I have a couple stories to further illustrate this point. Two years ago, after a couple un-successful setups just after fly-down, I wondered onto this ridge where I thought I had heard some gobbling earlier on. My first few yelps on my mouthcall and slate weren't answered, which left me thinking that whatever was here earlier had left the area. Half asleep, I called off and on and then heard that sweet sound. Phhhtt-Vvvroooom. At first I knew that I was just imagining it, then it happened again and again and I could hear him walking in the leaves. I knew I should of taken advantage of hearing this earlier on and positioned myself where I could get a shot, being that he was coming in directly behind me. I shivered as he walked out only 7 yards to my right, and I'm right handed. He broke into strut and turned the back of his fan in my direction, so I slowly eased up my 870. The gobbler turned around and I zeroed in on him left-handed and shot him less than ten yards away.

This shows a couple points. If you think you heard a gobble or a tom strutting, you probably did. So act on it as soon as possible. Another point, practice shooting both right and left handed so when that tom pops up out of nowhere, you can make a switch in case you can't turn your body around in time.

Story #2: Last year after many turkeys had been shot off of my grandpa's land, I was the only one who still had to fill my 4th(last) season tag. After a few days of nothing, I decided I was going to hunt normally, and if nothing came of it, I was going to slip into the roosting area just before qutting time. I hadn't heard a gobble all afternoon as I got positioned near the area the turkeys had been roosting. I called and nothing... then just before it was time to pack it up, I heard something walking coming from over the hill. I knew it had to either be a turkey or a deer so I held tight. The night was so quiet, I could hear it from a long way away. It never gobbled, but a tom and 2 hens crept over the hill and I shot the gobbler at 25 yards. That shows you to listen for sounds besides gobbling and never, ever to give up. It was the last day of the season.