The wild turkey and its hunting . 9 The younggobbler may be sitting on the limb of a tallcypress, hidden from view by a festoon of Span-ish moss; or, if in a pine, hidden by the limbs, asstill as a part of the tree. Croc, croc, and onelow, hoarse cluck, as if a nut had struck the barkof a dead log in falling, are the only sounds youdare to make. He is not so reckless in regard tothe call or answers as the hens, and not so ner-vous. While he sits and contemplates, he meas-ures notes; so that you have to be careful ifyou would fool him. Now call, Croc, croc9His fears begin to dissipate, and runn
The wild turkey and its hunting . 9 The younggobbler may be sitting on the limb of a tallcypress, hidden from view by a festoon of Span-ish moss; or, if in a pine, hidden by the limbs, asstill as a part of the tree. Croc, croc, and onelow, hoarse cluck, as if a nut had struck the barkof a dead log in falling, are the only sounds youdare to make. He is not so reckless in regard tothe call or answers as the hens, and not so ner-vous. While he sits and contemplates, he meas-ures notes; so that you have to be careful ifyou would fool him. Now call, Croc, croc9His fears begin to dissipate, and running hisbeak through his feathers, he makes his over, he slowly raises his long neck and headand replies, Croc, croc. Cong, cong, croc, croc,cluck He turns his head with one side earth-ward, and gives himself a convulsive shake —Croc, croc He lifts up one foot and then slowlyputs it down; lifts one wing, placing its tip ontop of the other, then slips that one out and lapsit on the first. Croc, croc, hee, hee He looks. ^?^H^aaHBHaan THE INDIFFERENT YOUNG GOBBLER 217 around again to be reassured. Now there is arustle in the top of the tree, and you see theleaves move, for he has turned on the limb andyou may see a portion of his body. You darenot shoot or risk a bullet through that Croc, croc; he walks along the limb afew feet, but you still get only glimpses. Croc,croc and down he sails to the earth. A cloudof dry leaves arises around him and settles againas he closes his broad wings and straightens is your chance; bag him. When the young gobbler once makes up hismind to go to your call, there is little or no stop-ping on his part. He walks boldy along, as if hehad no fear of anything. But be careful; he willsee you surely if you make an unnecessary mo-tion, and there is no compromising a mistakewith him. His adieu is final. He is a bird of thefewest words at any time, and stands upon theidea that absolute silence is safety. His habitsare exclusiv
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidwildtu, booksubjectturkeys
