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| Winter's bite has started giving way to longer days and a hint of green has begun to appear in the Keystone landscape leading us to anticipate and plan for our favorite spring pastime. We rummage in our closets for our sporting attire; Then wipe off the dust and apply oil to our arms of scatter. "Ole Tom" and his harem will await by dawns early light. Our scouting began early with the mid winter sighting of a batchelor flock pecking through the snow for a mid-day meal in a mountain meadow or a flock of hens busting across a highway that followed a stream bottom. Later, we will traverse the ridgetops late evening singing the notes of a nocturnal preditor to arrouse and schock a response from our feathered foe. The pre-dawn will bring a flashlight hike and the subtle sounds of the awakening forest as the mornng dew will muffle our steps as we approach our location of wait and ambush. As first light spills through the shadows we will join natures symphony with an instrument of wood and slate to summon our friend from his slumber. Dizzy See the above and other fine Jim Casper art at the Snow Goose Gallery |
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| Eastern Wild Turkey Wild turkeys are very similar to the domesticated subspecies; however, wild turkeys are slimmer, have a smaller head, and have a longer neck and body. Their plumage is an overall rich brown. In shadows, turkeys look black, in bright sun- light, their feathers gleam with copper, blue, green, and mahogany. The female or hen is duller and her breast feathers end in a brown or buff band. The male's or gobbler's breast feathers are tipped in black. Gobblers stand about 2 ½- 3 feet tall and are about 3-4 feet in length. They can weigh up to 25 lbs. Hens are about half the size of males in height and weight. Gobblers have spurs, a sharp, bony spike on the back of each of their legs. They also have a rough, black beard that protrudes from its breast. The beard can grow up to 12 inches long. Hens do not have spurs and usually do not have a beard. The gobbler's head is bare, while the hens is covered with fine hair like feathers. A fleshy, pencil-like |
| appendage called a caruncle dangles be- tween the male turkeys eyes. Wild turkeys can be found in every county of the state. Once primarily thought of as an upland forest bird that needed expan-sive tracts of forest, the wild turkey in Pennsylvania has proven to be quite adaptable and more tolerant of human encroachment than previously thought. Wild turkeys in Pennsylvania can be found in areas comprised of mature hardwood and pine forests as well as grassy fields. Adult turkeys consume mostly acorns, nuts, leaves, buds, seeds, and fruit. Young birds tend to eat mostly insects, snails, and spiders. Source MD DNR |
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