Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-11-25

turkeys were bred and reared on farrns-a mat.
ter Of great difficulty to accomplish, say the
experts-they would be docile enough and, with
proper protection, would multiply rapidly.
The fact that wild turkeys have maintained
their foothold to extent in long-setled parts
Of their cd territory-as, for example, in Vir
gnia and Acknowledgements to indicate that it
would be entirely practicable to restock portions
Of their former ranges. But, inasmuch the
country anciently occupied by them is now for
he Eost part populated by human beings, 1t Is
necessary, in order to accomplish the object sug
Easted, that their multiplication shall be encour
eyed under conditions of at least partial domes
:ica0n-that is to say by farming the birds for
pleasure and profit
1t is believed that If proper protection
given to such enterprises by the law sporting
club and wealthy individuals owning 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 enter
prise. At the present time not a few such organi-
cations and proprietors of great private estates
maintain similar preserves for the quail 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
shooting of the quail is allowed.
Who're wild turkeys are concerned, however
there is 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 money into their pockets than
they could gain by sending the fowls to market
If 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
would he deSi
able that the fowls should be too tame. On the
other hand experience has shown that wild tur-
keys not disposed to go far away from an ac-
customed of food supply.
! The wild turkey is prolific and takes kindly to
civilization Like it's tame congener, it is great
consumer of injurious insects particularly grass
hoppers and as such would be useful to the farm
The female lays from Is to 20 eggs for
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
cf his farm-yard poultry. AS for human poach-
ers, adequate laws Cor protection against them
@ould have to be passed. but the sportsmen, If
cuce they became interested in the matter, could
ce relied upon to exert in this direction power
fui influence, which has never yet failed of sue
cess in affairs OF the kind
1t seems difficult to realize that less than 100
years ago wild turkeys were so abundant that
they often sold for six cents apiece, very large
one, weighing 20 80 pounds, occasionally fetch
ing much as 25 cents. To-day a large spec-
men, gohber preferred Is worth So 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 imita
ting the call of the hen or the young "pouIt"
On Fishers island, in Long Island sound most
interesting experiment has already been made IL