Yoga and Turkey Hunting

One of the 2007 goals was to get to a yoga class. Lynn found a local studio and we have been chanting "Oooommmm", saying "Namaste" and doing downward facing dogs, warrior and tree poses for a couple of months now.

Last week I was in Pennsylvania for a eight days of turkey hunting and fly fishing. Not surprisingly, the yoga helped in both outdoors endeavors.

Turkey hunting requires an number of disparate skills and great deal of luck. Danny Wadkins, a Corrections Officer and an incredible hunter and sportsman, acted as a guide. He called turkey, usually imitating a hen, or blasting the woods with a single shock gobble call to locate male birds. Once we had an idea about where the birds might be located, we sped through the woods and posted to call the birds in closer. It was at those moments that I found yoga kicking in. Controlling my breath, relaxing into position, the ability to hold completely still, sometimes in uncomfortable or awkward positions, all had a foundation in yoga.

Since this is spring turkey hunting only male birds may be taken. On one of our hunts a hen returned the call. Danny said that at times hens will travel with a jake or tom, so we sat beneath a four-stand of hemlock trees as he continued to call in the bird. She came in alone. We saw her at about 75 yards out and watched as she closed within 10 feet, staring at us, wondering where her "girlfriend" might be. In order to enjoy this type of special moment in the woods, you have to been completely still. Even the blink of an eye can alert the turkey, causing them to disappear like ghosts.

I have seen a number of yoga magazines, usually featuring blissed out Gumbyesque wraiths contorted into any number of incredible poses. The articles tend to the vegetarian and holistic side of life.

So this may be the only place you will ever see turkey hunting and yoga in the same sentence.