RE: New to Turkey hunting
Welcome to Turkey Hunting! Nothing like it.
I hunt the mountains. A few things I use......
Ifind an area where turkeys have been sighted in the spring I will check DOW websites etc. I then finda place in that area that has ridges with water close and a small open area. I go to a high spotafter fly up timeand call (owl call) then make a mental note of the located roost and check it the next afternoon.
I hunt Merriam's and they tend to use the same small area night after night year after yearto roost, yours may not.
Iuse decoys about half the time I hunt,I have found that if I am in the roost area I don't need one anyplace els I use a hen about 6 ft. from a Jake and the Jakefacing me at about 20 yards from me, that way the tom will turn his back to you ( so you can move if you need to without him seeing you) so he can face the Jake. Also affective is a Jake and hen decoy in the breeding position.
I get in close to the roost and set up well before light after I hear turkeys I call softly one or twice then just before they fly down I use a wing on a tree and use the fly down cackle, they think they have a hen in close, thiscan really work well when there arehens roosted with the tom.
Tip.. if a tom cuts you off when you call he is coming in, if there is a pause before he answers you he is probably just responding and is not really interested. in the second case I increase my calling and or change my position if he cant see me move.Yelping louder and cutting can really help change there minds.
I hope this helps, good luck!