MY EARLY TRAINING WITH THE TURKEYS 7 



any man in the world. I do not wish to say this 

 boastfully, but present it as illustrative of the 

 experience I have had with these birds, and 

 particularly with old gobblers, for I have always 

 found a special delight in outwitting the wary old 

 birds. 



I doubt not many veteran turkey hunters 

 have in mind some old gobbler who seemed in- 

 vincible; some bird that had puzzled them for 

 three or four years without their learning the 

 tricks of the cunning fellow. Perhaps in these 

 pages there may be found some information 

 which will enable even the old hunter to better 

 circumvent the bird. I am aware that there 

 are times when the keenest sportsmen will be 

 outwitted, often when success seems assured. 



How well I know this. Many times I have 

 called turkeys to within a few feet of me; so near 

 that I have heard their "put-put." And they 

 would walk away without my getting a shot. 

 Often does this occur to the best turkey hunter, 

 on account of the game approaching from the 

 rear, or other unexpected point, and suddenly 

 without warning fly or run away. No one can 



