MY EARLY TRAINING WITH THE TURKEYS 9 



primeval forests, giving ample shelter and food 

 to the turkey. 



A novice might think it an easy matter to 

 find turkeys after seeing their tracks along the 

 banks of streams or roads, or in the open field, 

 where they lingered the day before. But these 

 birds are not likely to be in the same place the 

 following day; they will probably be some miles 

 away on a leafy ridge, scratching up the dry 

 leaves and mould in quest of insects and acorns, 

 or in some cornfield gleaning the scattered grain ; 

 or perhaps they might be lingering on the banks 

 of some small stream in a dense swamp, gather- 

 ing snails or small Crustacea and water-loving 

 insects. 



To be successful in turkey hunting you must 

 learn to rise early in the morning, ere there is a 

 suspicion of daylight. At such a time the air is 

 chilly, perhaps it looks like rain, and on awaken- 

 ing you are likely to yawn, stretch, and look at 

 the time. Unless you possess the ardor of a 

 sportsman it is not pleasant to rise from a com- 

 fortable bed at this hour and go forth into the 

 chill morning air that threatens to freeze the 



