this year i rolled my longbeard on highly highly pressured public land. i had him to my left a decint ways away, and 3 or 4 other birds 150 or so yards infront of me. didnt realize that they were half gobble at the time, and most likely jakes. i had the jakes going bonkers coming in on a string. then my bird let out some gobbles and chased off the jakes...i never heard another peep from them. didnt hear much of anything after that for a while. he gobble once or twice infront of me where the jakes were..then half hour or so later he let one out a little to my right 150yds away. half hour later i could hear a bird scratching in the leaves...another half hour and he appeared off the edge of the ridge and i put him down.

my calling was alot less than when working excited, fired up birds. i would call every 15-30 minutes...i was mainly clucking and purring and scratching in leaves..just sounding like a hen milling around...once in a while id let out some soft yelps. the bird was definently call shy...he been around the block a few times before for sure. he was only a 2yo and most times they come in going nuts...i could tell hes been called to more than once just by his actions. he acted like a much older bird.

why do i think i succecced? my calling style and patience and trust that i was in a good location. the birds seem to love the spot i was in. they roost in the area and come back to feed in the area..most times i give the birds a half hour after they shut up and then i go find another bird to work...im not a patient turkey hunter...that hunt i was...and was rewarded. i just knew if i could sit there all morning i was bound to bring one in...didnt think i would be a bird i worked all morning...i hunted that spot 100s of times throughout my life...never killed a bird there..they roost there and head off all over the place to feed and chase hens...rarely have i called them in off the roost there..but come 9 or 10am they seem to be back there...thats why i got smart and waited them out