The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1909-11-26

turkeys were bred and reared on farms-a mat.
ter OF no great difficulty to accomplish. say the
exports-they would be docile enough and, with
proper protection. would multiply rapidly
The fact that wild -turhsys have maintained
their foothod to some oxtent In lonssottled parts
OF their old territory-as. for example, In Vir.
ginla aud Maryland-appears 10 indicate that II
would DO entirely practicable TO restock portions
OF their former ranges. But, inasmuch as the
country anciontly occupied by them Is now for
the most part populated by human beings. II Is
necessary, In order to accomplish the object sug
gosted. 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
Il 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 deriyable from such enter
prise. At the present time not few such organi.
Zntions and proprietors OF great private estates
maintain similar preserves for the quail or bob.
white" holding field trials in competition. 10 test
the ability OF dogs to find and point the birds.
These field trials are In reality dog races. and
shooting Of the quail Is allowed.
Where wild turkeys are concerned. however,
there Ia 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. II farmers could be persuaded TO take up the
idea. and to breed the birds, they might sell shoot.
ing privileges to sportsmen at a rate which would
put much more money into their pockets than
they could gain by sending the fowls TO market
II tho 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. It would be neither necessary nor desir-
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
customed source OF food supply.
The wild turkey is prolific. and takes kindly to
civilization Like its tame congener, Il n a great
consumer OF injurious insects. particularly grass.
hoppers and as such would be useful TO the farm.
err The female lays from 10 to 20 eggs for
clutch" but raises only one brood In year.
Foxes. hawks and owls are deadly enemies, but Il
would be the business OF the farmer TO protect
the birds from these foes, as he does In the case
OF his farmyard poultry. As for human poach-
era, adequate laws for protection against them
would have to be passed; but the sportsmen, II
once they became interested In the matter, could
be relied upon to exert in this direction power.
full influence which has never yet failed OF sue
cess In affairs OF the kind
Il seems difficult to realize that less than 100
years ago Wild turkeys were so abundant that
they often sold for six cents apiece, a very large
one. weighing 20 or 80 pounds. occasionally fetch.
ing as much as 20 cents, To-day large specl.
men gobbler preferred Is worth s.. The species
has been wiped out, not by sportsmen. but by pot.
hunters, who kill the birds the roosts, trap
them In pens, or lie IN ambush for them attract.
ing them within easy shooting distance by mita.
ting the call OF the hen or the young ''poult'
on Fishers island In Long Island sound, most
interesting experiment has already been made H.