The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-01-16
.ILDTURKEY:
HUNT :
SkilfuI Sportsman Calls 6Ind :
to Come and be Shot.

countering the snow, something de-
cidedly unusual in the territory, and
because of the increased light from
the carpet of white we were enabled
10 make a most early start into the
woods.
He paired off in twos, my compan-
ion being an experienced turkey hunt-
er and possessing a 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 De
better than any other, ranging from
a gourd-end with an oak pin IN IL
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 when we reached their
range and the carpet of snow was I'M
sullied by any marks or tracks, ex-
cept, occasionally, near tree. Where
an inquisitive and carly rising SPUR
rel had made an essay to 60 vlsltmS
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 a few minutes while
my companion sent the notes OF his
call floating through the silent Tor
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 us taking crouchlng posi-
ton at the foot of a large tree, tac-
ing toward the portion OF the forest
from whence had come the cali. This
is the only safe position when az
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
I'D to within a few feet OF the man
if the latter will only remain quiet
My companion now began to call
again. and soon, from several dlrec-
lions, he secured answering calls.
Then We heard the beating OF mighty
wings as a distant turkey, presumably
of great size, fluttered 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 a turkey Will
f1y straight from it's roosting place
to the gunner with his wing-bone
caller
Far through the woods l caught
GLIMPSE of the dark body of the tur-
key sailing toward the ground and
my heart went up in my throat and
nv pulse beat like a railroad engine
climbing a heavy grade. However,
the bird lit some two or three hun
dred yards away in a clear space, and
/ could see it leisurely making its
way toward us, standing out bold and
prominent in the sea of wilderness.
Slowly it approached, and, when just
about $50 yards away, there came a
roar of wings, and, sailing out of
cypress brake, 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. 4 chilled shot
and piled it up in the most approved
style. l had not been SO intent upon
this bird that l failed to keep an
eve out back at the one on the
ground, and. strange to relate, it did
not fly at my shot, but turned and
ran off through a patch OF switch
cane.
Gathering up the dead bird, the two
of us made a rapid detour through
the woods in the attempt to head off
the other bird. and. after running
some four hundred yards, making a
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. 1t came closer,
as we coull tell from it's calling, until
as we could tell from it's calling, until
and shaking as it made its way
~ Va
than twenty yards from the edge Of
the cane, our positions about seventy
yards apart. and, from the way the
turkey wss coming. it looked as If
1t would come out into the glade ex-
actly between us. But it took one