368 tfPLAXD SHOOTING. 



only a slight tremor of his wings and one dying gasp. 

 In all my experience, but a very few times have I ever 

 seen a turkey killed so very dead. Without touching 

 him, I stood close by and looked at this splendid fowl. 

 He lay upon his breast, slightly turned to one side; his 

 legs stretched straight behind him, as he fell forward; 

 his wings were about half-spread, the white spots glister- 

 ing in the bright light; his tail, so perfect of feather and 

 rich, of dark, rich russet, was partly spread, and lay gently 

 touching the ground; his neck, with a very life-like curve, 

 lay prone upon the earth, while his head lay on one side, 

 showing an eye half -closed, and his mouth partly open, 

 with a few drops of blood about his tongue. 



Gathering him up carefully, I went to camp as fast as 

 possible, exulting over my skill, and eagerly anticipating 

 the warm congratulations awaiting me, in which I was 

 not disappointed. A bright little woman, with blue eyes 

 and auburn hair, triumphantly said: " I knew my hus- 

 band would bring him." He weighed twenty-four 

 pounds, and was a most splendid fowl every way. The 

 next day we had him for dinner, cooked to perfection, and 

 a vote of thanks was tendered me. 



A favorite way of hunting turkeys, with many sports- 

 men, is to roost them, and shoot as many as they can 

 before it becomes too dark, and then call them the next 

 morning. A good hunter will hardly ever fail to get 

 several shots in the morning, after they have been scat- 

 tered the evening before. Many points could here be 

 given on roosting turkeys, but the limits of this article 

 forbid; and so I give an experience. 



In the month of February, several years ago, two 

 friends and myself camp on Cedar Creek, Burleson 

 County, Texas, for the purpose of turkey-hunting; and, 

 as we wish to roost them, each goes in a different direc- 

 tion "every fellow for himself." After half an hour 



