For the Love of Wild Turkeys

A pro photographer and gobbler nut recaps the 2020 season in these 11 amazing photos

It goes without saying that spring 2020 blindsided all of us. This unwanted, uncertain, unforgiving season sneaked in like a thief in the night, indiscriminately paralyzing the world with fear, sickness and financial fallout. Commanding our attention. Demanding a "new normal." But even in these turbulent times, there is hope. There is escape.

Like many of you, I found much-needed solace in the turkey woods – the one place where I can clear my head of all-things Covid, tune out the news and tune in to the annual dance that has seized my attention and occupied my dreams since I was a young boy exploring Pennsylvania's hardwoods and creek bottoms.

A place where I've been "social distancing" for nearly 30 years.

I'm now based in western Montana, and blessed with a bumper crop of Merriam's turkeys to occupy my spring. I get to work in early March each year, setting up photo blinds on a few local properties, putting in my time, shooting thousands of pics, learning the birds' patterns and personalities and prepping for opening day.

The following is a recap of my season, a visual record of what I experienced from the turkey blind. A temporary but necessary refuge from the world, a Wi-Fi free safe space where fresh air and wide open spaces cleanse my soul and sharpen my senses.

John Muir said it much more eloquently and succintly than I ever could: "The mountains are calling, and I must go."

Thundering Chorus

This is literally the first frame I snapped this spring. As I approached the area I planned to set one of my blinds, I was greeted by a thundering chorus of bully jakes as they attempted to run off a group of mature gobblers.

Winter Flock

The flock, still very much in its winter pattern, consisted of 50+ hens, jakes and gobblers. It was a real treat to spend my mornings serenaded by this raucous group.

Strut Zone

This guy quickly became one of my favorite photo models. Loud, aggressive and dominant with a predictable strut zone, he posed in this exact spot several mornings.

Great Moments

Throughout March and into mid-April, morning temps were chilly, often dipping below 20 degrees. It made for long sits and cold toes, but also great moments like this.

Other Subjects

Even though the goal was documenting turkey behavior, it was a treat to photograph other subjects as well.

Backlit Gobblers

Two of my favorite sights in the spring woods: soft, warm light and backlit Merriam's gobblers.

Jake Parade

As the flocks began to break up, most of the resident gobblers went AWOL for a while. I was forced to tolerate the ever-annoying jake parade. Though I guess even jakes look good in great light.

Hot Gobbler

Thankfully, the big boys didn't stray for too long. This guy came in hot, nearly brushing up against my blind as he strutted at extremely close quarters.

Strutters

I was fortunate to find this pair in perfect light one morning, as they strutted their stuff around my blind for over an hour, striking all sorts of poses in the process.

Favorite Bird

Of all the birds I pointed my camera at this spring, this guy was my favorite. Here, I set up between him and his hens, just as the first rays of sunrise raked across the valley. The frost in his beard and on the tips of his breast feathers are a testament to the cold temps we had throughout the spring.

Two Notched Tags

Though I'm sometimes torn between camera and shotgun or bow, by the time the season opener was upon us, I was ready. Two notched tags of my own and an assist on a great hunt with a good friend were the final chapters in a truly blessed spring in the Montana turkey woods.