The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is the best friend the wild turkey resource and the wild turkey hunter has. For more than a quarter of a century the NWTF has championed the cause of wild turkey restoration and sound, scientific wildlife management.
Although near extinction at the turn of the century, the U.S. wild turkey population is nearly 5,000,000 birds, with huntable populations in 49 of the 50 states.
The NWTF has been a considerable force in the successful restoration of the wild turkey. On the political side, it has presented the unified voice of thousands of turkey hunters calling on wildlife management agencies to make wild turkey management a priority. Through NWTF fund-raising efforts, millions of dollars have helped with wild turkey restoration and management activity.
Without all this, we would certainly not enjoy the great turkey hunting we have today. All serious turkey hunters should join and support a National Wild Turkey Federation chapter near them.

Turkey hunters are quick to blame lack of success on "call-shy" gobblers. Gobblers already with hens and gobbling jakes that lack the nerve to make a final approach mimic truly call-shy birds. Unless you see them you never know.
Nevertheless, the modern increase in turkey hunting pressure does create extremely wary, call-shy gobblers. The best tactic is a complete change up. Move into your hunting area by different paths, or better yet, no path at all. Don't always hoot or call from the same places. Switch to call types that aren't popular in your area.
As to calling style, the best general advice is to back off and tone down. Don't use bold, loud and aggressive calls -- that's what the gobblers have been hearing all season. Many old-timers merely cluck not too loudly and not too often.
A gobbler that has survived into the latter part of turkey season is no dummy. To hunt him successfully, you have to be just as cautious as he is.

Wild turkey habitat is full of critters that consider turkey hunters a good meal. Chiggers, mosquitoes, gnats, biting flies and ticks are bothersome and some carry potentially serious diseases. There are several approaches to beating the bugs.
Insect repellent is the most common choice. Many repellents contain DEET, a powerful chemical. DEET concentrations vary from 20 to 100 percent in various products. Since some DEET is absorbed by the body, it is recommended that users use no more and no stronger concentrations than necessary. Other products contain citronella, a natural substance that is less powerful than DEET.
Permethrin is an insecticide that is particularly effective against ticks. Products containing permethrin may be used on clothing but should not be applied to the skin.
If you prefer no chemicals at all, check out the "bug suits" made of fine nylon mesh that fit like coveralls. Many of these are made with camouflage patterns and keep out all bugs, even offering good protection against wasps and yellow jackets.

Being able to judge the distance to a gobbler is important. For your initial approach you need to get close enough to call effectively but not so close as to spook the bird.

Judging gobbler distance is tricky. Simply the way the turkey is facing on a limb can make a big difference. A gobbler facing in your direction sounds much closer than one facing away. When the gobbler flies down, his gobbles are a bit muted. This has caused many turkey hunters to charge in and spook a bird they think is much farther away than he really is. As more foliage grows on trees and bushes, it also mutes and distorts the sound of the gobbler, making him sound farther away, both on the limb and on the ground.
Use caution when going to a gobbler and err on the side of setting up too far. Turkeys can hear amazingly well and successful turkey hunters are always heard and not seen.

As turkey season wanes so, it seems, does the interest of the gobblers. Many birds may be legitimately call shy, made so by intense calling and hunting pressure. However, many may just be tired.

In some ways, the end of the season is like the beginning. Gobblers are less "cranked up" and less vocal. Many hens have taken the nest and fewer available hens means less constant stimulation to strut and gobble. His sexual urges tend to come and go, competing with fatigue and hunger. He has lost weight and energy from the rigorous activities of breeding and fighting off other gobblers.

At this time, the turkey hunter must rely on woodcraft and specific turkey knowledge gained over the season. Even a late-season gobbler will still have his "hot flashes." They are just less frequent and more unpredictable. Hunting into the mid-morning and all day, if legal, is a good idea. If you can get his interest aroused, the late-season gobbler can be called fairly easily.