Outdoor Truths: Changing for what the circumstances demand
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By Gary Miller
It was a beautiful morning. The rain was enough to get me wet, but not enough to keep me from pursuing another tom. I did, however, wait until I heard a gobble before I decided where to set up. Therefore, it was breaking day. When I began to move, I heard some hens and thought I was busted. I turned around, went back up to the top of the hill and conferred with myself to determine what plan b would be. Evidently, those hens didn’t see me. Because after a few minutes two of them showed up with two other gobblers. I was about 100 yards away. When they got behind some brush, I quickly set up a few decoys, and settled in, hoping to eventually lure them to me. That next hour was nearly perfect. Not only did I witness these toms strutting their stuff, but at one point a rainbow appeared just over their stage. And that was right before another gobbler decided to join the party. For a few minutes, I was able to ease my gun down, pick up my phone and take pictures and videos of my view. It was a rare morning, and after an extended period, they began to ease my way. Slow but steady. And now only 75 yards away. But then my perfect morning changed. The nearby cattle decided they wanted the grass where my turkeys had congregated. So, they pushed my hopes in the other direction. But what I got that morning was more, and even better, than expected. But for success, I had to be willing to change my weapon from my shotgun to my camera. It’s just what the circumstances demanded. Don’t’ get me wrong, I was pretty upset with a few bovines, but after thinking about what had just transpired, I realized I was the only person invited to this one-day-only production. I thought about the hill that overlooked it all that I sat on, that provided my amphitheater view. I thought about the sun pushing through the rain to paint my rainbow. And I thought about those three toms who performed for my pleasure. I’m not sure why God gave me this particular morning, and why it didn’t end with a dead bird, but I know this. The same God who provided the hens to start it, provided the cows to end it. And I was just there to enjoy it.
Join me on Tuesday morning at 6:30 central time on Zoom to discuss this article. Go to outoortruths.com for the link––––––––––––––––
ν Gary has written the Outdoor Truths article for 20 years. He has also written four books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations.
