As a tom prepares to leave the roost, he usually quiets his chorus of gobbles and sometimes crashes through twigs and limbs on the way to the ground. Toms usually gobble immediately after leaving the roost, and hunters should give them some direction with a soft series of yelps. It is important to avoid calling too aggressively, but if a tom moves away from a hunter, more raucous pleading might be necessary. If a tom is accompanied by hens, it can be difficult to call him away from them, but a skillful and experienced caller who has mastered a turkey's vocabulary often can influence even a tom following a harem of hens. Becoming a skillful caller requires many hours of study and practice, but a first-time turkey hunter can learn much from instructional videos and audio tapes available where calls are sold.
Decoys have several functions.
A decoy placed strategically in a large, open area will be visible to a tom from a considerable distance, and a decoy attracts attention away from a hunter, since a tom intent on a decoy is less likely to notice a hunter raising a gun or removing a diaphragm call from his mouth. Coupled with skillful calling, a decoy can provide the incentive a cautious tom cannot resist. Decoys made to resemble a hen can be upright or crouched in a receptive position. A sling or bag makes carrying a decoy easier. Ideally, once a hunter had selected a good location, set out a decoy and received a response to his calling, all the action would take place right there directly in front of him.