26 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 6, 1912. 
recognize only that their income from gunning 
is reduced or cut off. 
The people who feel bitterly about this are 
for the most part quite ignorant of conditions 
beyond the limits of their own small community. 
There is another and much larger portion of the 
population along Currituck Sound that takes a 
broader view of the matter. 
It was twenty-five or thirty years ago that a 
veteran gunner, who still lives, declared that 
twenty years would see the end of wildfowl 
shooting in Currituck Sound, and that then the 
blue peter would be the game bird of those 
waters. Needless to say the prediction has not 
come true. There are not as many wildfowl 
as once there were, but they still exist in vast 
numbers, and since the passage of laws pro¬ 
hibiting spring shooting, they have begun to in¬ 
crease again. We shall long have good shooting 
in Currituck, but it will come only with proper 
duck shooting weather. As the years go by the 
ducks are certain to become wiser and wiser and 
better able to protect themselves against attacks 
by man. Moreover, the time is coming when, in 
this country as is now done in Great Britain, 
great numbers of ducks will be hand reared and 
turned loose. There will be shooting for all 
hands for many generations to come. 
THE OLD KENTUCKY TURKEY SHOOT. 
Continued from page 17. 
Ihe history of the revolver on the turkey 
range correctly recorded reads like a chapter from 
a volume of romance; in fact, recently published 
authenticated records of long distance revolver 
shooting at Kentucky turkey matches have been 
pronounced hot-air reports, and even experts at 
first accepted them with strong misgivings. The 
development of the long range possibilities of the 
revolver was a graded act and covers a period 
of several years. It is the logical result of the 
friendly rivalry between shooters to beat the 
keeper at his own game. In States where turkey 
shooting is under the ban, silhouette or shadow 
turkeys have been cut from black cardboard 
and fixed on white background and expert re¬ 
volver shots tested out the distances recorded 
at the Kentucky shoots and surprised themselves 
at the good results; in fact, matches at the 
shadow turkey have become a distinct sport. 
They are quite popular at Denver and other 
points in the West, which is the great training 
ground for good all-round marksmen, but 
strange to relate, is unfamiliar with the turkey 
shoot. 
During the past decade the revolver jumped 
into great favor with the Kentucky shooters. It 
was about the time the weapon was perfected in 
the officer’s models in .38 and .44 calibers, swing 
out cylinder, adjustable rear U sight, sym¬ 
metrical in form, beautiful workmanship and 
perfect balance. It is a handy weapon and soon 
wins the owner’s lasting attachment. It can be 
dropped into the overcoat pocket, swung under 
the arm or at the belt in a holster, consequently 
the Kentuckians got in the habit of taking it 
along, and leaving the rifle behind when incon¬ 
venient to carry and handle, especially in a rain 
or snow storm. The attendance on the revolver 
range increased, the shooters displayed marked 
proficiency, and as the turkeys were won more 
frequently, the stake was moved out. A turn 
of the screw raised the rear sight, and a little 
more care was displayed by the shooter. 
Beginning at too or 125 yards, the ranges were 
increased from year to year by the addition of 
twenty-five to fifty yards till in the course of a 
few years they were at a distance unheard of 
for revolvers elsewhere. 
It was at Pewee Valley, Ky., a suburban town 
connected by trolley with Louisvi.le, that the 
culmination was reached. The occasion was the 
New Year, 1910, turkey shoot and burgoo, con¬ 
ducted by Richard Schultze, a riding master, 
thoroughbred trainer and a sportsman of the 
first water. Somehow the conditions all favored 
the revolver. The rifle range had to be aban¬ 
doned on account of the steel bullets of the 
small-bore high-power rifles missing the embank¬ 
ment, and striking a house among the hills. The 
crack shooters all were then confined to the 
revolver. It was a cloudy day with the light 
strong enough, however, and diffused perfectly. 
There were no shadows nor annoying glare. 
The range was in an apple orchard across a 
shallow depression with a sharply contrasted 
background made by the far rise. 
'file turkeys were generously large, and start¬ 
ing at the 200-yard stake, were moved out twenty- 
five yards at a time to save the marks till the 
shooters, with their rear sights screwed up on 
the last thread, were shooting over a paced 
range of 300 yards. All dropped out except the 
four luckiest and best shooters, who, after they 
had gotten their hands in, averaged a turkey 
every fourth or fifth shot, the last ten ’or a 
dozen turkeys going to the 300-yard stake. 
This now famous incident is not referred to 
as typical of the Kentucky turkey shoot, but as 
an extraordinary and unusual occurrence. How¬ 
ever. the revolver range for the Pewee shooters 
and their friends has for the past two years 
been established regularly at 300 yards, and the 
shooters are always ready and eager to buy 
tickets all day at ten cents each to shoot re¬ 
volvers at turkeys at 300 yards, provided they 
are of average size or larger, with favorable 
light and background. 
It should be remembered that factors other 
than distance are very potent in turkey shooting. 
The wise old keeper can tie out a small turkey 
on a selected adverse range of 175 yards or less 
that will puzzle the best revolver shot, and the 
same will hold good with rifles. Subsequently 
one of the Pewee quartette made four straights 
on the last four turkeys exposed on the 300-yard 
revolver range. He may never do as good again. 
A few years ago one could attend one of these 
shoots and have a good opportunity to study 
rifles of antique types, but recently the modern 
rifle has supplanted the old ones. The most 
popular now is the new Springfield army rifle of 
flat trajectory and accurately adjusted sights, or 
well known sporting models of the same calibers 
with peep sights, using the hard sharp-pointed 
bullet and smokeless powder. The turkey 
shooter, however, prefers black powder for the 
I Want Some of 
E BUCK SHELLS 
When you say that to your dealer you’ll 
see him smile, for he’ll know there’s another 
member in the “Sure-Shot Club” — another 
customer for him who knows good ammuni¬ 
tion. Oh, they are all joining, for one by one 
they are giving the BLACK SHELLS a trial 
and are learning for themselves what these 
better shells will do for their scores. 
7'he success of the BLACK SHELLS 
didn’t just happen.” There are reasons why 
they give the men who try them the best shoot¬ 
ing they’ve ever known. Here are a few of 
the reasons — look ’em over: 
The primer used in the BLACK SHELLS contains 
no^ mercury and no ground glass. The results are 
quickness and uniformity—better scores and bigger 
bags. You doubt it.? Try it. 
Fractions of a second count wlien you are alter a bird 
on the wing—that’s why we make the Flash Passage 
(the hole in the head through which the flame from the 
primer reaches the charge) 100% larger than in ordinary 
shells. There’s no chance for hang-fire tliere. BLACK 
SHELLS have a solid head and are really water-proof. 
Even a ducking won’t hurt them. 
There areclasses of BLACK SHELLS: 
ROMAX, a black powder shell with 5/16 inch brass. 
CLIMAX, the most popular smokeless (both dense 
and bulk) shell made. Has one-half inch brass. 
AJAX is the highest grade smokeless (both dense 
and bulk) shell made. It has a long one inch brass. 
Send for book about shells. If you enclose 10c we 
will send a beautiful colored poster. 20 x 30 inches, 
called “October Days.” Sure to please every shooter. 
)}) U.S.CARTRI D CE. )CQ> 
'j'j -- 
Dept. H LOWELL, MASS., U. S. A. 
TRAINING vs. BREAKING 
Practical Dog Training; or, Training vs. Breaking. 
By S. T. Hammond. To which is added a chapter on 
training pet dogs, by an amateur. Cloth, 166 pages. 
Price, 11.00. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBUSHING COMPANY 
AMERICAN DUCK SHOOTING 
“Ry George Rird Grinnell 
Describes every species of duck, goose and swan known to North America; tells of the various methods of 
capturing each, the guns, ammunition, loads, decoys and boats used in the sport, and gives the best account 
ever published of the retrieving Chesapeake Bay Dog. 
About 600 pages, portraits of fowol, 8 juU-page plates. Price, Sj.SO postpaid. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO.. 127 Franklin Street. NEW YORK 
