Once you uncover an ol Tom while turkey hunting, the next phase is to move in near and call him into shooting range. Your goal is to slip in as close as possible without scaring him off. Then you "set up" and try to call him close enough for a shot.
Remember: when coming close to a turkey, if he locates you, he's gone! Be mindful not to be seen. Terrain and foliage typically dictate how near you can get before setting up. Seasoned hunters hardly ever approach inside 100 yards. They may set up as far away as 300 yards if the ground is smooth and there is little foliage to cover up their movements.
Use the land to your advantage as you come close to a gobbler. Stay behind hills, thickets or other features that will block your movements. Walk as quietly as possible in the leaves, and don't split any sticks during the turkey hunt.
When setting up, pick a location that offers the gobbler an uncomplicated course to your location. There should be no creeks, gullies, fences, thick undergrowth or other barriers between you and the bird. Also choose a place that is on the same contour or slightly above the turkey's place. Don't try to call a gobbler down a steep slope. Pick an area that provides you with a good view of your surroundings.
Sit against a tree, stump or other object that is wider than your back and taller than your head. It will hide your outline and protect your back from a hunter who might move in behind you. Face the turkey's direction with your left shoulder (for right-handed shooters), this provides you with a greater mobility of your gun when aiming. Above all, keep your movement to a minimum as you call. If the gobbler is working toward you, then goes silent , don't move. Sometimes gobblers will sneak in quietly .
If you set up and a gobbler answers your call but won't come close, you're going to have to change your game plan. You may need to circle around and call from another location. You might change to yet another call. If you've worked him a long time and he's still hung up, you might depart the ol Tom and come back in a just a few of hours and try yet again. Many hunts require several moves and/or strategy changes.
Once you get a bird working to you, get your gun up on your knee pointed in his general direction with the stock against your shoulder. When a gobbler finally walks within range (inside 40 yards), wait until he steps behind a tree or other obstacle to move your gun. When he reappears, aim cautiously at his head/neck junction, and then squeeze the trigger. When an Old Tom struts, the neck is compressed and the head is often partly hidden by feathers, making for an even smaller target. If the gobbler is strutting, wait until he extends his neck to shoot. A clean, one-shot kill should be the purpose of every hunter.
It's a great moment when a long beard answers a hunter's call. This is when all the scouting and preparation pay off. It may not always end in bagging the bird, but that's part of the chase and the memories. If you listen to a veteran turkey hunter, you'll note that the hunts most often remembered are those where the Old Tom, and not the hunter, won.
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