RE: seting up near tom
I have a few tips/comments about getting close to the roost.
1) You can get to within 25 yards after it greens up, as long as you're willing to get in the woods very early and move very slowly (ie and you have soft feet). When it's pitch dark, turkeys don't know if you're a deer, coyote or what...you're just a moveable life form on the ground 40 feet below.
2) If under 100 yards from a turkey, bite your cheek and wait for him to hit the ground before you call. If you call to him on the roost, 9/10 times you will need a decoy on the ground to seal the deal. I have used a decoy before (once), but the bird was roosted in a thick pine patch and I was on the other side of a stone wall, both of which gave me the added cover to set up the deke. IMO, if you call to him on the roost when you're that close, more times than not he will glide away from you. Also, if under 50 yards never, and I mean never, make a flydown cackle. Those gobblers know the birds that are roosted around them, and a flydown cackle from a myserious hen that close will surely ruin your early morning...
3) Rule of thumb is 100 yards, with clear shooting lanes 40 yards away. If you set up on top of a hill (as birds are like deer, and like to roost 3/4 up a ridge), set up so you can shoot the bird as soon as it clears the ridge. Because when he gets to the top, he better see a hen (or a deke) or else he may be gone...
4) Get there early...and I mean early. I typically get to where I think I'm going to setup ~30 minutes before twilight. This gives me ample time to move methodically (ie slowly and quietly) if needed, instead of rushing through the woods snapping twigs to get on a bird...
In general, as the season progresses, I typically will get to within 50 yards of a tom, more times than note because I just underestimated his distance because of the vegetation...lol. The keys are to 1) get there early, 2) move slowly, and 3) always look up!! I'm always surprised at how many turkey hunters walk through the woods looking at the earth, instead of looking up in the trees!!
S&R