Turkey season has finally arrived

We have waited for this time to come since last spring.

The trees are sprouting new foliage and the woods are sporting shades of green that you didn’t know existed.

We have checked our gear list. New choke, shells, mask, gloves, hat, snake boots, new shirt and a new box call.

You may have bought a new mouth call or slate call too!

I had to get a new facemask this year because I destroyed mine in an angry rage last year.

When you hunt a bird all week and he always comes up behind you or out of gun range, you get upset and throw things.

I also had to get new gloves for that reason.

Most of you may have had to get a new shirt because you crawled the elbows out of yours last year while trying to sneak up on an ol’ tom.

Please make sure you are using a deetbased bug repellant or a ThermaCell.

Mosquito-borne viruses are already an issue.

Use a deet-based spray on your clothes because ticks are carrying Lyme disease and tick fever. Please check yourself and your kids often for ticks.

They are crawling heavy right now. The snakes are also moving a lot. I have seen five snakes in the last two weeks on the roads.

Copperheads and cottonmouths are your most likely suspects during turkey season.

Watch where you sit down at the base of trees and be cautious around creeks and standing water. Snake boots or boots that reach to your knees are your best defense in the event of a strike.

You will probably be doing a lot of walking and you need to be prepared for the long haul if your hunt doesn’t go as smooth as the ones you have watched on TV all week.

A bottle of water and a few snacks are a necessity for a long day in the heat.

Gatorade is good to keep the legs cramps away.

Carrying decoys, calls, shells and other gear will weigh you down quickly and wear you out.

I want to wish all of the youth hunters good luck on Saturday and Sunday.

I hope you get a chance at a nice bird.

You can send your pictures in and I will run them as we get them.

Whether it be a child with their first bird or an adult with their 100th bird, just send those pictures in with name, bird weight, beard length, spur length and any other info you want to include.

Good luck to all of us adults that have to grit our teeth and wait until Monday to try to outsmart the thunder chickens.

I am ready to watch the sunrise on Monday morning and hear a big owl hoot in the trees.

Happy turkey season everybody!!