228 FIELD SHOOTING. 



of the single turkey, it will be found that after 

 having gone a little way, commonly not more 

 than two hundred yards, and often less, it has 

 squatted under thick brush or in the top of a 

 fallen tree. As he draws near, it will start to run 

 or to fly, and it must then be shot. In this sport 

 I use No. 1 shot, which is quite big enough. A 

 turkey going to fly is compelled to run eight 

 or ten feet in order to get headway before 

 rising from the ground, and I have often shot 

 them in the head before they could take wing. 

 After having killed his turkey, the hunter must 

 take up the track of the flock again, and go on 

 after it until he sees that another has diverged. 

 As I remarked before, it is much the best to 

 follow this sport when the snow is damp, for 

 the turkeys then tire the sooner, and are more 

 inclined to hide and squat. No dog is to be 

 used. He would be worse than useless. 



Another good time for turkey- shooting is when 

 it is snowing hard. That, of course, is no good 

 time for tracking; but while the snow is falling 

 fast, the wild turkeys sit around in thick brush 

 or in the thick top of a fallen tree. They are 

 then .easily approached ; but the hunter must 

 know the country well, and be familiar with 



