colorado front range help

[jphunter]

So I 'm new to hunting co and this site. Do any of you have experience hunting merriems in the foothills. Looking to chat with someone that can give solid info. I hunted the last two days and scouted last two weeks. Up until yesterday no gobbles scat tracks or feathers. Than while hiking and calling had a bird start yelping back. Sat down and had a conversation with it for ten minutes.  Then out popped three tome at five yards,  swing and a miss for me. But one did finnally gobble at the shotgun blast. Is the lock jaw normal for merriems,  they didn't. Even gobble on the roost. I hike 25 miles in two days and that was the only indication birds were in the area.