SIGNS
First, look for sign. You should have been doing this all season long anyway, but it's never too late to start. If you see tracks, droppings, feathers or any other turkey signs, and if they appear fresh, there are bound to be turkeys in the area somewhere.

At the same time, try to figure out why the gobblers were quiet. Perhaps, they were simply roosting with or near hens -- which as we've seen, is not unusual, especially during midseason. Regardless, after a couple of early-morning hunts, during which only a gobble or two is heard, and all indications are that the toms and hens are together, it's probably time for a change in your approach.

THINK BANKERS' HOURS
For example, ease off on daybreak hunting and try bankers' hours instead. Here's the theory behind that notion: Later in the morning, the hens may leave the toms to lay eggs in their nests. When that happens, a suddenly jilted gobbler may very well be open to suggestions from you.

At the risk of sounding really old or lazy, or both, let me tell you about a late-morning hunt that took place a couple of years ago. I hate to admit it, but I didn't even leave home until after 8 a.m. That put me in turkey country around 9.

Earlier in the week, long before daylight, I'd been in the same place -- a small foothills ranch with a sparse turkey population. Weather-wise, it was a great morning, but I heard only two disinterested gobblers sound off a couple of times each.

Then, nothing. That's when I decided to come back another time and hunt them after they were well into their daily routine.

After parking my pickup and gathering my gear, I started hiking toward the back of the property, where I'd encountered turkeys many times. Moving slowly, I often paused to call softly, like a wandering hen might do. And what do you know? Shortly after 10 a.m. a flurry of gobbles reverberated through the woods.

Quickly, I found a place to set up and in less than 15 minutes, a two-year-old adult tom with an 8 1/2-inch beard came into view. Shortly after 11, I was back home.

Another time, I was in a spot where I knew the toms were henned up, for at least a few hours each morning. I didn't enter those woods until after noon. The minute I started walking, I heard a gobble, and 19 minutes later, that hefty boss tom was mine. When I got him, it was just after 1 p.m.

Providing it's legal where you are, late-afternoon hunting also works very well when the toms are otherwise tight-lipped. Try setting up near a known roost or travel route. Make a series of yelps every once in a while.

There are no guarantees, but this approach often attracts a traveling tom seeking company.

THREATEN IT, SHOCK IT
Sometimes you can use a variety of sounds and calling devices, to no avail. In such a situation, try to jump-start a tom with aggressive turkey talk like cutts, cackles or fighting purrs. Or you can try to shock a tom into gobbling by using some sort of locator call such as the ever-popular crow call.