CHAPER XII 



ON CALLERS AND CALLING 



THERE are in use by all hunters who 

 still-hunt the turkey, instruments used 

 for imitating the call-notes of this bird ; 

 a few lines on these useful implements will not 

 be amiss here. 



The box or trough call, the splinter and slate, 

 the leaf call, all have their merits, and can be 

 made to imitate the different notes of the hens 

 and young gobblers. The leaf call is simply a 

 tender leaf from particular trees, held between 

 the lips, and when well executed, the call with it 

 is good. The box call is said to make excellent 

 imitation of the hen call, but I have yet to see 

 one that satisfied me. The box call is made by 

 taking a piece of wood, preferably poplar, or some 

 other soft wood, about four inches long, two 

 inches deep, by one and a quarter thick. Mor- 

 tise a square hole in this block, leaving the ends 



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