The reason I asked a buddy of mne were talking and you think how hard it is to see the forest floor when your sitting 20-25' above in your treestand. Next to impossible until first light gives you the perception you need. I believe that you can slip right to the bottom of that old tom's tree and he will never know your there as long as you put a little stealth in your approach. Am I crazy or am I on to something? Whatever the outcome, I'm going to try this hypothesis this fall, here in the next couple of weeks on our opener. I'll see for my self.
My opinion it would have to be a silent one. I have chased them off the roost unexpectedley while walking down sand horse trails and it was dark. Its tough because the woods are usually so quiet. On the other hand why would i want to be under his tree? I think it could be done just not as easy as you would think. And from a hunting standpoint why would I want to do that?
I am no pro by any means, but setting up directly under them leaves it more to chance IMO. Meaning he can fly in any direction and then you are gonna try to call him back to his original area, if I am a Tom, I am thinking, "wait, their were no hens under me this morning." I chose to set up 50 to 100 yards away in the most likely direction that he will fly down to and then call him to me.
I dont like getting to close, gobblers are pressured alot here. Best to stay back and call them in or set up an ambush.
Calling is the number one way birds are pressured though. If your birds are extremely pressured, calling might not be your best bet at for sure getting a bird. Might try to move your ambush in closer to the roost tree by setting up between his tree and where you think he will go, as close as you can comfortably get. I did this last year to bag my tom (a little calling is icing on the cake for this setup to insure he comes your way), but I admit I did it accidentally.....I learned a valuable lesson though. Turkey can't see as great as everyone thinks they can from roost, ESPECIALLY when a lot of foliage covers the trees. Obviously if you move while in sight after daylight, you are had....but if you get in close, just out of sight, and don't budge an inch....there is no reason for the bird to spook. If the foliage is thick, and you are there early enough...I'd bet a LOT of money you can touch the base of his tree without him spooking off. It's all about going sloooooow and quietly. Turkey don't bust out of roost for every little noise in the night...critters are constantly moving around making noise, and they would never be able to stay in one tree for long if that was the case. Is there a point to get directly under the tree? Not in my opinion, because in most cases by the time his feet hit the ground, he is out of range defeating the purpose of getting that close in the first place.
Nor would I on purpose, just because if you get too much closer, you can risk him not hitting the ground until past you...plus the closer you get, the more still you have to sit as daylight approaches. I agree, there isn't really a NEED to get any closer than that.
I think you would be to close if you snuck under there tree. You cant move to call when your that close, and they will know somethings up when they dont see the Hen under them making the call. I have been busted many times on birds that i did not know where there and i was being quiet Best bet is to scout them out ahead of time, find out what direction they like to head after pitching down from there roost, where they go, and set up between those spots or set up where they like to go.
