March 27,

I decided to take an afternoon adventure and do a little preseason scouting for turkeys. Season starts in just over a week and I haven't had a chance to get out and inspect things since deer season. I had a good idea of where the birds like to stay, so I headed out of the house at about 4 p.m. with my digital cam in hand in case a photo oppurtunity presented itself. At approx. 4:45 I was slipping through my favorite turkey hunting area. As I expected there was sign everywhere. I could tell that the scratching was fresh it was obvious that it had been done since that morning. I decided to sit down and wait awhile to see if anything might show up. After setting for around 45 minutes I thought I heard a hen calling. After a few more minutes I heard it again. My heart started beating as the suspense grew. I began to hear the birds more clearly as they moved closer and closer. A few minutes later I spotted a hen, then another one, and another, and .......well you get the point. It took a few more minutes for the birds to begin to funnel by me. There were several jakes in the group and one dominant bird. He had a double beard, not very lengthy, but nonetheless he has two 4 or 5 inch beards. He strutted past me at around 30 yards and I got a couple of pics of him and several of the rest of the birds. You can't see the beards in the pictures because I've gotta admit, I was shakin just a little bit with all those eyes scanning the woods. After watching the birds for several minutes they moved off into the bottom and down by the creek where they roosted. I had a great evening in the woods and it's got me pumped for the 6th of next month. Anyway, I've got some pics but I don't know how to post em. If anybody can help by letting me email them to you or by explaining what I'm doing wrong, I'd appreciate it.