TURKEY-ROOSTS. 257 



opinion, from the middle of October till the end of 

 January, when the male birds begin to seek out their 

 mates, and the season for calling commences. After 

 the 1st of February, we very rarely shot at a hen- 

 turkey till the following autumn, when she had reared 

 her brood. 



At the time I speak of, Brazos County, although a 

 laro'e tract of land, had no more inhabitants than a 

 little country village, and was almost entirely covered 

 with forest. This was a dozen years ago ; and although, 

 no doubt, some clearings have been made, there is still 

 enouo-h of the ancient woods left to harbour swarms of 



game. When I was there my friend D called the 



place his poultry-yard — so large was the quantity of 

 turkeys which he killed there. 



Sometimes turkey-roosts are discovered by the hun- 

 ter, who will mark the spot well, and then return at 

 nio-ht when the moon is full. At such times the birds 

 seem stupified, and a tolerable marksman will have a 

 good chance of killing half the flock ; although if a 

 wild cat appeared on the tree, or an owl sailed over 

 head, all their instinct of self-preservation would return. 



I have casually spoken of trapping turkeys; but as no 

 thorough sportsman can feel anything but disgust at 

 such a method of killing game, I shall not enlarge on 

 the subject. With his good gun, a well-trained dog, 

 and the instructions of a veteran woodsman, more and 

 nobler sport can be obtained, and the young hunter 



s 



