Overslept a little and was walking in just about 15 minutes before official sunrise. Knew I couldn't walk in my normal route because they would see me from the roost. Walked around the hardwood ridge a few hundred yards through the cow pasture and got set up in the bottom. Saw lots of fresh scratching walking in so I was hopeful. After I got settled I heard one fire up from the ridge I know they normally roost on. He was hot. I called soft. Heard another hen or two. Eventually he flew down and sounded like he was in the same area. I kept the calling soft and went quiet. He probably gobbled 100 times, but wouldn't come. Next time he gobbled I knew he was walking away so I called more aggressive. I even got two strikers on it and made it sound like two fighting. He gobbled his head off and I could tell he was coming back my direction. I did some excited yelps and cuts, then some purrs and clucks and shut up. After about 10 minutes of scanning the hardwoods I see him come over the rise at about 100 yards. He looks huge with his fan reflecting the sun. I can tell he is looking for a hen. He goes behind a tree and I don't see him for 10 minutes. I finally catch a little movement and he is in the same spot but not strutting. I knew if I called he'd have me pinpointed so I just sat still. I sat there for about 45 minutes knowing he was in the same spot but wasn't going to come. I finally eased out as I needed to get the work day started. I've killed a few birds over the years, mainly being in the right spot at the right time but I think I've called in a few. So, I'm sure there were better things I could have done to kill this bird, but it was a great time in the woods and I enjoyed the game today.
