Reading some earlier post, makes me curious about calling a bird while still on the roost. Do you or don't you? I have always started out with a tree yelp, then when I believe that the bird has flown down or if he has quite gobbling and it's pretty light I will go ahead and start calling. But what do you believe is the most effective approach?

Sometimes I will call a little while he is on the roost, and sometimes I will do a fly-down cackle and simulate a hen flying down from the roost. Sometimes works and sometimes not. Most of the time I will wait until I think he hits the ground before calling.

I'll call once. If I get a responce, I shut up, til he's on the ground. The exception is, if I hear hens start yacking, I'll call back to them. My goal is to get them PO'ed about the "wench" calling to their tom. I try to get them so mad, that the first thing they want to do when they come off the roost, is come over and kick my @$$. Nothing gets a tom more excited than two hens talking dirty to one another. He's usually right behind them.

Wing your partially right. IF you can get that hen to come too you then the game is over. BUT for me anyhow, 9 xs of 10 the hens go too the tom and then take him off in directly the opposite direction from "that hussy over there under a tree". As much fun as it is to call too a hot gobbler on the roost, its usually a waste of time and only educates the birds too your calling. While still dark and they are up on the limb I prefer to listen to other sounds that they answer (trucks in the distance, dogs barking, coyotes yapping and my favorite the old hoot owls arguing with em!) and try too close in on them. BUT that typically requires a little knowledge of the lay of the land and past experience with birds in the same area and what they do when they fly down (that being where they typically head). And if a hen IS on the way too them or already there underneath them, then you are just about suckin hine tit! [:@]

I prefer to find a gobbler or two that are off by themselves in smaller woodlots, get between them and either known strutting zones or get between them and larger woodlots that are known roosting areas for hens and larger populations of birds. 3/4 of the battle is won right from the start if you are either already where the toms want to go or if you are between them and such a location.

MANOMANOMANOMANO April 18th is right around the corner, souther MISSOURI here I come!!!
RA

Geting a bird to come to you right off roost is tough. Especially when competing with hens. I like to call very little getting an answere or two and staying quiet till they are on the ground. Sometimes it wont be the bird you are calling to that comes in. It will be a silent bird you might not have known was in the area. I have had this happen on more than one occasion right off roost. It is the most exciting time to be in the woods but it can be the most frustrating.