Turkey populations have been up for the last 35 years, and spring turkey hunting is as attractive to me as  fall buck season.

THE COMPLETE BOOK of WILD TURKEY- Roger Latham, Stackpole-1956,'76

Roger was a great writer, but he also was a phd in Wildlife biology.  So his writtings are factual and seldom include the BS you hear on TV/cable.  the book has no bright color pictures, stricttly reading about Turkeys, everything you ever wanted to know.  Very readable.  Life cycle and habitate are perfect.  Unfortunately out of print, but well worth the price on e-bay.

Actually I'm a 100 proof OLDE GRANDad guy.

Bear, when I was in college I had a serious love affair with Wild Turkey...almost to the point of being a problem. If I had been there longer it very well could have been. The 101 rocked me to sleep most every night...

But sometimes here spring is like winter.....our season begins this year April 29. & there are 7 five day separate seasons. Two days between seasons to let the turkeys rest up. YOu get a season by lottery dwg. if you even get a tag that is.

Are you using decoys???

I hunt places where I know the birds roost.   In the dark,  I go in about 100 yards from the trees they frequent.  Great to watch 10-20 birds wake up, gobble and fly down.  I usually give one call abut 40 minutes before sunrise.  It only takes one hen call and the toms know right where the 'receptive' hen is.  they have good hearing and vision, so I can't make a sound nor move.

But since your brought it up.  We seniors have certain needs.  Last year after calling turkeys for 3 hours and having a few birds come into my blind area...serious nature called me.  Suffered for 10 minutes as a tom was 60 yards away.  I gave in first, and said I have to GO now!!!!

I left my blind and walked 100 yards to a revine, satistied nature and returned.  3 hens in the decoys.  As I sat down in my blind the tom came in struting in full display.  I put an arrow thru its heart.  Just show us those Tom turkeys in heat aren't that smart.

The decoy surely can't smell or feel like live turkey. Is he mad cuz he got fooled???  

Re decoys-- As I've told folks, Ben Franklin was wrong, turkey are not smart.  I hunt with 2-3  hen decoys and one Jake (male juve, 2" beard).  the purpose of my decoys is twofold.  they tend to bring the tom in closer, and they distract the tom from 'eyeballing' me.  without the decoys the Tom will still come in.  BUT, then he is intensely looking for the stupid hen that he was talking to.

  Without decoys, I've had them walk to within a few feet of me...but they are so sharp eyed that they will run if you even blink.

Over the years I've hunted with heavy rubber and hard plastic decoys for turkeys.  lightweight foam decoys are best, carry ligh,t and are dull surface, and move somewhat with a slight breeze.

So best example:  I once  had decoys out and called a gobbler.    he came in slowly struting in full display, all fanned out beautiful bird big with 10 inch beard.  He slowly walked past me to my jake/male decoy and jumped on it.    and he  proceeded to copulate.  I was startled and amazed.  It was interesting to watch.  He jumped off after 15 seconds and started to walk away (with a smile and having a cigarette) when I head shot him with7/8 #6.

Why was he mating with a foam male?  I don't know.  was he gay???

Regarding the foam turkey decoys....I've had racoons come in and jump them and with needle-like teeth rip them up.  Have had coyotes stalk them.  I've had mature bald eagle try to pick-up  one of my plasticc black ducks decoys.  he got his talons within 2-3 foot when he changed his mind.  I figure he then realized any real duck would have flown; but maybe he saw me 10 foot away in my lay-out boat; laying down I could have grabbed his legs; actually felt the wind beneath his wings on my face.

What if anything does that mean.  I figure wild animals are heavily (solely) driven for food and sex.  when they see an easy meal or a quick lay...they comit completely.

just my thoughts