Mauser,

First, you may want to consider giving up on this bird for a week. Work an entirely different area. You getting stuck on killing a bird, instead of killing one bird...

Now, with that said, I personally would not give up. I'd go the whole season and try and tag the brute. If I failed, well, go to the local grocery and get a butterball [8D] We all know this is a game of wits, with trial and error, and the majority of the victory comes in outwitting a wiley old tom.

Here's what I would do...

1) Get as close as possible to his roost...and I mean close. Within 25/30 yards of his tree, in the pitch dark. If you bump him off, no big deal, may actually be easier to call into his safety zone. Don't give him any calls, and hopefully he glides into your muzzleblast.

2) One night you don't have to work, and can hunt the next morning, bust him off the roost. The next morning, more than likely, he'll be a gobblin' his fool head off trying to round up his hen. Problem is, with her nesting that close to their current roost, she's dictating the action and probably will not go to him (no need really on her part, right?!).

3) Tag team. Find a partner and harvest this tom. Even if it's not your tag, the mission will be a success.

Good luck.