I have never got a turkey yet, this is my second year hunting public land. Anyway, I was out this weekend before sunup. I am following a trail down toward the swamp where they seem to be (and where all the other hunters go). There is about 20 minutes until sunup and I hear a loud gobble! It was definitely within 100 yds, and probably inside 50. Anyway, I did not want to move too much so I sat down as quiet as I could at the closest tree just off the trail. I let out a couple of soft yelps. I figure he will come up the trail so I get set. He gobbles several more times and in between I let out a few more yelps. He is not responding immediately when I yelp. Then I wait. After about 20 minutes or so I hear a gobble farther off.. then nothing.
I wait another 15 minutes and figure that must have been him far off. I did not hear a flydown so dont know if he was roosted when he was gobbling or if I didnt hear him fly down. I went towards the last gobble I heard but never heard any more the rest of the day.

I figure that either I spooked him since I was so close, or something else spooked him (maybe coyotes). Anyway, I know it was bad luck hearing him so close.. but I was trying to get down to the swamp before sunup. Also, maybe I should have shut up after my first yelps and waited for him to investigate.

The season has been open for 3 weeks in GA, but have not heard anything since opening day. Maybe the mating is just getting into full swing or something. I will keep trying because I know time in the woods is the key.