Kicking around young poults in the fall is alot different than hunting alert adult toms in the spring. In the spring, you are dealing with the birds who lived through the winter. They seem to be aware that they are vulnerable because they are announcing their presence. They are vigulant. I've heard alot of guys express the same thought as you did. They were soon educated. In the spring, a tom is 20 pounds of eyeball. Good luck.