CHAPTER VIII 

 BIG GAME 



WILD TURKEY 



ORIGINAL Distribution. The original northern boundary of the turkey 

 is of some importance in indicating the probable success of replantings. 

 The boundary in southeastern Wisconsin is definitely recorded by Kumlien, 

 and is shown on the map. He also records the interesting fact that most of the 

 turkeys in Racine County were killed by the hard winter of 1842. 



Mershon says that the Michigan turkeys extended north to the Kawkawlin 

 River near Saginaw, in Bay County, and persisted just south of there until 1886 

 or later. Hatch says: 



"Thirty-three years ago (about 1865?) the turkey was . . . not a rare 

 bird in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota . . . Seen as late as 1871 

 in Minnesota. Now (1891) totally disappeared." 



These are the three known points of the north boundary. 



In addition, Schorger has discovered, and will shortly publish, some old 

 records indicating the presence of turkeys at more northerly points in both Wis- 

 consin and Minnesota. It is entirely possible that the north line was far from 

 stable, and that it ebbed and flowed with changing weather and food supplies. 



There are contradictions in the historical data which ca"n only be reconciled 

 under the ebb and flow theory. Thus Schorger's discovery of an old record of 

 turkeys at Lake Pepin in 1766 is contradicted by Prof. John P. Bird's conclusion 

 that they were absent from the La Crosse region, to the south of Lake Pepin, at 

 the time of its settlement in 1842. Professor Bird, after thorough inquiry among 

 old timers in and around La Crosse, could find no evidence of early turkeys. 



There are numerous records of turkeys south of the Wisconsin River, some as 

 late as 1872. 



Comparative Persistence of Turkey and Deer. Of the various States 

 or large parts of States originally containing both deer and turkey, but now con- 

 taining neither, it is certain that turkeys usually persisted longest, except at the 

 north extremity of their range, where the opposite was the case. The known 

 record is: 



State Last turkey Last deer 



Southwest Minnesota 1871 ? 



South Wisconsin 1872 Still some 



Lower Peninsula Michigan 1886 Still many 



North Illinois ? 1874? 



South Illinois 1928? 1910 



North Indiana 1870 1880 



South Indiana 1900 ? 



Ohio 1903 ? 



North Missouri 1895 1884 



South Missouri Still some Still some 



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