thunderchicken
Posts: 188
Joined: 5/29/2008
From: Penacook NH
Status: offline
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I agree on on alot of points made on this post.
Personally, I like to evaluate the total set up. If I am hunting right off the roost I would do more listening and dissecting the situation than anything else. I have shot birds off the roost that play by the rules, but most birds I have shot have been later up in the morning.
For example, I shot my 2nd gobbler in VT in 2009 at 11:30 am. I set up on this hill top that birds were gobbling on opening weekend. Sure enough there were 2 gobblers sounding off on a peice of property I could not hunt. I sat listening to that gobbler on roost for about an hour, then another 2 hours at the bottom of the ridge I was on. I decided to pick up and leave him be til later that morning. At 10:30 I decided to go after him. I drove the road that parelled that ridge to see where I could enter the woods without trespassing on the property thet bird was on. I found a good access point that bordered the private property. I headed into the woods till I found the foot of that ridge. I figured this is where that bird was earlier. I found a good set up along an old tote road and made a call and long story short, that bird never stopped gobbling til I jelly headed him at 20 yards!
I shot my bird in NH this spring by just sitting in a dusting area in a log landing at 6:15 am! Although I heard 5 or 6 gobblers across the road from where I was set up I knew there were birds on my side because I have hunted there in the past and not to mention saw 2 big strutters behind a small farm 2 days before. Granted, I didnt have to sit for a 3 hours, but I shot that bird without him making 1 gobble!
The VT bird might have worked his way back up that ridge, but I decided to go after him. Yes, I could have gone after the gobblers on the opposite side of the road in NH, but I was certain the birds were in the area.
I guess my choice would depend on the situation, If I am below the bird, I might try to get above him if he is stuck in that spot like glue! That is if the terrain allows me to do so!
Lastly, if I know a gobbler has hens and wont budge, I might sit tight and see if he loses his hens as the morning goes on, especially if I am in an area where the hens like to hang out!
Remember that gobbler or any gobbler in the area will remember where he heard that hot hen earlier in the morningand when his ladies go to nest, he will sometimes head to that spot!
Of course I only speak from my past experiences in the spring turkey woods! Either way, it is alot of fun trying to outsmart the big boys!
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Impatience is hard to ignore, but patience puts the bird in the truck!
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What Would You Have Done? The Sprinter - 
Of course, my motto in most endeavors is that I would rather be lucky than good anyday, but I have found that, even though I am hoping like heck it will come along, you just can't rely on luck to end up eating turkey fricassee very often. 
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