Adrian give you great information. Especially gun up in the direction of the gobble if you don't see him just yet. You gotta be ready!

It is the greatest hunting Cat "en Mouse game I know of and actually quit deer hunting so I had vacation left.

I always take it - if Mr. Tom answers me after a set of my calling - he knows where I am.....the trick to learn is when to call and when not to call...when to get aggressive and when to be elusive...

That my boy comes with practice. Adrian quoted not all birds are alike and he is spot on!

However if you do scout....and you should before season...pattern as many Toms as U can! Know where they like to be on any given time period and you will add more success to your hunt.

I have found that more and more upon patterning I just find a great travel place and sit.....Tom answers to my calls....he most likely will come in....

Also if you hear hens with a Tom.....don't fret.....get that hen to answer you and then mimic her calling note for note, cadence for cadence......she gets louder...you go louder.....she stops you stop...she starts calling again call back and cut her off in mid sentnece....with a liitle practice you to will learn how to piss off that ole hen! And guess what....when she comes....so does love struck Mr. Tom!....so you need to have gun up and ready....

I have one story I tell all the time.....Tom was hung-up and a hen walked by me to join him. Could n't see him but he was close. When I heard her behind me I just shut-up and became a stone(no movement - even controlled my fast breathing as I was excited).

When she was with the Tom and both where out of sight ...I called again...and she answered! So I changed tactics and mimiced her.....this went on about five series of call and then all of a sudden she was mad.....catawollin''''cluckin'''she was coming.....so up went the gun...
She came within 6-7 ft of me and stopped stone still!
The Tom was 20 yards behind and moving to the right in full strutt. It was thick woods and I spotted one shooting lane I needed to get my gun barrel to!
But she was on top of me! I COULD NOT MOVE OR THE GAME WAS OVER!!
So knowing turkeys like I do...if I made one slow movement to get the gun in place....not fast mind you I did not want the hen to fly, but enogh so the hen would give the alarm PUTT!! - I might just get that Tom to come out of strutt....You with me so far!

Well he got to that opening 23 yds away. I moved the gun barrel to the right about 3 inches in one slow steady movement. Not fast. The Hen Putted immediatly - the Tom came out of strutt and stuck his old neck up and guess what? KABOOOMM!!!!

I have done that now 5 times where I have pulled the hen or hens in and got the Tom.....

So know your turkeys....read and listen to others who have been out there....and me.....though it has been almost 20 yrs of chasin' them.....always learn somehting new out there that humbles me.....I am after all NO EXPERT...but love to hunt 'em!

JW!