Another time and another place in our gorgeous springtime woods. I rode the four-wheeler over behind my house to look for turkey tracks one afternoon about two weeks ago Low and behold I discovered much more by being quiet and looking carefully.

About two years ago we clean cut some timber, then burned the area and re-planted young pine trees to replenish it. I wanted to look over this spot to see if there were any fresh turkey tracks and also to see if the stand of young pines had lived. Parking the four four-wheeler on a log road, I carefully stalked out into this land looking intently for any tracks that might be found.

Now let’s just visualize the great view I am enjoying, the dark greens of the hardwoods surrounding us, the lighter green of the pines interspersed within them and some redbud are showing their lavender blooms as if to say, “Look at me; aren’t I pretty?” I stand still, enthralled at this wonderful scenery around me and I thank God once again to be able to wander around in our great outdoors.

Then breaking the revere of my thoughts, I continued walking along enjoying every minute of this beautiful spring time day. Suddenly I was startled. In fact just about jumped out of my skin. Flop, flop, flop sounded about twenty feet away as a giant turkey hen made a fast exit from under an old pine top. Boy, oh boy, what had I stumbled into.? Could it be what I hoped it was, a turkey nest. Easing over closer and looking intently at the spot she apparently flew from, my heart was overjoyed to discover not only a nest but also one full of eggs, 15 to be exact.

Which Survive?



This caused me to conjure up in my mind’s eye the exciting possibility of her raising at least 12 of those eggs to adulthood. Hopefully no varmint or predator will find this nest. I made a careful and quiet retreat. My inclinations were to bring some feed over to sprinkle along the log road not far from her nest and help this expectant mother out. But then thinking it over, this feed would draw coons and possums and might actually cause her nest or even her to be destroyed.

Two and one half weeks passed but I couldn’t get this turkey nest out of my mind. Finally today my curiosity got the best of me, I had to look again. Away to the woods I went determined to see if the hen had hatched her eggs or whether the eggs were still there. I pulled up to where I thought the nest should be, got off and looked everywhere but couldn’t find that nest. I knew it had to be there somewhere.

Over there was a lovely buck-eye bush with the red blooms shining in the afternoon sun. I thought I might as well take a picture of the bush since the turkey nest had disappeared. Anyway I went over within three feet of the bush aimed my camera and took a couple of pictures then bent down to get a different angle. About that time out came the turkey hen in her flustered way, with flapping wings and all the noise that accompanies that. Nearly scared me to death again. There I was, accidentally standing within six feet of the nest that was just on the opposite side of the flower bush.

“Boy, oh boy, now I’ve got a chance to photo all those eggs in a real wild turkey nest,” I thought.

To me that’s as much thrill as bagging an old gobbler. I eased around until I was able to get a good picture. I wondered what happened. Before there were 15 eggs, now only 11 remain. I believe that a wild turkey hen inherits a God-given instinct to destroy any egg that is accidentally broken while setting. She will instinctively eat that egg to destroy any scent that might come from it. This is a preventive measure to protect the nest and her from any marauding predator that might wander into the vicinity. Just think, the smell would draw an unwanted guest from afar if this scent were not eliminated. Another problem would be fire ants that would find the source within minutes. This was my explanation of fewer eggs than previously counted.

This was a thrill to an old woodsman’s heart discovering the nest. Look what a great time that can be enjoyed in the wonderful Mississippi outdoors.

Busted Shell



Driving along a four wheeler path in another part of the property and looking down, I discovered a busted turkey egg. This really starts my mind spinning trying to visualize what had happened. Do you suppose the young turkey chick hatched and then some animal moved the empty shell out into the road? That is an unlikely scenario because the shell would be busted all to pieces.

The shell seemed to be opened from inside because the pieces were leaning out rather than being crushed toward the center. What does that mean? I don’t know, maybe I just want to hope the little turkey poult survived and is running around right now behind his Mama.

In my roaming I have had the privilege of seeing turkey nest after all the eggs are hatched and all the shells would be left behind in the nest. Something unusual happened to this particular egg, although I don’t know what.

I travel on further and see the footprints of an older turkey walking down the road.

All of this really does not tie together in any way except to excite an old man that nature is wonderful to behold.

Aren’t the Mississippi woods great?. Praise the Lord we are Americans and have the freedom to enjoy those woods. I admonish you to get outside every chance you have.