were hunting in upstate new york. Today a tom hooked up with a hen while we were calling and left with her. Will the tom stay with her or do his job and come back to within the area again? Help needed to know whether to go back to that location which has always been productive.

I would stick it out right where you are at. I had 2 toms come up to my decoys yesterday and they both were together with 2 hens. I saw them there this morning as I was getting there ( left late this morning ) but spooked them. I gave them a couple of ours and went back and tried them again. I only had them gobble a few times as they went deeper into the woods. I will try it again in the morning to see what happens. I couldn't a shot at them yesterday because someone was trying to call them directly across from me so I let them go.

If he thinks there's another hen hanging around, he will come back to that area to investigate. Once the hens start laying, they'll sneak off back to thier nests in late morning. That's often when lonely gobblers will start chekcing places for other hens.

I read an article many years ago on when gobblers were killed. The most common time was 9:30am.

If he does this again in the same area, call a little (maybe 1-2X) when you're sure he can hear you but can't see to well. If he gobbles back at you stop calling. Wait, and then scratch in the leaves to sound like a hen picking around in the leaf litter, but don't call.

Watch carefully, because they'll if you can sell the scene to him, he may slip in quiet.