146 
FOREST AND STREAM 
March, 1918 
HUNTING THE NOBLEST OF GAME BIRDS 
A CAUTIOUS HUNTER CAN USUALLY HAVE SOME SUCCESS DURING THE SEASON 
PARTICULARLY IF HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE JUDICIOUS USE OF THE CALL 
L ONG ago I had promised myself to 
record our methods of hunting the 
noblest of game birds, and per¬ 
haps I can relate something of their 
habits that may be of interest. The 
earlier works on hunting had much to 
say about the wild turkey. Lewis in 
particular devoted a lengthy article on 
the subject although he admits that he 
knew but little of the bird from per¬ 
sonal experience. In Wilson’s and Audu¬ 
bon’s times these birds were of course 
numerous from Pennsylvania to Texas 
and west to Michigan, Indiana and Ken¬ 
tucky. They still appear to hold a place 
in the ornithological fauna of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, West Maryland, West Vir¬ 
ginia, and North Carolina despite the 
amount of hunting they have endured; 
however, in that section it is mainly in 
the higher, rougher, mountainous dis¬ 
tricts that they have been able to main¬ 
tain themselves to any considerable ex¬ 
tent against skillful hunters and mod¬ 
ern weapons. 
From reports recently received I con¬ 
clude that in Pennsylvania at least they 
have increased in numbers during the 
past three or four years, doubtless due 
to improved game laws and a better 
sentiment among the hunting fraternity 
for a rigid enforcement thereof. Some 
day I hope our people will realize more 
fully the wonderful asset they have in the 
way of native game and demand a strict 
regard for the game laws—but that is an¬ 
other ball of yarn. 
During the years 1911, 1912, 1913 it was 
cold and wet in Florida through April and 
May. 1913 in particular was “swimming” 
until midsummer and unusually cold, and 
we feared we would never have the tur¬ 
keys in their former abundance; but the 
four years since have been favorable for 
the rearing of the young, which are ex¬ 
tremely susceptible to cold, wet weather, 
and in consequence of the dry springtimes 
of recent years we have the birds again 
in goodly numbers. Of course I do not 
mean to imply that they are as found 
twenty-five years ago, before the advent 
here of breech-loaders, pump-guns, and 
hunting parties galore. As an indication 
of their abundance in our immediate neigh¬ 
borhood, I can say that in the fall and 
early winter of 1916 we located eight 
flocks within three miles of our village, 
and each averaged about ten birds to the 
bunch before they were shot up. I have 
no doubt they are as numerous this year 
in the same area, but I have not had the 
opportunity to hunt over the ground care¬ 
fully. In at least two directions better 
hunting for turkeys is to be found outside 
of this three-mile limit than within it, so 
it may be gleaned that our stock is not en¬ 
tirely depleted. 
Hereabouts the males commence to “gob¬ 
ble” by the middle of February and for¬ 
merly this was a favorite time to hunt 
them; now the legal close season has cut 
off most of the time when the old fellows 
By OSCEOLA 
r HE life history of the wild tur¬ 
key has been accurately told by 
naturalists and many sportsmen have 
expatiated upon the peculiar charm 
of their pursuit, but unfortunately 
there is very little technical litera¬ 
ture on where, when and hozv to hunt 
them. The editors therefore take 
particular satisfaction in being able 
to publish this authoritative article 
by our old correspondent Osceola. 
No man has hunted the great Ameri¬ 
can bird more successfully than 
Osceola, who has studied their ways 
and knows whereof he writes. 
are engaged in their courtships, although 
so long as it was only gobblers that were 
shot the stock of birds was not impaired. 
At this season the males are still separated 
from the bunch, but nevertheless they will 
usually be found roosting in close proxim¬ 
ity to the hens. I believe when not shot 
up too much, or if entirely unmolested, 
the old hen will continue to accompany 
her femal^ progeny until the nesting pe¬ 
riod actually commences, as I have seen 
seven or eight hens together in early April. 
A fairly good hunter can usually have 
some success during the season for gob¬ 
bling. A load that is commonly used in 
either 10 or 12 gauge guns is one and a 
quarter ounces of No. 4 shot. Given a still 
morning and fairly damp footing and the 
chances should be at least even for a shot 
at the amorous bird as he sends forth his 
matutinal calls. It means a cold tramp 
long before the first peep o’ day to cir¬ 
cumvent this wary old bird. The hunter 
must be close at hand when the first 
calls are sounded and with all haste 
make for the tree on which the bird is 
located if he would be successful. And 
then let him beware of dry brush, pal¬ 
metto fans and other noisy devices, for 
the chances are more than even that in 
going to the calling bird others may be 
located nearer at hand, and any undue 
disturbance will give the alarm and the 
shot is lost. 
On a still morning an old gobbler may 
be heard for quite three-quarters of a 
mile, possibly for a full mile under most 
favorable conditions, and it will tak£ 
some lively footing to reach him before 
he drops from his perch and seeks his 
lady-love. At such times, after he has 
come to the ground, it is unusual to 
get a shot at an old male as they are 
extremely suspicious; but the young 
gobblers may fall easy victims to the 
cautious, experienced hunter, particu¬ 
larly if he is an adept with the call bone. 
W ITH usual weather conditions the 
eggs are laid by mid-April. The 
nest is merely a slight hollow 
scratched beside a log or stump and 
usually well concealed in a patch of 
briers or low, thick growth of saplings. 
A few leaves form a bed for the eggs. 
The bird is a most persistent brooder, 
rarely flushing from the nest unless almost 
trod upon, and then she will sneak off un¬ 
less it be to escape the clutches of dog, 
wild cat or other “varment.” Ten to 
twelve eggs seem to be as many as one 
hen usually covers; but double this num¬ 
ber have been found in one nest, in which 
case it seems reasonable to infer that two 
hens have formed a partnership. If the 
weather be dry and favorable the little fel¬ 
lows grow rapidly. With us, they are able 
to fly up into low trees by the middle of 
June and now it is not unusual to find two 
or even three hens associated with their 
broods. It is a stirring sight to ride into 
the midst of such a bunch well out in the 
open piney woods, and see the youngsters 
scatter far and wide, making for the near¬ 
est cover, while the hens use all their wiles 
-of broken (?) wing, lameness, and down¬ 
right attack to distract attention from the 
young. 
Now is the time when the nefarious pot¬ 
hunter works his havoc. By Independence 
Day the youngsters are able to gain the 
tops of the taller trees about a pond or in 
the “hammocks” and when flushed by a 
dog or shot at, as they run off they will 
seek such shelter and fall an easy mark to 
the unscrupulous hunter. If such hunt¬ 
ing (?) could be prevented we would have 
glorious sport during the winter. 
From the time the hens commence to 
brood until another mating season the male 
birds keep apart, either singly or in small 
bunches. During the summer months the 
young are led about through the more 
open wooded districts, their main depen¬ 
dence for food being grasshoppers and 
