Turkey Time!

Open Season

The end of this week marks the opening of wild turkey spring hunting season in Ontario.  I am so looking forward to getting out and nestling down against a big tree far too early in the morning. There is nothing like watching the sun come up over open fields, slivers of light breaking between stands of trees.  The cold morning air giving way to the warm rays of spring sunrise... or more often, morning just being 'less dark, more grey' and drizzling rain.
Regardless of the weather, the sound of a big tom gobbling in the distance gets my heart racing and peaks my senses!   

Sunrise on some swampy hunting land

 

The Rookie 

This year I'm taking the oldest of our 3 boys out with me for the first time.  He just turned nine so maybe this is a bit of his passing from little boy to young man.  He's pumped about going hunting!  I'm excited by his enthusiasm.  I hope we see something while he's out with me - a turkey, a deer, a rabbit, raccoon, squirrels... anything!  I don't know if he'll be able to sit quietly for an hour or two but we shall find out soon enough.  I don't know if I'll be able to sit quietly!!

Tree stand in the bush.  

Deer footprint in the mud

I've always enjoyed getting out and spending quiet time in the woods.  Some of my best naps have been while 'hunting'.  I've seen some really cool things with animals and birds:  a blue jay sitting just out of arm's reach, squawking at me, alerting the rest of the forest of my presence; a squirrel running across my leg while sitting in a tree stand, then turning back in alarm because I didn't feel like bark; baby coons wrestling just a few feet from where I was sitting...  I've had lots of fun getting out with AK and NW for some fun hunting adventures.  I look forward to more adventures this year, too!

Half-Pint shot by one of his brothers.  He's the best at playing  'dead'.

I look forward to putting food on the table and adding another chapter to the stories I have to tell from the time spent out in the field.  It's pretty cool to be able to take part in the hunting heritage we have been blessed with in this country.

Food Chain poster in an elementary school

Oh, one more thing...

Anyone have any good recipes for wild turkey??

photo by Fred Boylen - fbimagery.com, a London area photographer.