BY STEVE SMITH TOM TACTICS Instead, I'm often out there on muggy mornings in late May, as I'm feeling the effects of several weeks of early wake-up calls and needing several cups of coffee to make me semi-functional. The woods have greened up fully by now, providing a dense canopy that lets no moonlight reach the forest floor. I usually make my way across the mountain checking where gobblers roosted earlier in the season, operating off a hunch and hoping for more. Then my soft yelps go unanswered. Mosquitoes find their way inside my facemask. So why continue to hunt turkeys when the late-season conditions can be so difficult? For me, it's knowing that few hunts are as satisfying as when taking a late-May gobbler. And once you know, you're more willing to take the punishment. Here are some tips and tactics to help you call in that end-of-the-season thrill this year. WORTH THE WAIT JUNE 2020 3