
978 
FOREST AND STREAM. 

Tales of the Plains. 
IV.—A Turkey Hunt With the Troop, 
WE had been for some hours slowly making 
our way along the bank of one of those sunken 
plains rivers. From a distance its course had 
been discernible only by the heavy growth of 
large cottonwoods, which clung to the sides of 
the bank by heavy roots and tendrils. It was a 
warm day even for September on the plains. 
The men had lost all interest in their friendly 
trials as to who had the better trained horse. 
A trooper had only to whisper to his mount, 
“Kate, go up and give Mike’s Molly a kick,” or 
“bite” when the horse would move forward to 
the animal and proceed to execute the maneuver 
designated by the playful owner. All cavalry 
men feel that they own the horses they ride and 
each spends much spare time in teaching his 
tricks to astonish their fellow troopers. He may 
get a horse, teach him, then swap him off for 
a better one at his own pleasure. The horse 
started Uncle Sam’s property as a cavalry 
hack, but the trooper is responsible for a horse 
and its care and soon comes to regard it as his 
Own property. Even an officer is not supposed 
to order a man to give up his mount without 
his consent; to the cavalryman his horse takes 
the place of chum, family and all things that 
are left behind when he-joins the troop for three 
or more years on those monotonous plains. 
One of the men had discovered a band of some 
eighteen or more wild turkeys running through 
the underbrush on the side of the gulch. The 
troop awakened to the fact that some of them 
had a home and had seen this bird served upon 
a certain national feast day. Farley, myself and 
two of our hunting detail dismounted and began 
shooting at the turkeys as they ran through the 
brush, and before they got out of range and 
sight had by good luck succeeded in stopping 
three of them. The birds were running along 
the side of this gulch, and we could see some of 
them topple down the side to the bottom into 
some not very dense bushes. As the bottom was 
a shallow pond formed in the bed of a river about 
fifty yards across, and with few large trees, we 
expected to pick up our turkeys without much 
as 


trouble. Farley and the halfbreed scout re- 
turned with but one dead turkey. As all the 
troop had seen three go down the bank, we 
recommenced a search for the other two. Scat- 
tered in the bushes and on the side of the pond, 
which looked about two feet deep, we found only 
a lot of feathers. We were about to abandon 
the search, when one of the men, from the top 
of the bank, discovered a black object in the 
middle of the pond, which proved to be the head 
of a second turkey. He was completely sub- 
merged—not a feather showing—only the top of 
his head, and his bill poked out of the water like 
a wounded duck. He did not move or try to 
get away, as I waded in, and putting my hand 
under water caught him by the neck. He was 
resting flat on the bottom in less than two feet 
of water. He had a hole through his body, but 
plenty of life left in him. How a turkey would 
leave the bushes for the water to hide in was 
to me a mystery in bird lore that I have never 
been able to have straightened out. 
We were so much encouraged in 
turkey that we cast about to find the third turkey 
if possible. On the left bank of the river, about 
half way up, grew a very large cottonwood. The 
earth had been washed away from its roots dur- 
ing some heavy freshet in the past, and these 
roots were exposed and trailing down the bank. 
As this tree was across the stream and some 
fifteen feet up the bank and a hundred yards or 
more away from where we had last seen the 
turkey, it did not occur to any of us to cross 
the stream and investigate. One of the men in 
his ardor to do something to assist in the search 
thought he would take a look under the big tree 
across the river which stood by itself without 
any underbrush in its vicinity. He clambered 
up the bank holding on to the roots with one 
hand, and then shouted to us: “He’s here! look 
at these feathers.” We crossed over to take a 
look, climbed the bank, saw the feathers, poked 
under all roots and tendrils, but found no turkey, 
finding this 
The halfbreed said, “The tree is hollow.’ He 
got under the tree and up into the hollow as 
far as he could and then up went his arm, but 
no turkey was produced. “Here, boys,” he said, 
“give me a rifle. Gol darn him; he went in here 
and he has to come out.” He poked the rifle up 
the hollow and said, “Boys, he’s here. I felt 
him just now with the rifle.’ After some more 
stirring up, down came a big fat wing-broken 
gobbler. 
That night we talked the turkey hunt over 
while a few invited guests enjoyed a feast of 
sliced up turkey fried in buffalo fat and brains. 
This was the first and last turkey supper we had 
on the march, as these were the only ones we 
Saw. 
Now comes another mystery to be cleared up. 
How did that gobbler select that tree with the 
hollow trunk, across a stream and some one 
hundred yard away? How did he get up the 
bank, and after getting among the roots, why 
did he not stop there? What made him climb 
up into the hollow some ten feet and with a 
broken wing; how did he do it? . 
(GIDL ish ie 
Game Spots South. 
WHEN the calendar shows that the first of 
December or of January has come around—at 
all events the close of the shooting season—then 
the thoughts of the ardent quail shooter are 
likely to turn southward. He considers whether 
by any possibility he can take the time for a 
couple of weeks with the birds in the balmy 
South. What he would like best would be to 
winter there, going down, say first to Maryland 
and Virginia, then to the Carolinas, and finally, 
when the bitter weather comes, on south to 
Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Most of us know 
—as well as we know anything—that it is im- 
possible for us to get away, but we think of it 
and keep thinking about it—some of us even 
dream about it at night; but for the most part 
we stay here and toil. 
Last year we printed a long list of localities 
in the South where good shooting could be had, 
giving the town, the railroad, the hotel, the kind 
of game, and in some cases names of guides and 
other information useful to the prospective visi- 
tor to the locality. This information, no doubt, 
was useful to a great number of our readers. 
This year we have inquired of the persons who 
last year gave us information, in order to inform 
ourselves as to conditions up to date. Replies 
have been received from a number of people, and 
these we are glad to publish below: 
MARYLAND: 
Hursley.—P. B. 
& W. R. R. Post-offic, Stockton. 
Hotel kept by Abner Doughty. Wildfowl, quail 
and woodcock. Teams. County license, $10. Pros- 
pects good, 
VIRGINIA: 
Wachapreague—N. Y., P. & N. R. R. Hotel Wacha- 
preague. Duck, quail, geese, brant and rabbits. 
Dogs, teams, boats, -blinds and decoys. Non-resi- 
dent license, $10. Prospects good. 
Greenwood.—Chesapeake & Ohio R. R. Persons ac- 
commodating sportsmen, Dr, M. L. McCree, Miss 
Maggie Rogers. Guides, Con. Shirley, John Wheeler. 
Pheasants, turkey, rabbits and squirrel. Non-resi 
dent license, $10. Prospects good. 
Jeffress—Junction of A. & D. DEAL): eee R. 
Hotel, Mrs. B. C. Buxton. Birds, turkey, rabbits 
and deer. Shooting free to some. Fee, reasonable. 
Non-resident license, $10. Prospects good, 
South Boston—A. & D. of Southern R. R. Accom- 
modations for sportsmen, W. H. Carrington, Oak 
Cliffe, Mayo P. O., Va. Birds, turkey, hares and 
squirrel. Shooting mostly free. Non-resident license, 
$10. Prospects good. 
Pilkinton—Accommodations 
Allie D. Olmstead. Quail, duck, turkey, foxes, rab- 
bit, coon, opossum and squirrel. Dogs, teams and 
horses. Non-resident license, $10, Prospects good. 
Baskerville 
for sportsmen, Mrs. 
Southern R. for 
R. Accommodations 
sportsmen, Ruslie Lodge.’ Guides. Turkey, ducks, 
quail, deer, hare and squirrel. Dogs and _ teams. 
Shooting free. Non-resident license, $10, Prospects 
50 per cent, better than for many years. 
Hotel Waldheim. 
Ducks, turkey and deer. Dogs 
Claremont—Southern R. R. 
Guide, P. Wiedman. 
and teams. Non-resident license, $10. Prospects 
good, 
Drewryville—Southern R. R. Accommodations for 
sportsmen, John P. Fox. Guide, John P. Fox. Quail, 
turkey, deer and rabbits. Dogs and teams. Non. 
resident license, $10. Prospects good. 
Clarksville—Southern R, R, Hotel Grace. Guides, 
SOUTH CAROLINA: 

[DeEc. 21, 1907. 



















































































John Howerton, Lewis Gillilemd. 
geese. Dogs and teams. Fee, $1 
resident license, $10, Prospects good. 
Meherrin—Southern R. R, 
Waele” Bashers pe 
rabbits and squirrel. 
$10. Prospects good, 
Lacrosse—Junction S. A. L, & Southern Raat. 
commodations for sportsmen, D., _ S., 
Guide, D. L. Northington. Wild 
woodcock and rabbits. Dogs and 
dent license, $10. Prospects good. 
ducks 
up. 
and | 
Non- | 
Quail, 
and 
-Price’s 
Dosuner. 
Teams. 
Hotel. Guides, 
Ouail, turkey, deer, 
Non-resident license, 
Ac- 
Northington. 
turkey, quail, | 
teams. Non-resi- 
Lester Manor—Southern R. R. Post-office, White 
House. Hotels, Lester Manor, P. Jackson, King 
Million. Guides. Ducks, quail, geese and turkey. 
Dogs and teams, Some shooting free. If not, fee 
$3. Non-resident license, $10. Prospects good. 
NORTH CAROLINA: 
Middleburg—Seaboard Air Line. Accommodations 
for sportsmen, Alfred Plummers. Guides, Alfred 
Plummer, John Halliway. Quail and hare plenty; 
turkey scarce. Dogs and teams. Non-resident 
license, $10. Prospects for quail and hare fine. 
New London—Southern R. R. 
sportsmen, Culp House. 
Quail, rabbits and squirrel. 
resident license, $10. 
Accommodations for 
Guide, J. C. Schuyler. 
Dogs and teams. Non- 
Prospects better than for years. 
Mount Airy—Southern R. R. Accommodations for 
sportsmen, Bronx House and others. Guides. Pheas- 
ants, quail, rabbits and squirrel. Dogs and teams. 
Shooting free. Non-resident license, $10. 
plentiful than for years. 
Newbern—Norfolk & Southern R. R. Accommoda- | 
tions, The Gaston. Guide, John Williams. Turkey, | 
geese, ducks, quail, woodcock, snipe, doves, bear and 
deer. Dogs and teams. Shooting permits. Non-resi- 
dent license, $10. Prospects never better. Guides can | 
be had for any other nearby points. 
Marion—Southcrn R. R. Eagle Hotel. Guide, W. T. 
Norgan. Quail, bear, deer and trout. Dogs and 
teams, Shooting free. Non-resident license, $10. 
Prospects good. Good section for game preserves 
for payment of taxes on land. 
Southern Pines—Seaboard Air Line. Hotels, Piney 
Woods Inn, and other smaller hotels. Guides, J. H. 
Huttenhaner, Dr. Jones. Quail, wild turkey and 
foxes. Dogs and teams. Shooting free. Non-resi- 
dent license, $10. Prospects good. Quail hunting 
of the very best quality. 
Saluda—Southern R, R. Accommodations, L. R. 
Williams, R. W. Pace, J. E. Pace: Guides, apply 
to Saluda Trade Co. Quail, pheasants, squirrels and 
rabbits. Dogs and teams. Shooting generally free. 
Non-resident license, $10, Prospects good. 
Hendersonville—Southern R. R. Hotel Gates; 
Ridge Inn. Guide, Hal Ripley. Quail, 
bear and deer. Dogs and _ teams. 
license, $10, Prospects excellent. 
Norlina=Southern R. R. 
Jameson. Guide, F. B. 
Game more 

Blue 
pheasants, 
Non-résident 
Accommodations, J, 
Wigg. Quail, turkey and 
rabbits. Dogs and teams, Shooting free. ~ Non- 
resident license, $10. Prospects good, 
Tuscarora—Norfolk & Southern Racks 
tions, T. A. Dillon. Guides plenty. 
cock and wild turkey. Dogs and 
free. Non-resident license $10, 
Jacksonville—A, C. L. R. R. 
A. Jarman, R. A. 
M. 
Accommoda- 
Quail, wood- 
teams. Shooting 
Prospects fair, 
Accommodations, H. 
Lockamy, Mrs. J. J. Edwards. 
Guide, R. A. Lockamy. Duck, geese, turkey, quail, | 
deer, fox and squirrel. Dogs and teams. Non-resi- 
dent license, $10. Prospects, waterfowl have not yet 
appeared; other game abundant, 
Black Mountain—Southern R. R. Hotel 
Quail, pheasants, squirrel and rabbit. 
tically free. Non-resident license, 
good. 
Pineville—Southern R. R, 
McClelland, R. F. D, 15. 
Gladstone. 
Shooting prac- 
$10. Prospects | 
Accommodations, W. S. ) 
Guides, F. B. and W. S. 
McClelland. Quail, rabbits and squirrel. Dogs and 
teams. Non-resident license, $10, Prospects better 
than for years, especially for quail. 
Lexington—Southern R, R. 
bits. Dogs and teams. 
license, $10, 

‘ Quail, turkey and 
Shooting free. 
Prospects excellent, 
rab- 
Non-resident 








Flat Rock—Southern R. R. Hotel Heidelburg, P. 
H. Walker. Guides. Quail, pheasants, turkey and 
fox. Dogs and teams. Shooting free by permit. 
Non-resident license, $10. Prospects good, 
Mount Airy—Southern R. R. Accommodations 

Brown House; Pace House: Blue Ridge Inn. 
Guides, John Jackson, R. W. Bray. Pheasants, quail, 
rabbits and squirrel. Dogs and teams. Shooting free 
by permit. Non-resident license, $10. Prospects 
good. 







Pinehurst—Southern and Seaboard railwa a 
modations, Lexington; Pine Grove House; 
Cedars. Guides. Quail, turkey, woodcock and doves. 
Dogs and teams. Non-resident license, $10. Pros- 
pects best in the history of the village, 
Accom- 
Magnolia; 









Springfield—Southern R. R. Accommodations, L, 
M. Mines, Mrs. L. W. Hydrick, W. J. Jumper. 
Guides, W. P. Caughman, W. J. Jumper. Partridge 
plentiful; turkey abundant; deer limited. Dogs and 
teams. Fee for full season, $25, Non-resident license, 
$10. Prospects best in years. 












Central—Southern R. R. Central Hotel. Guides. 
Quail, rabbit and fox. Dogs and teams. Shooting 
free. Non-resident license, $10. Prospects good. 
Ridgeville—Southern R. R. Accommodations, Mrs. 
May Welch. Guide, Henry Hargrove, Partridge, 
snipe and squirrel. “Dogs and teams. Shooting fee, 
very reasonable, Non-resident license, $10. Pros. 


pects good. 



