Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-05-27
Hunting the Wild Turkey.

A WRITER upon "The Game Birds of
Michigan" 10 the Detroit Free Press, thus
graphically describes the manner in which
the wild turkey is hunted by the protes-
sionals
The true and almost universal method
OF hunting them, among sporlsmen, is to
scatter the flock by chasing them with a
dog trained for that purpose These are
usuallyth the setter or pointer. When the
dog rushes into the flock they scatter in
all directions, alighting on the trees or
skulking and hiding under The brush. If
marsh is near at hand, they almost in
variably hide in the grass. Ifthey have
taG en- to the trees or skulked to the woods,
the hunter calls in the dog and sits him
self silently down until he hears the call
OF the birds uttered for the Ieassembling
of the tlocks; this he initiates, and they
are called up within range of the gun and
shot in detail. Ii may be said that this is
not sport, but am inclined to the opinion
that those who ignore everything but
wing shooting and claim everything else
to be pot hunting and unmanly, would
change their views after having once
witnessed the exciting scene of calling
turkeys.
"i he sportsman, after the flock has been
well scattered, sits down in excited eXpecla-
ton, and listens vii h intense interest for
the first call OF the birds. If disappointed
10 this, he, alter time, initiates the call
ing himself, and this must not be clumsily
done. The least break or falter in the
note is detected by the birds at once.
They lie hidden on all sides of him, wait
ing learingly, and like him listening in
tently for the call and reluctant to be the
first TO utter it. He puts the instrument 10
his lips, covers it with both hands to deaden
and soften the sound, andutters a cautious,
feeble note-utters it once and only once
and listens for the response. Every
thing ID painfully silent the senses OF
sight and hearing are strained to their ut
most pitch; the cog crOuched by the side
OF his master paItakes of the anxiety and
silently watches every motion; and listens
intently flrthe resp ndng cali. After a
short interval it comes, carefully and eau
tiously. The concealed game has heard
the note, and alter careful deliberation has
yielded to the deception, and half doubt.
ingly and cautiously responds. The
hunters eye and the quick start of the
dog, which is only pleasurable quiver of
the tensely strained nerves, shows that
the device has been SO far successful. All
is silent again. No quick, sudden reply,
no change of position or hurry, but the
hunter waits patiently and long, as if but
half satisfied with the feeble, cautious
reply. When the waiting has become
painiul-each minute seeming an hour
and the silence almost oppressive, he re.
places the instrument to his lips and
another soft and carefully uttered note
floats out upon the air. This seems to
reassure the hidden prey, and after short
interval, the note comes waited back like
an echo, but from a shorter distance the
bird somewhat assured by the second call
has cautiously left its hiding place and is
silently stealing toward its fancied rem
devious. Increased caution is now re.
quired, and The eager hunter waits even
longer than before, and some impatient
victim responds from another direction.
Shortly follows the call of the hun.
ter, and silence again prevails. The dog
Is eager and excited, and his nose quivers
as the aroma OF the approaching game