I’ve been doing this writing side job for some 30-plus years, and you’d think that by now I would plan for editorial deadlines. For the most part I do, but every once in a great while I am forced to pick between meeting that deadline and missing out on an outdoor excursion. That’s the position I am in today. With some tweaking, instead of having to choose between two things, one that I enjoy and one that I really enjoy, I am combining them. I’m going to channel my inner Brent Musburger and say, “YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE at the view of Dave turkey hunting while writing an outdoor article.”  

If this was my office view, I would never get anything done. About an hour ago a group of birds went from the woods, to my south, into a field. I never saw them, but I can still hear them. The hens have been yelping and purring, causing an occasional tom turkey to hammer out a gobble. Even though I don’t see them they are close enough for me to be excited and to stay put. If I’m still here and they are still there two hours from now, I may have to rethink my strategy.

As I sit here, I am constantly reminded how loud and noisy spring is, but in a great way. The competition for my ears is deafening at times. I can hear crows, geese, tree frogs, sandhill cranes, red wing blackbirds, gobbles, yelps, robins, wood ducks and pheasants. All are blended together, compliments of a gentle breeze. That’s a stark contrast to a mid-winter shed deer antler hunt where the dominant sound is silence and as boring as the grey and white landscape. Listening to the sounds of Spring is a simple pleasure and I can take it in all day. I just wish those gobbles were getting closer instead of further away. The darn hens are surely to blame.

The morning is slipping away from me.  Afternoon showers are expected to wash out the rest of the day and that leaves no time for some foraging of morel mushrooms. Even though I know that I won’t melt, picking mushrooms in the rain isn’t a whole lot of fun. I do like musky fishing in the rain, but that season isn’t open right now. The forecasted rain is actually threatening the rest of my season with a stretch of cool, wet days ahead. Today has got to be harvest day and that includes a turkey and mushrooms.

Have you ever duck hunted and willed some birds into your decoys by pretending to not be duck hunting? Well, I have and so have 99 percent of all duck hunters (the other 1 percent are liars). Maybe that’s a strategy that will work today? I’ll get back to you in an hour. I’m now going to pretend that I’m not turkey hunting.

Well, the theory was solid, but the execution was poor. Not much has happened in the last hour and it’s time to face the reality that it is not going to be my turkey day. All good things have to come to an end and so does this “live” episode of OTT. I didn’t get a bird today but at least I can say that I got paid to hunt.

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal