With Ron Newman
Roosting, Early and Mid-Morning Tactics
"Sweet Dreams"
"Roosting" a Turkey the night before your hunt may be the best way to tip the odds in your favor for a successful encounter in the morning.
By listening for the sounds of birds flying up into trees at dusk, and hopefully hearing the gobbles of a tom, letting all around him know where he is for the night, help you to eliminate a lot of the time spent locating a bird in the morning. It is very helpful for you to plan your approach, and set-up, for the morning's duel.
Coyote howls, owl hoots, and even the fly-up cackle of a hen can stimulate a give-away gobble. Unless disturbed, most toms will gobble at least once before settling in.
A somewhat risky, but extremely effective tactic I use when roosting gobblers is to take it a step or two beyond just knowing his position. By carefully moving as close as I dare to his roost (depending on foliage cover so not to be within eyesight), I too, "Fly-up" imitating the wing flaps and cackle of a hen going up to roost nearby. Once "settled", I give soft hen sounds (clucks and soft yelps) which lets that bird know where I am and what's on my mind. I call just enough to excite him, but hopefully short of having him fly over to me. (That would not be good!)
By giving him this "hen" to think about all night, and by setting up in exactly the same place as I called from the evening before, my chances of him coming to visit me off the roost are increased greatly. Also, by "pre-selecting" my calling spot, I hopefully put myself in position without any obstacles or situations where he might hang-up on the way. This is another plus over setting up hurriedly in the morning after racing to get close to a gobbling bird before fly-down.
I call this technique, "Sweet Dreams" and it helps both of us sleep a little better that night!
"First-Light Tactics"
Many times after using the "Sweet Dreams" technique, I have had birds fly directly to me at first light, and come in gobbling. Many times this happens without calling on my part.
The first sounds I like to make are subtle, natural, awakening sounds which the gobbler expects to hear. Light scraping of wings on a limb (done with a real turkey feather against the bark of a tree) and soft, almost muffled, tree yelps are at times enough to send an amorous Tom right off his limb. Try not to call any more than necessary while the Tom is still in the tree. Intensify your calls once he hits the ground only if he doesn't head your way.
The more calling you do, the more interested you sound, and the more likely the gobbler will think you will come to him. This is nature's way and that's what we as hunters are trying to reverse. Only if he loses interest and begins to move away, or you hear the sounds of other hens competing with you, should prompt you to lay it on with more aggressive yelps, cackles or cutts.
Also, calling to the HENS can sometimes make the lead hen come in and run you off. This may bring the old boy in as well. Mimic the dominant hens every call and at times, call right over her. Mix in some cutts and harsh purrs and chances are she will bring the whole flock your way.
Although you will hear more gobbling activity and turkey activity in general at first light, don't worry if you aren't successful early in the morning. You are competing with hens and hunters ever at this time. Patience now, will be rewarded within a few hours.
"Mid-Late Morning Strategies"
Once the morning "Frenzy" passes, and the birds begin to move in search of food, or "strut zones" your knowledge of your area thru scouting can come to play.
Knowing ahead of time where birds spend their time and feed can be the perfect time to utilize pre-set blinds. Now you simply wait for the birds to come to you. These locations can be found by driving and glassing fields and openings before the season and making notes of where the birds are seen consistently. Be sure to note the times and the patterns of these birds.
Once the hens start to leave the gobblers as the day progresses, the Tom begins to get more frantic and will start to gobble more. He's used to having company and doesn't like abandonment.
By mid-morning he will begin roaming thru his area in search of hens who'll answer his call. If you can fire up a gobbler later in the day, you have a much better chance of him coming in - with less chances of hen interference, and other hunters in the woods as well.
If sitting in a blind and "ambushing" is not your style, now is the time for the "run and Gun" (or "Take bow and GO") to cover some ground, calling loud and excited. Using long series of yelps or aggressive cutting you are telling that Gobbler it's getting late - if he wants it...he better come and get it, NOW!
Always be prepared to set-up quickly, (this is where the "V-Blind" and the portability of the camo material really shines). The best chance is to set up before you call, as birds can come in hard and fast at this time of the day. Usually one hen decoy will suffice, just to take the birds attention off of you when you attempt to draw. He wants a hen bad now, and will be usually less cautious than normal unless he's been pressured.
If you do experience a reluctant bird, now is the time to add those Gobbler Yelps and Purrs to your calling. By making him think he's losing this "last chance" to another Gobbler, you can stimulate his aggressive tendencies. Many times the "smartest" and most wariest of toms will be taken by using a challenge to his dominance, over his desire to respond to an unseen hen.
And if your States' hunting hours "closing time" is near, what have ya got to lose? After all, there'll be another 4 a.m. wake-up call tomorrow, and a whole 'nother day to try again!