H UNTI NG SOUTH NORTH TO FOR GOBBLERS BY FREDDIE MCKNIGHT The third week of the 2021 spring gobbler season found a small group of us hunting in the big woods of Pennsylvania's northern tier. I was acting as caller, tagging a bird (my 50th Pennsylvania spring gobbler) during the first week of season - nearly in my backyard! Now, as I tried to lure a bird into range for others, I had to switch gears. That's because the turkeys in this part of the state weren't as far along in their breeding season as those we'd been hunting at home. Instead of spending the late morning alone, the hens here were staying with toms nearly all day. It was proof again that gobblers across the Keystone State are on their own schedules. What might work great in the southern counties early in the season might not cut it in the north. I first noticed this phenomenon during my high-school days. There were plenty of hunters in my class and we'd compare notes each day of the spring season. Those who lived to the southeast might report boisterous gobbling and great hunting action in their particular valley. Then, a few days later, those closer to the school would report the same. The next week, I'd find myself in some great action farther north, while those to the southeast began reporting less-responsive birds. Those who follow social media probably could pick up such information much TIMING IS EVERYTHING JUNE 2022 11