HABITS OF ASSOCIATION AND ROOSTING 155 



bag in the world. His life seems immune from 

 attacks of any nature, and he seems to know the 

 tactics of every hunter in the vicinity of his range. 

 He keeps aloof from any old logs or stumps 

 where an enemy may lurk, and never gobbles un- 

 til daylight, so that he can take in every inch of 

 his surroundings. I have killed from four to six 

 old gobblers, in a given range, while trying to bag 

 a certain stubborn old chap whose vigilance and 

 good luck have saved him from bullets for years; 

 but through patience and dogged persistence 

 in the hunter he succumbed at last. Although 

 some hold out longer in their reserved and re- 

 tired course, I can truthfully say that I have yet 

 to encounter one that can not be brought to the 

 gun by fair and square calling. Many experi- 

 enced and worthy hunters will criticise this as- 

 sertion, and are honest in their convictions that I 

 am in error; but I w T ill take the dissenter to the 

 haunts of the most astute old gobbler he may 

 select, and call the turkey right up to the muzzle 

 of his gun, or near enough to see the glint of his eye. 

 A flock may be met one morning on the skirts 

 of the backwater from an overflow river bottom, 



