HUNTING A KNOWN ROOST AREA IN THE EVENING?

[bbcoach]

I have a roost area that holds a nice gobbler but it's almost impossible to get to in the morning without getting busted.  The area is two pockets of woods with a 20 foot wide strip cut through it.  I was thinking of setting up along the strip, about 3 hours before dusk, and waiting on his return to the roost.  I've read numerous threads about roosting and going back the next morning to try to get it done but not much on trying to get it done before sundown.   Any thoughts or advice?

[dirt road ninja]

If you know where he is you can sneak up to him in the dark and wait on the sunrise. As long as it is dark and your quiet you should have little trouble getting with 75 yards of him.
As far as hunting him heading to roost, that is a productive method as well. I might put out a couple dekes and call every 10 minutes or so.

[jakebird]

Ninja is right on. Get in there ahead of him and call lightly. I have a ridge roost scouted that is virtually impossible to approach in the dawn, but it is begging for an afternoon hunt. Unfortunately, i have to wait till the latter half of our season to find out, when we are allowed to hunt alll day.

[DMP]

Get in in the dark EARLY...  You can actually get right under him if conditions are right...  Remember that birds have things walk under them all the time at night,  deer, yote, skunk, etc so their used to hearing things walk around from time to time just don't be stepping on limbs and don't use a light.  Go early and go slow... A great time to do it is after a rain the day or night before... Leaves want be noisy and you can slip in without making a sound...  If they do fly off then all don't panic... Sometimes we give turkeys to much credit for how smart they are...  All they know is something was walking under them and they didn't like it but they will still act like turkeys when the sun comes up...

[nbadger23]

I think you have a very good plan.  I've killed birds the last two years doing something very similar to what you're talking about.  I'd be curious to hear what people say in regards to how they react to calls at that time of day and what strategy to use. You're obviously guessing a bit as to your location if you're truly just waiting for him to walk through (which is what I did, I hardly called at all) but knowing where he wants to end up definitely puts you one step ahead.  

Here's a crazy idea... if he happens to get by you and roost near you, how do you feel about sleeping in that spot so you're there in the morning to greet him.  I'm 99% kidding, but then you'd really have a story  

[jakebird]

Im pretty sure it wouldnt be legal most places to camp under him all night, but im sure it would make a great story. Couple times i felt like i almost needed to. Its funny how the feeling of excitement of close roosting a bird in the evening turns to dread when you realize you are way too close, cursing under your breath, you are cramped, leg is asleep,ticks crawling on your face, and your prone in a cold puddle knowing you better not even twitch until its good and dark.  Lol such is the insanity we know as turkey hunting!