Year: 1876




River, Kentucky, where we now reside,
people told us that there were a good many
turkeys near our place; that they used to
forage around the fence only short dis
tance from the house. was then youth
of eighteen never saw nor hunted any
thing larger than quail rabbits, &C., hay-
ing always lived in a thickly settled part
Of the State, and as might be expected
was on the q'ti rire for turkey every time I
ohanced to go out any distance. When |
went out in the woods or fields | took my
gun along expecting to find an old gobbler
sitting on most every stump waiting for
me to pop him over.


It did not take long, though, to convince
me of my error, and to find that if want
ed turkey I would have to hunt for it the
same as other game. In the latter part OF
the winter my father hired long, lank
specimen of the genus homo by the name
of Sam, who assumed to be mighty hunt
er; had trapped in Arkansas, and had xii
led more turkeys than he could carry lots
times. His stories Of turkey hunting on
ly increased my desire to draw bead on
one of those noble birds. We shouIdered
our guns one afternoon, and I struck out
into the "fats" There had been a snow
fall Of couple of inches in the forenoon,
and Sam prophesied turkey sure.


We tramped about for something near
an hour, when all at once Sam declared he
saw one. After warning me to make as
gs1eeIe j 3e as possible he commenced sip /
bpng on the object, while followed close
to his heels After getting within gun shot
we found it to be only black log, much Q
Sans chagrin. After walking mile or
two further we came to large hollow log,
in which the snow had blown several feet,
and there, fresh in the new fallen snow,
was a turkey track, made on entering the
log.


Sam squatted down before the hole, and
after squatting awhile declared he saw it,
at the same time leveling his rife. After
taking deliberate aim he cut loose, but as
NO sound was heard indicating success Of
the shot he called for my gun, which, by
the way. was an army inusket, and hand
ed it to him, which, after aiming with great
pains, sent handful of B. BIS crashing
through the other end of the log. Sam laid
the guns down and commenced peering in
TO the log.


"See him, Sam ?" says I. 'No; but
hear him. Crawl in and get it," replied
Sam.


| came closer ard looked in, The log
was full of smoke, and so dark could not
see two feet from the end, and as thought
not very inviting declined going in.


"Go in and get your turkey" urged
Sam.


I replied by telling him to 60 in himself,
which for some reason could not account
for, he refused to do.


went down the log towards the oppos-
tie end, and finding soft place applied
the tee of my boot with considerable vigor
and soon had hole into he hollow.


called Sam, and while he proceeded to
enlarge the hole, commenced loading my
gun to be ready in case Of emergency
Sam tore up the log several feet, and pres,
eutly yelled out Here he is-come and
pull him out"


| looked, and sure enough there was
something.


"Why d ont you pull il out, asked Sam
again.


! began to get suspicious and to think
something was wrong or Sam would take
hold himself After finding | would moi
d Ig out game shot BY some one else, Sam
cautiously ran his arm in and caught the
turkey by the tail feathers, and drew it
forth and deposited it on the ground yes,
q sure enough turkey but surnamed bug
zqrd Sans face was study IS he eyed
the bird, literally cut to pieces. 1t blew
or Kissed something like a goose for
while, and after tapping about some time
flew off. Sam and I watched the ill-fated
carrion eater out Of sight before either Of
MS spoke.


We silently shouldered our guns and
wended our way homeward, finding no
more game. As if BY mutual consent Meth
er of.us mentioned the circumstance after
arriving home, not caring 70 be the butt Of
80 good joke. Since that snowy after
noon | have caused many turkey to "bite
the dust" and have IN my possession .
beard measuring Qsinches that took of
an old gobbler ! killed not far from the