424 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



Tripod carefully peeped over the log, there, not twenty- 

 five paces from them, came a big gobbler, all fluffed 

 up and strutting. He was coming nearer, so that 

 prompt action was necessary. Tripod goes on : 



" 'Now, Miss Mary, don't move a bit/ I caution. 



"Her gun lay across the log, pointing in the direc- 

 tion from which the first answer had come, with its 

 muzzle, among some twigs, to free it from which the 

 gun had to be withdrawn entirely from over the log 

 and pushed forward again in a new place, as the tur- 

 key was approaching from a different quarter, very 

 much askew to the log's position. This difficult move- 

 ment in the face of the enemy was successfully accom- 

 plished. 



' 'Now take the gun cautiously, aim carefully at his 

 neck, low down, and shoot. Don't hurry !' 



"She did it just that way, and over rolled that big 

 bird. With great exultation we then bore down upon 

 him, and saw him flutter, then quiver, and then lie 

 still. On the lower part of his neck was much evi- 

 dence of No. 5 shot. Miss Mary then looked much 

 prouder than the turkey had looked a few moments 

 before, and very justly so and said turkeys were not 

 a myth any more. I realized this myself as I bore this 

 tangible specimen to where our horses had been left." 



A successful turkey hunter, writing from Missouri 

 recently, expressed his views of turkey hunting, and 

 what he says, which I give in substance, will apply to 

 the pursuit of the bird over much of its present range : 



