Spring turkey season is one of my favorite hunting seasons of the year for many reasons, but right at the top is the more agreeable climate. In terms of large game, most of the predominant seasons are in the fall during the imminent chilling of the outdoors. Spring turkey, however, exists as the name would suggest: In spring. 

I have always envied southern states, in which deer seasons are held in warm weather, and a single layer of clothing is all that is needed to prepare for the hunt. 

Up here, I’ve rarely enjoyed much time in fall’s archery season before it turns brisk. In spring, however, the only thing I’ve had to seriously consider is the waterproofing factor of my clothes. Spring turkey normally entails a lot of walking, mud and wet foliage. I’ve been famous for forgetting my butt cushion when turkey hunting, and being forced to sit on the wet ground. After one or two sits, it becomes less fun to hike around with a wet butt. 

With all the hiking involved, I do appreciate wearing fewer layers. Less weight and more mobility make for a less arduous quest. On top of that, I’m of the mindset that when hunting, everything should be as simple as possible—no extra gadgets or accessories that aren’t needed. You have to carry whatever you need with you all day, so why overdo it? A few shells, a call or two, tags, whatever you’re wearing including a mask and hat, your weapon and of course my infamous butt cushion. 

Yes, it’s necessary. Once you hear that gobble, you need to sit right down wherever you are. Standing in a swamp? Get to the base of the nearest tree and sit right there in the mud on the roots. Didn’t bring your cushion? The turkey doesn’t care. Not wearing waterproof pants? Better hope that hunt is about to pay off or you’ll be walking with a muddy bottom for the rest of the day. 

As it would happen, I had a lovely day out turkey hunting recently. And yes, I remembered my cushion for once. We hiked a few miles, calling in different areas of my father’s leased hunting grounds, not hearing anything in the way of turkeys. It’s been a very wet month, and turkeys don’t fare particularly well in the rain. It deters their desire to talk or behave as they would in dry conditions, which adds to the difficulty of hunting them. 

While driving from one spot to another, we did see a few very wet-looking birds drying themselves off in someone’s driveway. As my dad so eloquently described them, they looked like they had been dunked underwater and pulled through a knothole backwards. This was to say they were thoroughly drenched and their feathers were quite disheveled. All those turkeys wanted to do was dry off, not seek out hens. 

As it turned out, despite the sun coming out later in the day, they remained silent throughout our hunt, which ultimately took us over about eight miles. Were there birds nearby? Perhaps. But without a gobble to go on, we were limited in our ability to make them come to us. 

Regardless, I found myself reminded of the beauty of spring as we passed through theatre after theatre of subtly changing environments adorned with different shapes of leaves and litanies of characteristic trees and accompanying fauna. We passed through tall, straight hemlocks into thick stands of beech, and back out again to the dark barks of black cherry trees. Massive stones formed natural caves and outcroppings at the top of one of our favorite mountains, where sunlight spattered the floor of the cascading hill below with a foliar stained glass effect. 

As we sat to call and listen for birds, I took a moment to snap a picture of what I considered a perfectly suitable place to retire with a small one-room cabin. Maybe in my retirement I could do so and write more about what the spot inspired. But today it was a cathedral of light and life, grown from the artistic hand of God himself. It was not where I was to kill a bird that day, but it was a treat nonetheless.

The way out here hunting is an opportunity to receive God’s blessings. Sometimes that is in the form of food from an animal, and sometimes He feeds my soul.