I didn’t sleep a wink last night….I’m sure you know the feeling for one reason or another!  At different points in my life, sleep has been lost because of many reasons - all usually self-inflicted!  I’ve suffered from too much caffeine; being out with friends; worrying about family or friends who are ill; babies who have gotten their day or night hours mixed up; or wrapping Christmas gifts the ‘night before’! But this time was different.

I am a grown woman, (too old to go out with friends all night!) with two young children, (and pets) who depend on me, a home, a job, and healthy family members (Thank God!)  Life is good in all respects, near as I can tell, but still I cannot sleep. There’s no need for a doctor; it isn’t a medical condition. But still, I lie there, tossing and turning for awhile, finally giving up and end up just lying there in the dark. If I didn’t have a digital clock, I’d be listening to the ticking of each second passing by, that’s how wide awake I am!  It’s an awful feeling, isn’t it? Knowing that you NEED the sleep, yet your mind won’t give in to allow the sleep to come….

Normally, I’d be cranky, miserable the next day (and probably for days following as some will attest!) But, this time was different.  I had expected that I wouldn’t sleep well that night. I’d been preparing for it for the past few months. I went out and bought my own calls, and the clothes were folded and the gear waiting. All I was waiting for was 3:45 a.m., when I would start my hunt.  It was hours until opening day of spring turkey season here in the Northeast, and I was awake and ready! Of course, if you have read my previous turkey articles, you already know that my experiences with this particular creature have not been as extraordinary as the textbook-perfect first year’s hunt, but thoughts of those “disasters” were far from my mind in the dark hours of the morning this year.

Before setting out in the dark,  I went over my mental checklist:  I had gotten permission from the landowners across the road,  assembled my calls, and locked the horses out of the field. I had gun, ammo, face mask, gloves, decoys, tag, license...All seemed right.

As I owl called into the darkness, I heard a gobble – much closer than I expected. All right! Change of plans, but I am ready, and go with the flow – the other birds, those I roosted the night before, would have to wait. I headed East.

I walked on the grass edges and tried not to CRUNCH on the gravel. I concentrated on my walking.I know this land.

As the turkey gobbled again, I wondered why he didn’t answer me the night before. I would have had a better plan had he cooperated!  Too late for “what ifs.” I keep moving as quietly as I could until I reached the soft grass of the field. This actually worked out well. A thick patch of cedars along a ridge offered a place to hide while I approach my spot. Near as I could tell, the bird was downhill, across the brook and up a bit.

I set up my decoys and settled under a cedar at the base of the hill.  Overhanging branches hide me from the bird, still roosted high in the tree.  Perfect timing. The night was just breaking into a lighter gray.  This is such a wonderful time to be out in the woods. The birds wake up and start chirping their individual songs, merging into a symphony of birds singing together.  Getting up this early has given me the chance to see some beautiful sunrises that I otherwise would have slept right through.

The sun was up! I checked my watch and it was, indeed, official sunrise.  I called and the bird replied in a flash of a second!  This conversation continued for quite some time. After what seemed like a lifetime, he flew down from the tree tops.  I was excited - this bird was hot. He was looking for the hens he thought were calling him - me - and when he found them, he would be mine.

The game continued for quite awhile longer.  My rear-end and legs grew numb.  Since the bird was on the ground, I was afraid to move. So, I suffered silently as the pins and needles travelled into my feet.  My gun was ready and the bird is was getting closer.  I expected him to cross the hill towards me soon.  Some geese flew by, low, towards the nearby pond. I thought, "There is nothing for this turkey to fear." Meanwhile, I kept waiting, somewhat impatiently. And waited, and waited. The gobbling grew less frequent, but sounded closer.  My decoys were still standing….

Ooh! Off in the distance, 300 yards or so away, I saw him. As the little jake emerged from behind a big oak, I saw tjat he was with two other gobblers: a larger gobbler, who never said a word, and a smaller one.  After a short while, they turned….and strutted away...farther….farther…until they were specs heading into the far field.  Once in a group, they didn’t even act like they heard my calling.  But I saw them.

As I realized my hunt for the day was over, I was overcome by tiredness.  I walked back, giving silent thanks for the beautiful morning and the overall experience. I added a postscript--a prayer for some sleep.