I'm the first in,and last to leave.I also have my best luck around mid-day.I would call softer than usual,almost like you saw a coyote looking at you,but had to call to that gobbler.Public land hens generally talk softly like this.Most hunters call too loud or too often.When a bird that has been gobbling at them shuts up ...they leave...This may be a terrible mistake.He may very well be coming.Most public land birds do not gobble all the way in.The ones that do generally get a free ride to the house the first week or two of the season.

The bird I shot last friday I had to work for 1 hour,and 50 minutes.He didn't gobble the last 45 minutes of the hunt.I had not heard him in 30 minutes,and I was standing up to leave when I saw the hen coming to me,gobbler in tow.Isat back downon my knees,kept soft talking the bird,and 15 minutes later when he got seperated from his hen he came right in.So when he gets quiet I would give him 45 minutes to an hour,before I gave up.Your patience may be well rewarded.A gobbler that answers you knows exactly where you are,and when he decides to come,usually he will come in drumming,and in half strut taking a step..looking around..go back in half strut...break strut look around.You get the idea.He will generally just pop up.Or he may get to the general area,and gobble a searching gobble,as if to say where are you I know you were here a little while a go.

First thing I would do would be to make a trip to your near by walmart.Make note of all the calls they have,and discard them from your arsenal.You don't want to sound like every other hunter out there.90% of the hunters are going to be using slates IMO.

If you know most people are using slates..use a box..If most use a mouth call,use a scratch box,orwingbone and so on.You get the point,just try to have a call that sounds different than everyone elses.Even if it means switching strikers for a different sound.

Most people now are using decoys.Leave yours at the house.Let that tom come all the way in searching for that hen.Basically all I'm telling you is what ever everyone else is doing..do the opposite.I ride my bike(I have a gun rack on it),and walk alot.I don't park my truck near where I am hunting.

Few more tips..
Don't yelp a whole lot,around here on public land most hens cluck,and purr.If they do yelp it is soft,short yelps.

Don't crow,or call from the road.Get off in the woods.

Don't hoot or make any calls at daylight,let the birds gobble on their own.Move in then start your calls.

Don't tell anyone you hear or see a bird.Sorry but there are time's you need to keep things to yourself.You can show them the bird once he's in the back of your truck.

Have a friend drop you off at your spot.Leave your truck somewhere else.

Don't use a flashlight in the mornings.

If there is alot of people hunting in your area,and you were there first.Scatter some feathers around a spot they will likely be seen.Hopefully they will find them,and think the bird has been taken.

Maybe these aren't all popular tips,but the truth is bro.If you want a public land bird you are going to have to outsmart the other hunters,not the bird.That's only the second part of the battle.Hope I helped.

There are a few other tricks,but I can't give everything away.