The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-11-27
WILDTJJRK KEY
HUNT.
SkiIfuI Sportsman Calls Bird
to Come and be Shot.
q

ss,:aSs:ss s,ga,ss s.se:ss
When morning dawned in northern
Arkansas there was some four inches
of snow on the ground. We consid-
cred ourselves most fortunate in en-
countering the snow, something de-
cidedly unusual in the territory. and
because Of the increased light from
the carpet of white we were enabled
TO make 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 wing
bone. There are many kinds of tur,
key callers, and most every hunter
has some one which ne claims to be
better than any other, ranging from
a gourd-end with an oak pin In =
and 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 when we reached their.
range and the carpet of snow was I'M
sullied by any marks or tracks, ex-
cept, occasionally, near a tree, where
an inquisitive and carly rising SOUR
rel had made an essay to go visiting
but had changed it's mind and re-
turned to its snug nest after founder
ing a few feet through the snow, or
where a night prowling fox or coon
had passed along.
Every hundred yards or so We
would stop for few minutes while
my companion sent the notes OF his
call floating through the silent for
est We had not made more than
half a dozen of these pauses before,
in answer to this call, far through
the woods we heard an unmistakable
reply. We separated few yards,
each Of lis 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
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, futtered its ponderols
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
1t put us both upon the keen edge of
expectancy, for often a turkey will
fly straight from its roosting place
to the gunner with his wing-bone
caller.
Far through the woods / 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 heavy grade. However,
the bird lit some two or three hun
dred yards away in clear space, and
| could see it leisurely making it's
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 a
roar of wings, and, sailing out of a
cypress brake, big turkey came
straight for my position, flying
through the trees with the speed OF
a race horse. Without turn or curve
it came, bearing down upon me, and
when less than fifty yards away I
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 did