AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING, 
CHAPTER I. 
THE WILD TURKEY. 
The Turkey—Its early history—Different species—The Mexican turkey— 
Size, weight, and color, of the American species—Opening of the 
love season—How the males woo—Severe combats—Characteris- 
tics of barren hens—Bachelor parties—Nests—Calling for mates 
—Vigilant mothers—The young broods—Haunts of the birds—Mi- 
gratory tours—Jealousy of the males—How flocks cross a river— 
Franklin’s opinion of the turkey—Its habits—Calling turkeys— 
Various kinds of callers—Methods of shooting turkeys—Captur- 
ing them alive—Pens—Baiting the grounds—Taming wild tur- 
keys—Change produced by domestication—Blinds—How to find 
a turkey roost—The use of dogs—The best’ months for shooting 
—tThe brands of shot used—The secret of successful shooting— 
Wholesale slaughter—Turkey hunters—A colored sportsman. — 
How to build a blind—An ‘‘ enchanted gobbler,” aud the manner 
in which he was bagged—Deceiving a human caller—A turkey dog 
—A bet and its result—A day’s shooting—Turkeys in the Indian 
Territory—I kill seven in Southern Colorado—A forest feast—How 
to cook turkeys—June gobblers. 
The wild turkey is, undoubtedly, the finest game-bird 
on the American Continent, and possesses many of those 
qualities which are so much appreciated by lovers of the 
gun, for it is difficult to find any feathered creature that 
can excel it in cautiousness, vigilance, acuteness of vis- 
ion and hearing, and foresight, and when to these are add- 
ed fleetness of foot and strength of wing, it is easy to 
understand why old hunters say that ‘‘it is harder to 
kill a turkey than a deer.” 
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