I’ve gotten word that Calhoun residents are busy picking the wonderful morel mushrooms. Ramps and mushrooms seem to be a yearly ritual for the lovers of spring. I’m not sure which one I prefer, but I try to eat some of each every spring.

Not only do I like morels, but so do turkeys. Turkey season opened on Monday. Each year I hear people complain that the season opens too late. Quotes like, “They peaked gobbling two weeks ago,” are common. Our turkey season is set by biologists for biological reasons.

Reason number one is that they want turkeys to be able to do some mating before they are killed. If turkeys are taken out of the population before they help in reproduction, soon you will not have enough turkeys for a season. It is the same reason we don’t have our firearm season for deer in late October.

Reason number two is that about the third week of the season is some of the best hunting. Many hens have gone on the nest. Gobblers need to be more active to find a mate. Therefore, they are very susceptible to a hunter’s call. Less available hens equal more wandering gobblers.

Fishing is still going well. I recently floated the hidden gem of West Virginia. Its one of the few places in the state where one can catch smallmouth, walleye, and trout on the same float. It was a great time. Decent fishing with brief moments of turbulent whitewater. I’m not giving away the location--or at least not yet.

Editor’s Note: Cory is the son of Ronzel and Karen Boothe of Russett. He is a 1996 graduate of Calhoun County High School and is a teacher at Meadow Bridge Elementary, Fayette County. He resides near Summersville.)