Early in the season, I've found here in the Northeast we are usually between gobbling peaks, and the gobblers are still with a majority of their hens.

With that said, I always try to do 3 things...

1) Work the bird very early off the roost. This includes finding the roost the night before, sometimes scattering the harem, and getting as close as comfortable to the tom if I don't scatter.

2) If early on doesn't work, and I can't circle around (I hunt private lands surrounded by no-hunting private lands) then I come back around 9:30-10 for a mid-morning hunt. Some of the hens will go off to tend nest/lay an egg and the toms will want company, especially a hot hen...

3) Leave the dekes at home or in the trunk until the end of the season. The toms right now have (a) multiple hens, and (b) expect the hens to come to them.

Besides leaving the dekes at home, Bobco, I probably would not have done much anything different. I am quite aggessive though, so I probably would have moved closer much sooner. Sounds like you had a good day, you've got the rest of the month to get one...good luck...

S&R