little less faint....coming from a holler with a branch feeding into the stream. Move 100 yards into that holler and he gobbles again, sounds much closer. Make my way a few steps and he gobbles again...sounds real close, I just need to find a tree to sit down. Take a couple steps and there he goes directly above me. Gone.
This is the 3rd or 4th time I've learned this lesson over the years. If you can hear them when the leaves are filled out, they are close. Should have stayed up in the field. Maybe get one more chance this weekend.
