MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • May 21, 2023
The gobbler you’ve been carefully calling has closed the distance and a few more steps will put him in range. You struggle to compose yourself, control your breathing and blink rapidly to clear excess moisture from your eyes. A bright red head and a beady black eye appear in your sights and you pull the trigger. Mayhem ensues. The bird explodes into action, taking three quick steps and launching into flight before you can react. Stunned, you watch as it sets its wings and sails across the open pasture and into the distant woodlot. “How?” you wonder. “How could I possibly miss at that range?” It happens, and knowing some of the reasons why could help reduce the chances of a repeat performance. ~ Bob Humphrey