104 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Time was when this most delicious, as it is the largest, of all 

 our gallinaceous game, might have been taken in almost any State 

 east of the Rocky Mountains ; but now, the would-be Wild Turkey 

 hunter must seek his game in the Southern and Western portions 

 of our Union. In the Southern States, especially Florida, any one, 

 even the veriest pot-hunter, may secure his bird provided he has 

 money enough. The sudden appearance of a flock of Wild Tur- 

 keys upon the banks of the St. Johns, as the steamer rounds some 

 wooded point, is not of uncommon occurrence. 



Their relative abundance in any particular locality depends upon 

 the supply of their favorite mast — nuts, acorns, etc., and the seed of 

 the palmetto, wherever found. Their presence is indicated to the 

 experienced hunter by their " scratching places," and he can tell 

 by the freshness of these, and the character of the surrounding 

 forest, where to look for them. In October, the males have in a 

 great measure recovered their strength and plumpness, the females 

 their good condition, and the young are able to take care of them- 

 selves, and, withal, are tender and juicy. Then according to Au- 

 dubon, the males and females hunt in separate parties. At this 

 time the gobblers may be enticed within shot by the hunter lying 

 concealed and imitating the clucking sound of the hen. Of the 

 various methods employed, probably this is the most successful, 

 though even this may be better used in spring. Old hunters are 

 adepts in the art of calling, and their peculiar inimitable call is 

 something the gobbler is hardly proof against, provided the hunter 

 lies close. Sometimes, however, he will answer the call without 

 putting in an appearance, thus depriving the worthy hunter of his 

 meal. The best call, by the way, is made from the wing-bone of 

 the turkey itself; though tolerably good ones may be obtained 

 from dealers in sporting goods. 



The old style of trapping the bird in pens, is of course, out of 

 the question, except to residents in a good turkey country. 



Shooting by moonlight, also, is only to be indulged in by ihe 

 occupants of turkey-haunted sections ; though those favored be- 

 ings whose lives are cast in such places, may depopulate an entire 

 neighborhood in a short time. 



Probably the most sportsman-like method of procedure would 

 be to hunt with dogs, though, even then, the sport savors of pot- 



