Thoughts on this?

[pass-thru]

Yesterday morning they were quiet on the roost but a couple hours after sunnup a few started gobbling from far away....and one about 150 yards up the mountain from me. I was on private ground and had a limited area to work with.

First couple gobbles were on his own. Then I called to see if he was interested and he sounded right back. I closed the distance 50 yards and he gobbles back...sounds like he's moved away though. I close another 50 yards or so, and nothing.

So a bird that is above me and moving away....no way to get around him....gobbled back at me a few times but headed off. Was this probably a jake? Also, any stragegy for working a mountain bird from below?

 

[Setterman]

Probably hens, it's real common for a bird with hens to go the other way. The other possibility is its a subordinate bird afraid to get whipped.

The only way I've had success with those is either get in front of them or stay with them and eventually they'll stop where you can really get tight and give yourself a chance

Their tough to kill though

 

[TheLBLman]

Good chance, he simply saw you, game over.
Although I agree there's a good chance your game-stopper was hens.

 

[Hunt2Live]

Agreed with setterman

 

[megalomaniac]

He had hens with him.