GUNS I HAVE USED ON TURKEYS 167 



This type of man can never become a quiet, con- 

 templative, thoughtful turkey hunter. 



Unless killed or wing broken, a turkey may 

 receive while on the wing a mortal hurt and yet 

 be lost, for it has such vitality that it will prolong 

 its flight to such a distance as to be lost. At short 

 range turkeys on the wing are easily dropped 

 with a shotgun, but then the whole body is 

 usually filled with shot. Hallocksays: "If the 

 hunter be so fortunate as to get within reach 

 of a turkey, let him take deliberate aim at 

 the head if he has a rifle, but the possessor of a 

 shotgun should cover the whole body." To me 

 this seems absurd, for it is the reverse of this that 

 I would suggest to successfully kill the bird. 

 Should the man of average nerve and excitability 

 take aim at the head of a turkey with a rifle he 

 will miss it. I have done it myself under certain 

 conditions, and under ordinary circumstances I 

 would not suggest that any sportsman take such 

 chances. 



The turkey hunter who uses his rifle gets 

 more real enjoyment out of the sport than with 

 any other arm. He gets more chances to kill the 



