We opened here in Maryland on Monday and although I did hear some gobbling while scouting earlier before the season started, I haven't heard a gobble yet on the roost during the season. I only hunt woods also, and during my scouting I tried to fine open areas in the woods that could be strut zones and also looked for scratchings in these areas to identify feeding areas. Yesterday, I set up in an open feeding area in the woods and called after I figured the birds should be on the ground. At 7:00 AM a hen with a jake in tow walked right to my hen decoy. At 25 yards the jake did a backflip and that was that. The only noise I heard from these 2 was the leaves crunching as they came toward me. As a matter of fact, I thought they were another hunter coming because they made so much noise.

Today, I set up along an open ridge top and called about every 20 minutes or so. At about 7:15 AM, I had one gobble down over the ridge from me. Unfortunately, I found out later that there was some thick brush between me and the bird and he wouldn't come through it. I tried everything and even circled the brush to set up at another location, but ended up spooking this one after working him for about 2 hours and hearing about 100 gobbles! Point is, I haven't heard a gobble on the roost yet, but I'm having a heck of a good time just sitting in known travel areas and calling every once in a while. Just let them know where you are, and they will come looking for you.