The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1920-03-11
The Wild Turkey

For many years past, the months
of November and December was the
open season for hunting wild tur-
keys. The last legislature changed this
to the months of March and April.
\ Quite a number of Lubbock sports
men go hunting in the wild sections
of Southwest Texas and the follow
ing description and information about
the Wild Turkey may prove of in
terest to them:
I The Wild Turkey is the largest
American game bird. They are ma
tives of the Southern and some of
the Eastern and Western States. All
of them are Democrats. therefore.
were never known to live in the
Northern States. They were plenti-
full in the early days, but like the In
dian and the buffalo, they passed
slowly away in front of settlement
and civilization. The few that are
left range in the unsettled sections
of the Southern States. Perhaps
there are more of them along the
Southwestern border of Texas than
anywhere else The Wild Turkey is
the widest and most cunning of all
wild birds. Their sense Of seeing is
equal TO that of the eagle. II they
have curiosity, they never let II in
huence them when there is danger.
Antelope and other wild game will
often linger in the vicinity of danger
through curiosity to know what the
dangerous object is. Not so with the
Wild Turkey. When he sees an enc
my, he leaves that place by safe
route and at once. He takes no
chances. The Wild Turkey is seldom
in danger of the hunter, so long as
he does not yelp, strut or gobble.
With his body concealed by high
grass, weeds or small bushes. and
only his small neck and head expos
ed. he can not be seen by an enemy
only at close range, while he can see
the hunter a long way of When a
turkey sees a hunter in the distance
he sneaks noiselessly out Of sight and
the hunter never knows he was there
Many amateur hunters have come
into camp from long hunt and re-
ported no turkeys in the range; and
an old experienced hunter slip out
the next day and come in with sew
eral turkeys.
The Wild Turkey is Of quiet and
serious nature in all seasons except
in the spring time; which is their
counting and mating period During
this period they become to some ex-
tent. reckless. They yelp, strut, COB
bic and hold noisey social entertain
ments. II is easy for the hunter to
locate them while this is going on.
An old hunter who can initiate their
language well. can sneak into the
range, hide behind log or bank and
call them to him during this reck-
less period; but the turkey seldom
needs these limitations Of his lang
uage in other seasons of the year.
My hunting conmrade and / pitch
ed camp one evening on the bank of
large creek far away from the
walks and talks of man. The absence
Of roads, the thick jungles and voice
of many wild song birds was proof
Of the virginity Of the country and
delightful to the old hunter who loves
the wild woods and original nature.
unsecured by the pruning knife of
Art. y felt that perhaps not so
many years ago, and on this same
beautiful spot, an Indian brave had
wooed his dusky maiden in the moon
light, told her that her eyes were soft
and beautiful like those Of the faun.
and that her figure was as graceful
as that Of the Gazelle Told her the
sweet and complete old story Of love
that has been handed down by ro-
nance through all the ages and races
of men; how they would hand in hand
roam these beautiful forests through
life, and on to the happy hunting
grounds together. Not so long ago,
large herds Of the great muffled buff
falo roamed over these hills like
waves Of the ocean. and none but
the red man was here to bask In
these scenes Of pure nature. But the
white man came, and like tidal
wave, ever moving westward swept
over this country and virgin nature
vanished forever. have diverged in
to dream. Back to tn. subject.
After putting the camp In order,
John and poeketed supply Of am
munltion. loaded our guns and struck
out on our evening hunt. John went
up the bottom, following the mean
behring's Of the creek. I skirted the
foot hills where they joined the
swamp We kept each other located
By signal. Occasionally I would hol-
Ter IN perfect imitation % the
swamp owl and John would answer
with the same sound. When ! reach.
I'd about one mile from camp. ! got
In the run ~ dry branch where !
could not he seen from q distance
and Initiated the Wild turkey call.
DO not consider me vain when | say
that I have never knoun 4 man hat