The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-07-28
HUNTING THE WILD TURKEY.

A writer upon "Ihe Game Birds OF Mich
igan," in the Detroit Free Press, thus graph
irally describes the manner in which the wild
turkey is hunted by the professionals:
The true and almost universal method of
hunting them, among sportsmen, is to scatter
the flock by chasing them with u dog trained
for that purpose This is usually The setter
OF pointer When the dog rushes into the
flock they scatter in all directions, ali@hino
ON the trees or skulking and hiding under the
brush. IT = marsh is near at hand, they al
most invariably hide in the grass. II they
have taken to the trees or skulkcd in the
woods, the hunter calls in the dog and set>
himself silently down until he hears the call
of the birds uttered for the reasSemblin@ OF
the llocks; this he initiates, and they are
called up within range of the gun and shot
in detail. 1t may be said that this is not
sport, but | am inclined to the opinion that
those who ignore everything but wing shoot
inc and claim everything else to be pot hunt
ing and unmany, would change their views
after having once witnessed the exciting
scene Of calling turkeys.
The sportsman, after the flock has beer
we'll scattered, sits down in excited expccta-
ton, and listens with intense interest for tho
first call of the birds. If disappointed il
this, he after u time, initiates the calling him
self, and this must not be clumsilv done
The least break or laler in the note is de
tected by the birds at once. They lie hiddcl
on all sides of him, waiting tearngly, ant
like him listening intently for the call, an,
reluctant TO be the first to utter it. He put
the instrument to his lips, covers it with botI
hands to deaden and soften the sound, and
utters a cautious, feeble notc-uttcrs ii one,
and only once-lnd listens for the response
* ,,1 II
sight and hearing are strained 10 their ul
most pitch; the dog crouched by the side o
his master partakes ot the anxiety and silent
ly watches every motion, and listens ntently
for the responding call After a short inter
val it comes, carefully and cautiously. Tn,
concealed game has heard the note. and altc
careful delheratioll has yielded to the deccp
lion, and half doubtingly ana cautiously re
spends. The glcam IN the hunters eye an,
the quick start of the dog which is only .
pleasurable Iuiver of the teusey straineo
nerves, shows that the device has been so ia
successful. All is silent again. No quick
sudden reply, no change of position or hurry
but the hunter waits patiently and long a
if but halt satisfied with the feeble, caution
reply, When the waiting has become pain
ful-each minute seeming an hour and tn
silence almost oppressive, he replaces the in
strument to his lips and another soft and care
fully uttered note floats out upon the air
This seems to reassure the hidden prey, an.
after short interval, the note comes waited
back like an echo, but from a shorter dstanc
the bird somewhat assured by the secon,
call has cautiously left its hiding place, AM
is silently stealing toward the tanccd rcn
devious. Increased caution is now required
and the eager hunter waits even longer thai
before, and some impatient victim rcspon Il
from another direction. Shortly follows tn
call OF the hunter, and silence again prevails
The dog is eager and excited, and his nos
qulverS as the aroma of the approaching
game reaches his nostrils, 4 rapid gleam q
| pleasure shoots across the features Of his mas
ter whose practiced eye has detected th
stealthy approach of the bird Carefully an
silently it comes often stopping and pccrin
inquiringly into the cover, not entirely fire.
from suspicion. At the same time, with
steady and almost impcrceptible motion. tn
deadly tube is raised to the hunters eve, an
the death .knell rings out with u sharp re
echoing explosion. The bird ilutters ava
its short remnant of life, and silence prevail
again as painfully intense as before. Th
well-trained dog has not lost its caution c
been thrown off his balance by the shot, bl
with eager and delighted expression lies clo
er than before. The hunter has thrust a ne,
cartridge into the gun almost with the act
taking it from his face, and he proceeds wit
n repetition of the exciting tragedy.
When no further response can be obtaine
to the call, tho birds are gathered and til
hunt is over