Flowers, Mushrooms, But No Turkeys

 Dave drove down to hunt turkeys with me this week.  We got good weather - highs near 70, lows about 45.  There were a few far off gobbles and that was it.  No luck at all.

This is what we were looking for.  Of course they were on camera but the woods were quiet both mornings. 

Either one of these gobblers would have made our day. 

It's possible that these guys made them scarce but I don't really think they were a factor.  I did spot two coyotes outside the dining room window as we sat down to dinner on Saturday. 

Look closely at the turkey on the right.  It has an arrow sticking out of its back.  Last year I saw one like this - could it be the same one still living with an arrow stuck in it? 

This photo is just a moment later and there's no sign of the arrow - where did it go? 

Dave had a good eye on our travels and spotted a number of morel mushrooms. 

I have never hunted for them before but I know that the locals all look for them. 

Dave cooked them up for us and now we're hooked.  I'll be keeping my eyes open for them from now on. 

As always, we saw some interesting stuff on our travels looking for birds.  The woods are really starting to green up.  The redbuds are done and the dogwoods are at peak. 

There was a variety of wildflowers.  This one looks like a small iris. 

Violets I think. 

Not sure. 

Trillium 

Dunno. 

The ferns are coming out and will take over some of these hillsides. 

We took Joan on a tour and she brought her camera to practice for Africa.  A little trail clearing was necessary. 

It's nice to have a clean up crew behind me. 

Eagle eye Dave spotted this turtle. 

He wasn't quite as big as Penelope (Amy's 3 legged turtle). 

Dave and I did some shooting in about a 20 mph cross wind.  Bullet drift wasn't as big a problem as the wind blowing the rifle while holding. 

I shot this wildebeest from 100 yards and that scales to about a 350 yard shot. 11 hits and 4 misses.  We also blew up some beer cans and moved back to the 200 yard mark with the 223 and 30-06.

Speaking of Africa, a friend sent me this image.  I wonder if Joan knows what she's in for...  Nah, there won't be any lions where I'll be hunting, right?

Wearing my facemask as a hair net. 

Last week Mark stopped by for a tour. 

We did a little shooting and took a spin.

I did some spraying last week 

This buck is starting on antlers but his ribs are showing thru after a tough winter.

I'm sure some (most?) of these does are pregnant and will deliver in a month or so. 

 They look pretty good.

Bucks starting to grow from their pedicles.

This one already has wide bases.

 There are plenty of turkeys around.  Either they were on vacation this weekend or our calling sucks.  Your guess.

I do need to work on thinning this population somehow.  My calling hasn't been too effective for them either.