CHAPTER I 



MY EARLY TRAINING WITH THE TURKEYS 



MY FATHER was a great all-round 

 hunter and pioneer in the state of 

 Alabama, once the paradise of hunters. 

 He was particularly devoted to deer hunting and 

 fox hunting, owning many hounds and horses. 

 He knew the ways and haunts of the forest people 

 and from him my brothers and I got our early 

 training in woodcraft. I was the youngest of three 

 sons, all of whom were sportsmen to the manner 

 born. My brothers and myself were particu- 

 larly fond of hunting the wild turkey, and were 

 raised and schooled in intimate association with 

 this noble bird; the fondness for this sport has 

 remained with me through life. I therefore may 

 be pardoned when I say that I possess a fair 

 knowledge of their language, their habits, their 

 likes and dislikes. 



In the great woods surrounding our home 



