The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-11-20

turkeys were bred and reared on farms-a mat.
ter of no great difficulty to accomplish, say the
experts-they would be doce enough and with
proper protection. would multiply rapidly
The fact that wild turkeys nave maintained
their foothod to some extent In longsettled parts
of their old territory-as, for example, in Vir-
sinia and Maryland-appears to indicate that it
would be entirely practicable to restock portions
OF their former ranges But, inasmuch the
country anciently occupied by them is for
the most part populated by human beings, 1t is
necessary. in order to accomplish the object sug
gested. that their multiplication shall be encour
aged under conditions of at least partial domes
tication-that is to say. by farming the birds for
pleasure and profit.
1t is believed that, II proper protection were
given to such enterprises by the law sporting
club and wealthy individuals owning or leasing
large tracts would gladly go into the business of
breeding wild turkeys-not for market of course
but for the pleasure derivabe from such an enter
prise. At the present time not few such organi-
cations and proprietors of great private estates
maintain similar preserves for the quail or bob
white" holding field trials in competition. to test
the ability Of dogs to find and point the birds.
These field trials are in reality dog races, and no
shooting OF the quail is allowed
Where wild turkeys concerned, however.
there is no reason why such extensive preserves.
covering in some instances many thousands of
acres, should not afford admirable sport under
suitable restrictions. There is no form of outdoor
amusement more delightful than turkey hunting.
: But If farmers could be persuaded to take up the
kea and to breed the BIRDS they might sell shoot
Akg privileges to sportsmen at rate which would
put much more money into their pockets than
they could gain by sending the fowls to market.
II the business were suitably managed farms of
500 to 1000 acres would yield larger revenue
from wild turkeys than from poultry. sportsmen
being usually willing to pay several times more
for the fun of shooting birds than the latter would
fetch as marketable game. For such purposes. of
course, 1t would be neither necessary desr-
able that the fowls should be too tame. On the
other hand. experience has shown that wild tur-
keys are not disposed to go far away from an &C.
customed source of food supply.
The wild turkey is prolific and takes kindly to
civilization Like its tame congener, 1t Is q great
consumer of injurious insects particularly grass
hoppers, and such would be useful to the farm
The female lays from Is to 20 eggs for a
Clutch" but raises only one brood in year.
Foxes, hawks and owls are deadly enemies, but 1t
would be the business of the farmer to protect
the birds from these foes. as he does In the case
of his farm-yard poultry. AS for human poach-
ers, adequate laws for protection against them
would have to be passed; but the sportsmen. II
once they became interested in the natter could
be relied upon to exert in this direction power
ful influence, which has never yet failed OF sue
cess in affairs of the kind.
years ago wild turkeys abundant that
they often sold for six cents apiece very large
one, weighing 25 or 80 pounds occasionally fetch
ing as much as 25 cents To-day a large speci-
men. gobbler preferred is worth IS. The species
has been wiped out. not by sportsmen. but by pot
hunters. who kill the birds the roosts, trap
them in pens. lie in ambush for them, attract
ing them within easy shooting distance by imita-
lg the call Of the hen or the young poult."
On Fishers island. in Long Island sound. a most
interesting experiment has already been made In