Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-11-19

turkeys were bred and reared on farms-a mat.
ter Of no great difficulty to accomplish, say the
expers-they would be docie enough and with
proper protection, would multiply rapidly.
The fact that wild turkeys have maintained
their foothold to extent in longsettled parts
of their old terrtory-as, for example in Vir-
ginia and Acknowledgements to indicate that 1t
would be entirely practicable to restock portions
Of their former ranges But. inasmuch as the
Covntry anciently occupied by them is now for
;he most part populated by human beings 1t is
cessary in order to accomplish the object sug-
is@sted that their multiplication shall be encour-
eyed under conditions of at least partial domes-
ticatiGn-that Is to say, by farming the birds for
pleasure and profit.
t Is believed that If proper protection were
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 derivable from such enter
prise. AT the present time not 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 in reality dog races, and no
shooting of the quail is allowed.
Where wild turkeys are 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
But, II farmers could be persuaded to take up the
idea 9nd to breed the birds they might sell shoot
ing privileges to Sportsmen at rate which would
put much more money into their pockets than
they could gain by sending the fowls to market
If the business suitably managed farms of
500 to 1000 acres would yield a 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 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, 1t is great
consumer of injurious insects, particularly grass.
hoppers and as such would be useful to the farm
er. 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, he does In the case
Cf his farm-yard poultry. AS for human poach-
srs, adequate laws for protection against them
Pould have to be passed; but the sportsmen, If
once they became interested In the matter, could
te relied upon to exert In this direction a power
fui influence, which has never yet failed of sue.
cess in affairs of the kind.
1t seems difficult 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 much rs cents. To-day a large speci.
men, gobbler preferred is worth Sc. The species
has been wiped out. not by sportsmen but by pot
hunters, who kill the birds on 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 'poult"
} On Fishers island in Long Island sound a most
interesting experiment has already been made IN