This morning a bird was gobbling way up on this hill, I have a love hate with. I love it, because my biggest birds have come from up there. I hate it, because if they roost up there 10X, 8 they are going to fly down, strut where they land, and then, walk away. More than anywhere I hunt, that happens in this spot.
So, I ended up leaving, and trying to roost a bird in a different spot, but not luck. So back I went.
Once I set up, I did a few roosted calls, and ended up with 4-5 birds gobbling. 2-3 to my left, one in front and one (original bird) to my right. After about 10', another sounded off WAY to my SW across the street.
The first bird finally flew down, and I could see his fan as he strutted about 80yds out, but he never wanted to commit, and he left, heading to my east.
But the birds that had been west of me kept going off, and they closed in, but then suddenly shut up. I waited 20' with no calling, tried again and boom, they gobbled at about 100yds out., but they did what the first one did and by passed me heading east.
So, I packed up (easy, I opted to not use dekes today) and walked across the street. I get about 300yds in behind the land owners house and call. Boom, birds gobble. It could have been the ones from earlier, some times they work over here. Or it could have been the bird that had been way out that way earlier in the AM.
I'm trying to get a solid position, so I'm working a bit deeper into the woods, when about 75-80yds out I see something. "Oh S**t" was my thought, figuring I blew it. But, luck was with me this time. It was the top, and back, of a fan - phew, he didnt see me. Figuring he'd walk the stone wall and pop out at a opening close to me, then could walk into range (was 75yds or so), I just set up.
Birds got quiet. so I did too.
20' and nothing. I call, and boom, a gobble, but heading to my left along the wall. GRR. Figured they were hened up.
Another 10' and I hear drumming and spiting, to my left. "What?" I look out of the corner of my eye and there's a bird fully strutting but 30yds and behind some scrubby pines walking past me. I look up, and there are 2 more, full strut, working in. I call softly on the diaphragm to try and swing them, but they were on a mission following bird one.
I had one opening, at my 7. Tough to pivot to that, but with the bird at 20, it wasnt getting better. This time, the BOOM was me :)
Amazingly, after the shot, the other two tried to beat the tar out of the one I shot. I actually got up and walked to about 10yds before they decided "that big thing wearing ASAT might be bad medicine" and took off.
Really a fun hunt, that reminded me of the value of, well, NOT calling to much :)
Sounds like you could have doubled up if you wanted to.