Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-12-01
|WILDTURKEY
HUNT.
SkilfuI Sportsman Calls Bird
to Come and be Shot.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
WheG morning dawned in northern
Arkansas there was. some four inches
of snow on the ground We consid-
cred ourselves most fo-tunate in en-
countering the snow, something de-
cidedly unusual in the territory, and
because of the increased hight from
the carpet of white we were enabled
to make a most early start into the
woods.
He paired off in twos, my compan-
ion being an experienced turkey hunt
er and possessing marvellous skill
in initiating their call with a wing
bone. There are many kinds of tur-
key callers, and most every hunter
has some one which he claims to be
better than any other, ranging from
gourd-end with an oak pin in II
and a piece of slate to the elaborate
and highly ornamented and patented
callers to be bought in the sporting
goods stores.
The TURKEYS had not left their roost-
ing places wheI. we reached their
range and the carpet of snow was I'M
sullied by any rlarks or tracks, ex-
cept, occasionally, near a tree. where
an inquisitive and carly rising squir-
rel had made an essay TO go visiting
but had changed its mind and re-
turned to its snug nest after founder
ing a few feet through the snow, or
where a night proving fox or coon
had passed along.
Every hundred yards or so we
would stop for a few minutes while
my companion sent the notes of his
call floating through the silent for
est. We had not made more thar
half a dozen of these pauses before,
in answer to this call, far through
the woods we heard an unmistakaible
reply. We separated a few yards,
each of us taking crouching posi-
ton at the foot of a large tree, fac
ing toward the portion. of the forest
from whence had come the call This
is the only safe position when at
tempting to call turkey, for the
background of the trees seems to
prevent the turkey from seeing the
hunter, and often the bird will walk
up to within few feet of the man
If the latter will only remain quiet.
My companion now began to call
again. and soon, from several direc-
lions, he secured answering calls.
Then We heard the beating of mighty
wings as a distant turkey, presumably
of great size, fiuttered its ponderous
body from the limb where it had
roasted through the night to the snow
covered ground 1t was most ex-
citing and nerve-racking sound, and
it put us both upon the keen edge OF
expectancy, for often turkey will
fly straight from its roosting place
to the gunner with his wing-bone
caller
Far through the woods l caught a
glimpse of the dark body of the tur-
key sailing toward the ground and
my heart went up in my throat and
my pulse beat like a railroad engine
climbing a heavy grade. However,
the bird lit some two or.three hun
dred yards away in clear space, and
could see it leisurely making its
way toward us, standing out bold and
prominent in the sea of whiteness.
Slowly it approached, and, when just
about $50 yards away, there came
Of MIN calling of
cypress brake, a big turkey came
straight for my position, flying
through the trees with the speed of
a race horse. Without a turn or curve
it came, bearing down upon me, and
when less than fifty yards away
gave it load of No. chilled shot
and piled it up in the most approved
style. l had not been so intent upon
this bird that failed to keep an
eye out back at the one on the
ground, and, strange to relate it Gid
not fly at my shot, but turned and
ran off through patch of switch
cane.
Gathering UP the dead bird, the two
CT us made a rapid dctour through
the woods in the attempt to head of
the other bird, and, after running
some four hundred yarls, making
circuit around the patch of cane, we
took stands in an open glade in the
general direction the turkey had head
ed Then my friend began calling
again and it was not long until the
turkey answered him II came closer,
as we coull tell from its calling. until
as we could tell from its calling. until
and shaking as it made Its way
through it, We were scarcely more
than twenty yards from the edge of
the cane. our positions about seventy
yards apart, and, from the way the
turkey was coming, it looked as If
it would come out into the glade ex-
actly between US. But it took one
of those strange freaks so common
with turkeys, and, when almost out
of the cane, turned to the left, to-
ward my position. and, still keeping
out of sight in the protecting mass
OF cane circled toward me. On 1t
came until just in front of me and
then it stepped out into the open and
there was nothing left for me to do
but to bowl it over, although l am
sincere to say l felt bit guilty in
killing both the chances We had
secured that morning. my friend alone
being responsible for them, as was
not at all skilled in calling them
Kansas City Star.
BIRTH RATES IN EUROPE.