Here's my take on the mountain turkey. I've hunted turkeys in the everglades of Florida, fields of Alabama and Georgia. But since I've moved to the mountains of Tennessee I've had to start over again. It was a smarter hunter than me that told me, " Watch them more than hunting them and you'll learn quicker".

Now, with that said here's what I've learned in the past three months of just watching them. Just like the other turkeys they like to roost over water if possible. If not disturbed, they'll combine this with extrem proximity to a strutting zone.

When they come off the roost, they'll fly down. Litterially, down hill. I've yet to see them fly off the roost and up the mountain.

They go down the hill/mountain to water and straight to the zone. After doing their dance/mating and feeding. It's off to the water again, then it's off and up the hill.

In all the time I've watched them only twice did I see them move down the hill father than 30 yards.

If you have bad weather coming they'll roost far below on the mountain than normal. And they'll know the weather is coming before you if you didn't check it out before hand.

If you don't get the shot in the morning, assuming of course you have found these spots, don't worry. They'll be back later that same day. Just don't get busted or bust them.

Here's a link for you of my house building project but it has photo's of the mountains where I've been watching what I like to call my babies.

http://www.southernsportingdesigns.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=583

Hope it helps.