I don't know if this helps but I have mentioned this story before. One fall day while archery hunting for deer I used my tree climber to get into my stand an hour before sun-up. Much to my surprise droppings started dropping all around and above me. The whole flock had let me climb right in bed with them. I'm talking some of these birds were within 15 ft. As it started to get light there were 7 birds. Two above me in the same tree and the farthest bird was a bought 15yrds. away. So I have figured since then that they don't seem to care what happens in the dark? Or they are to afraid to move. They did come out of the trees as what seemed to be non-threatened. They actually let me stand and draw on them for fun as i watched them stand and ruffle their feathers before flight down. Once down in the hollow I was able to mouth call without a mouth call and bring a young hen up the hill.Go figure...................... dinner was a young turkey that night!

Sorry, forgot to mention that this is the first year I am getting serious about turkey hunting. I have gone a few times in the past but do not know much about turkeys or their habits. What happened to me seems quite odd and I'm sure is not the norm. I'm on this forum to learn and there are many good teachers here in my opinion. And I thank all of you for your postings!

I think that is exactly what may have happened. Sometimes you can get a bird to pitch down to you across water, but if you were basically on an island and not on a line of his normal travel route, he might well have just been expecting you to meet him at his strutting spot. When he is in the tree gobbling, he is usually waiting on a hen to flydown and come to him.... and that is probably what happened. You were close enough, probably too close but you had no way of knowing that ahead of time, but with the water and other barriers in the way, and not being able to see a hen, he probably smelled a rat or found a real hen on the other side.

Thanks for all the feedback guys,
C7