Educational moment

[floatingboy]

So, I'm a second season hunter and just had my closest call to date.  After a pretty quiet early morning and low hopes, I managed to call in two gobblers.  They came into gun range, but unfortunately they flanked me and I couldn't swing around to aim in their exact direction.  I couldn't move because they had eyes on my position.  One mistake I had made was the placement of my decoy.  I had put it at the edge of a relatively clear patch of trees, toward the direction where I'd heard the most recent gobble, instead of placing it in the open, which would have been more visible.  Second mistake--at least I think it was--was to do some quiet clucks and purrs while they were looking my direction.  I think this made them realize that while they could see where the sound was coming from, they couldn't see a hen, which made them suspicious or just lose interest.  Once they finally relaxed and turned, I pivoted so I could point the gun their way, but they were gone.  No more answers to calls.  I'm pretty sure they just left the scene.

These are the lessons I learned, but was curious if anyone had any input so I can get the most out of this.  Even though I didn't get a shot off, it was still exciting stuff!

[Bigeclipse]

So, I'm a second season hunter and just had my closest call to date.  After a pretty quiet early morning and low hopes, I managed to call in two gobblers.  They came into gun range, but unfortunately they flanked me and I couldn't swing around to aim in their exact direction.  I couldn't move because they had eyes on my position.  One mistake I had made was the placement of my decoy.  I had put it at the edge of a relatively clear patch of trees, toward the direction where I'd heard the most recent gobble, instead of placing it in the open, which would have been more visible.  Second mistake--at least I think it was--was to do some quiet clucks and purrs while they were looking my direction.  I think this made them realize that while they could see where the sound was coming from, they couldn't see a hen, which made them suspicious or just lose interest.  Once they finally relaxed and turned, I pivoted so I could point the gun their way, but they were gone.  No more answers to calls.  I'm pretty sure they just left the scene.

These are the lessons I learned, but was curious if anyone had any input so I can get the most out of this.  Even though I didn't get a shot off, it was still exciting stuff!

I like you, am new to turkey hunting as well and had this exact situation happen to me last year.  If the birds are looking in your direction, you are best suited to not make a sound, unless you are in some thick stuff.  These turkeys have excellent hearing and have no problems pinpointing sound.  If they were coming your direction, chances are they would have searched around a bit longer looking for that hen.  If they hear noise close by and cant see it...they will tend to walk off is what I was told.  Now if they were already walking off before you made clucks and purrs, then by all means try some calls to get their attention BUT I was also told that to pay attention in the direction they head and maybe try to loop around and do some more calling in a new area.  Sometimes its a crap shoot though haha

[howl]

It's not that complicated. You don't have to call once they are inside 75 yards and coming. Ditch the dolly, set up on the high ground such that they cannot get above you and  will not be able to see your position until in range, sit with your off shoulder pointed at the birds, and kill them when they pop up.

[ruination]

It's not that complicated. You don't have to call once they are inside 75 yards and coming. Ditch the dolly, set up on the high ground such that they cannot get above you and  will not be able to see your position until in range, sit with your off shoulder pointed at the birds, and kill them when they pop up.

I wonder how you would hunt flat land...

[Bill Cooksey]

howl offered great advice, and that's basically how I set up the majority of the time, but the flat terrain I hunt often means high ground isn't available and I have to use flora to accomplish the same thing.

Honestly, I can't recall a single longbeard I've had visible and in range that I wasn't able to get my gun on and shoot. Not saying it hasn't happened to me at some point, but I can't recall it. However, I have seen it happen to several folks I've guided over the years.

Don't be paralyzed. There's always a way. Sometimes it's as simple as a bird walking behind a tree or a strutter turning his back to you. Other times aren't so simple, but the majority of the time a slow and deliberate movement to cover it with your gun is something you can get away with even with a bird looking at you. Slow deliberate movements, especially from a spot where they expect something to be, don't typically cause them to immediately run away. Most often they'll simply watch and try to determine what it is. Another little trick if the birds are hot enough to gobble at the call is to make a quick cutt on a diaphragm and make your move while he is gobbling. Amazing how much you can get away with if you do it right.

Now, the lesson of not calling when he can see the spot the calling is coming from is a great one.

[Bill Cooksey]

It's not that complicated. You don't have to call once they are inside 75 yards and coming. Ditch the dolly, set up on the high ground such that they cannot get above you and  will not be able to see your position until in range, sit with your off shoulder pointed at the birds, and kill them when they pop up.

I wonder how you would hunt flat land...

Much of the area I hunt is pretty dang flat, but your situation may be more extreme so take this for what it's worth. Often there is a wrinkle in the ground somewhere. It might put me lower or higher than the bird, but the goal is to be out of his sight until he is in range. Just as often I'll use flora to accomplish the same thing. Instead of setting up on a point in a flat and open field, I'll set up just around the point from the bird. If the field doesn't offer this option, I'll move fifteen yards or so into the woods and set up. Due to the thick underbrush often found around field edges here the latter two often require me to stand up rather than sit.

[floatingboy]

Thanks for the replies, guys.  It was pretty flat, with a little slight rise to my right, which is what they came around.  I'm right handed, so that's part of the problem.  Also, they came in pretty fast, which didn't give me time to get repositioned.  However, I stayed FROZEN once they were looking my way because I was scared to death of them taking off at the slightest motion.  I was waiting for them to turn away or go behind something, but they never did.  They just stood there looking at me until they turned around and walked out the way they walked in.  There was enough cover for me not to be able to see them after that.  I called again but they never answered nor came back. 

Again, a bit of a disappointment but valuable lessons learned.  Just like yesterday when I crept up pretty close to two guys hammering away and then my first call was a bit aggressive.  They clammed up and I never saw them.  They must've been alarmed.

[RutnNStrutn]

Don't be paralyzed. There's always a way. Sometimes it's as simple as a bird walking behind a tree or a strutter turning his back to you. Other times aren't so simple, but the majority of the time a slow and deliberate movement to cover it with your gun is something you can get away with even with a bird looking at you. Slow deliberate movements, especially from a spot where they expect something to be, don't typically cause them to immediately run away. Most often they'll simply watch and try to determine what it is. Another little trick if the birds are hot enough to gobble at the call is to make a quick cutt on a diaphragm and make your move while he is gobbling. Amazing how much you can get away with if you do it right.
Now, the lesson of not calling when he can see the spot the calling is coming from is a great one.

 
Agreed!! Don't be afraid to make slow, deliberate movements. You can get away with more than you think. Practice on hens and jakes to hone your skills.

[howl]

What they said, but I will add that it is completely within reason to walk away from a bird to find a good spot to set up.