The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29
WHITECAPPING WILD TURKEYS.
a Novel Way OF Stalking the Big Birds in
the Winter Time.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.

\ Novel Way OF Stalking the Big Birds In
the Winter Time.
From the 81. Louis Giobe. Democrat.
There are so many ways OF hunting the wild
turkeys that 1t would seem the extinction of
the game will only he a question OF a few years.
All the ingenuity of the woodsman and the
amateur Nimrod Is tested in attempting to out
wit this exceedingly cunning old roamer Of
the forest and tho field. II remained for Col.
Samuel Holiday to spring the latest and most
effective method OF hunting the wild turkey.
last winter" says Holiday. II went mp to
Boiling Spring, on the Gasconade. intending to
do some fishing there. AS the weather was
very cold and the bass consequently sought the
warmer water OF the big spring. I tried n days
fishing, doing fairly well. and then a nice eiuht-
inch snow fall came to mantle the bottoms
across from where | was stopping. | saw
three different droves Of turkeys In the field
where corn had been raised, scratching around
in the snow for food.
THE sight of those fine old fowls made fish
ing seem tame. so I went up TO Joe Lothe-
ridges house to rig up for a trip after turkeys.
His vie had hung out some clothes to dry and
l noticed the sheets were almost as white as
snow. Right then an idea struck me. and I Sc.
cured one of those white sheets, got my gun and
shells. and was soon on the other side Of the Gas
conade with the assistance Of Lotheridge and
h'o "o"' ''toio Oh" Nv p"hh I" 'he
field. I took the sheet, wrapping 1t about me so
as to completely cover my body, head and all.
! arranged the front so that / could part the
sheet and use my gun quickly. | cut two small
holes In my CHASTITY garment to peep through.
and then carefully assembled the river bank.
when my head rose over the bushes, which
were weighted down with snow. I saw about
fifteen turkeys scratching away for stray kerr
ne. , of corn. , Bending nsnsa g forward oo". aa to "a, a half %,., s' ,o..
~ 49, w. m NJ ~ ~ onu. o
slowly and silently IT., The s snow being ligh, and
stead Of raising them above the surface, and so
: r,o,n,n1 ,mr u" ,'nna on.,s, .'o ,a Nv 80
game. / got within 100 yards of the turkeys,
when I noticed they were gradually working
toward me, so | sat down in the snow and
waited. 1t was perhaps half an hour when l
wa, 'ihos sHlrounaeu WIN II unsuspec''hG
mock. ala reel as II 1t were taking a most In
formally mean advantage OF the game but then
! re"'eIhoefe" u" 'h""s 'Ii"es l h"u 'raniped
through the monntains and valleys from early
With . 1,stan+ giin,nse 81 tho snauss+ Ltd tha.
nna '.s'a H y ~ ~ p'ru lna.
grew hard. and / fingered the triggers Of my
Gun i, n monnar thot Model miscbief IN NJ Ioas,
one old gobbler that was kicking snow almost
on top Of me. One time the same long whisk.
ereu oia nira came 80 CLOSE l couiu almost lave
reached nm witl my hand.
some time ! smddeniy srranE up threw aside
.ne sGowE mah,.e. anu " "ouin pave maze a
miiiar old j gobbler' and ali i the resi- q for unt th ,at
or, n before my my En d Lad to Is used j got ~
the shots had died away along the sunset hills
~ she mes.wnrh; men 1,d Long .,1e ipther,
of his splitting his physiognomy in twain.
enpvthhiEnmn: ! u ev ue u saeI \ VIII g gt ~ ! 1s an KNOCK
15 ,0iIr er IS 50; rHpe &C iheyIn jist cross oyer %ri IN y2n
out the hui gang, Then Joe dragged his
c ti"HiH Ha " !DaDFed Il fT tTst '1Ssr ain fts su) nntthnff''
"""II Ins Unant the f fnrt "m.er 1n lUnH t erg q. ,o.t IN,
soon had them hanging up by the cabin,
tnawen ont ny the log IRE untli zoe sign tlleI
iLe ho oefohI ue ahs ICY ~a,eri !" come oyer VIII
short, absence; and was so eager and eXpectant
KIT me ne would hardly 'paGk' somS wood for the
o'clock that night we were all logged out in as
nee LOOKING whlteHap sni,s as ever adorned a
The moon was fun AT the time. and when we
REACHED ING I 90 place we could see the
as near the track ns possible; We had thI'k
delt ,o"hs on, ma c0nLn ;cnrceiy near ourselves
causing a BAD dream among the sleeping birds.
a. IL was rolh; tin amrkeys hrnas Mere drawn
nor enc htrrtched ms neck before the shot
iell. ana then the tapping OF great wings all
ening had come and our presence was known:
Usually a turkey takes a tumble before he
y shot. oHt our make up was too much for
I'M ,hat night; ihG p,r1s scattered IN every
uirertion' some hlghtltg N trees aud, others
pumping mo thr snow IN The side Of the hin.
a small pnlni, worked up the ravine and were
c"mny thing happened' and have hlGd many
. so0a iamgh oyer the reSoiiection 81 Il since;