LAT LATE-SEASON ATE-SEASON AT T Jacob Dingel Mention spring gobbler season and a very specific scene comes to mind, like a crystal-clear morning in early May, with a hint of light on the eastern horizon blotting out stars still visible. The temperature is only a few degrees above freezing and a deep chill cuts through your layers of clothing. As sunlight comes, your first owl hoot is met with a loud gobble. He sounds off multiple times from the limb, indicating he has no roosting hens nearby and is des- perately looking for company. The lack of foliage makes it easy to spot him high up in the tree, even from 100 yards away. When he flies down, it only takes a few soft yelps to get his attention and he alternates between strutting and running as he makes his way to your location. As idealistic as this scene is, in reality, it isn't how my spring gobbler hunting usually goes. I could count on one hand the number of times I've seen it play out, with several fingers left over. GOOD THINGS ARE 2