So I spent 10 hours in a field yesterday and didn't get closer than some distant gobbles. I get to work this morning and there are 3 honkers circling overhead. They land on the roof of the office and start honking/screaming down into the creek on the other side of the parking lot. There are two more honkers going crazy in the creek. They are mad about something. Some of the tenants feed the ducks/geese so they are there every day. I assumed this was some kind of goose power struggle and go to work.
Head out to lunch today and as soon as I step out of the building there is a gobble. Could not believe it. Walked over to my truck and there is a Jake 50ft from where I am standing. The creek is good habitat but it is several miles into the city. I've never seen a turkey downtown before. Grabbed my spare turkey call from the truck and call, he gobbles a couple times to the call before shutting down.
So I walk over with my cell phone to take a picture. I get about 10ft away and the Orkin Pest Control guy comes running over. "Are you here to catch the turkey? I can help you." OK, admittedly I had a spare turkey call in my truck (who doesn't) but I am armed with call & cell phone and dressed in golf pullover, blue jeans and Clark Wallaby shoes. I thought about the answer for a minute and came very close to saying, "Thanks, I'll distract him by taking his picture while you try to sneak behind him and grab him. Here's your sign."
Instead I told him nope just taking a picture. The Jake walked back to about 6ft away from us casually feeding for about 5 minutes while I answered the Orkin guy's questions. Went to lunch and the Jake was still there when I came back lying down on the edge of the parking lot.
Later I take a look out the window while getting some coffee mid-afternoon and here come three deer down the other side of the creek 80-90yrds away (another first). Went outside to take a picture for my boss' kids and they were bedded down under an oak tree 35yrds away. I also hear gobbling from the apartment building next door. I'm thinking of putting a gun rack over my desk tomorrow. It's amazing how tame they get when they know they are safe.
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