Gobbler or nothing?

[Dakota]

What are your standards as far as your personal "legal turkey"? Will you pass up a jake or even a nice 2 year old for that giant longbeard? The firearm prairie license I've applied for this year is for two any wild turkey. Now I obviously don't want to shoot any of the hens (MAYBE a bearded hen if one's pestering me enough) but, with as few turkeys under my belt as I have (1), I'm not above shooting a big jake or two; besides, I've still got a statewide archery and a Black Hills tag. Any thoughts, comments or opinions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Dakota

[Diamond Archer 01]

I shot a jake last year which was my 2nd turkey ever and will prolly shoot one this year if I get the chance. Eventhough I prefer the big longbeard like everyone else I will still be very happy with a jake, especially since this will be my first year bowhunting for turkeys.

[Rhino]

Heck...it's whatever makes you happy Dakota.

Jakes aren't legal here for adult hunters anymore. It's been that way here in MS for about 12 years or so. When I first started turkey hunting I killed a few jakes. After about 6 or 7 years of turkey hunting I just got to a point where I wanted to let them go another year and grow up into birds that were more fun to hunt. The hunting action with older birds gobbling and drumming is just a lot more fun to me. That is what makes the hunt for me, whether I kill the gobbler or not. For me the hunt is the trophy, not the bird.

I don't usually pass on 2 year old birds. Most of the time you're not sure if they are 2 year old birds or older anyway. On occasion I have passed some but that was usually when I already had 1 or 2 in the bag that season. During my 1st hunt at the King Ranch I passed several birds I thought were 2 year old's trying to kill one with exceptional spurs. It was a 4 bird hunt and I came home with 3 so I sure can't complain. Didn't get a bird with the magical 1 1/2" spurs on that trip but came close to it.

[Dakota]

Heck...it's whatever makes you happy Dakota.

Jakes aren't legal here for adult hunters anymore. It's been that way here in MS for about 12 years or so. When I first started turkey hunting I killed a few jakes. After about 6 or 7 years of turkey hunting I just got to a point where I wanted to let them go another year and grow up into birds that were more fun to hunt. The hunting action with older birds gobbling and drumming is just a lot more fun to me. That is what makes the hunt for me, whether I kill the gobbler or not. For me the hunt is the trophy, not the bird.

I don't usually pass on 2 year old birds. Most of the time you're not sure if they are 2 year old birds or older anyway. On occasion I have passed some but that was usually when I already had 1 or 2 in the bag that season. During my 1st hunt at the King Ranch I passed several birds I thought were 2 year old's trying to kill one with exceptional spurs. It was a 4 bird hunt and I came home with 3 so I sure can't complain. Didn't get a bird with the magical 1 1/2" spurs on that trip but came close to it.

I'd rather shoot a gobbler than a jake any day, but I'll have four tags and mom is quite partial to smoked wild turkey. Maybe I'll have to shoot a jake or two for her in addition to a couple longbeards.

Dakota

[layin on the smackdown]

Well Dakota, since you asked...It really all depends on how much time i have to burn chasing them silly critters...In IL, our seasons are weird...we have 5 seasons which last anywhere from 5-7 days (i think)...So if i am hunting in an area away from home, and i only have 2 days to burn, it will depend on the attitude of the birds...if they are being tough, well then, i don't think i am passing on a jake bird with my bow...Thats all i hunt em with...If the timing is right, and they got their running shoes on, i'll wait and see if i can get a big ole long beard to commit...If i have all week, i'm waiting for a long beard...until the last day of course ...However, i am still a rookie, with only one bird under my belt and two misses...Heck, My fiance has one big ole 3 year old and she has only turkey hunted one day in her life. :poke::toot:

[dbHunterNY]

Last spring a long beard with about a 10-11" beard got lucky on me. I never felt I had a chance to rotate my sitting position. I got him fired up, but he never got close enough to the swinging angle of my Benelli. I chose to let him walk on by all fired up and not take a pop shot. I know there are long beards where I hunt, so that's what I'm pulling the trigger on or sending an arrow at.

[Guest TennesseeTurkey]

Id try for a gobbler but if the season is close to closing that poor jake dont stand a chance

[Ethan Givan]

Yeah I will let jakes walk. I look for a long swinging beard and the big body of a mature bird. I let several jakes go last year and Im happy I did because I tagged out with 2 nice gobblers. Its kind of the same with deer, let the little ones grow up so you have more mature animals to hunt in the future.

[SourthenILdeerhunter]

i will take what comes in front of me this year since i get 2 turkeys i think i may wait for a long berd on my second tag.

[colorado bob]

If it's legal----I'll shoot. CB

[BBR12]

I'm in about the same boat as rhino. Jakes and hens are not legal in MS. I have killed several in the past when I was young and they were legal. I killed a couple on public land my first trip to TX. I possibly will on the last day of my trip to FL this year if that's my only shot. Other then that I have been fortunate enough to kill enough birds so only longbeards appeal to me now.

[WHISKEYSWAMP]

First bird I shot was a jake in 2001. It was actually my first time I've ever been in the woods to hunt turkey... got kind of lucky I guess. Since then, I've taken 9 long beards and a bearded hen. I doubt I'll shoot another jake unless with a bow late season.

[maytom]

Yeah I will let jakes walk. I look for a long swinging beard and the big body of a mature bird. I let several jakes go last year and Im happy I did because I tagged out with 2 nice gobblers. Its kind of the same with deer, let the little ones grow up so you have more mature animals to hunt in the future.

Same here. You wait all year for the spring season to get here, so I placed that restriction on myself years ago.

As long as the bird has a full fan and a decent sized beard, he's taking a ride in my truck. The spurs are always a suprise after you walk up to him anyway. Mainly because you can't always see them in the grass or weeds.

[unioncountyslayer]

typically i will wait on a gobbler. if i get down to the last week of the season and have a shot at a jake i will take him. i usually have a few opportunities at gobblers with 10"+ beards, so I wait.

[longbeardfever4ever]

Ill hit a jake or a longbeard. But i passed on a bearded hen last year and i will this year too, unless its the last day of the season and she is being nasty with me. The jake better gobble and strut for me though.

[bluelund79]

For me, its any legal bird-but I only have 1 tag and a 5 day season. If you have 2 tags and the time, be picky with one of them and use the other for first legal bird....

[toddyboman]

depends on where I am hunting....

On our farm I have never killed a jake. Nor do I plan on ever killing one. We have plenty of nice long beards running around it just a matter of working the right one at the right time.

If I go to public land it just depends....I would prefer to not shoot jakes, but late in the season any legal bird that wants to work could be in TROUBLE!!

[Strut10]

Longbeards only.

It's darned hard to judge spurs in the field.

[rhine16]

Jakes are illegal here so I wouldn't shoot one. If I went on an out of state hunt where they were legal and it was the last day or two.... I might pull the trigger on one.

[chris]

I have an excellent place to hunt and have seen 8+ turkeys with beards of 8" or more so will probably wait for the big one. Hope to take one with a bow.

[Turkeygirl]

Being that turkeys are my nemesis...and in my area we aren't overrun with them...any legal bird is fair game in my book an a trophy for the dinner table:)

[Bowtech_archer07]

For me it's any longbeard. My real goal this year is to call in a longbeard for my dad, he has never killed a longbeard. He's taken a couple of jakes but never a longbeard, so if I call him in a big ole longbeard my season will be a success no matter what else happens. But for me personally I will shoot any longbeard I can get in gun range, even if he is a 2 yr old.

[PA_Spike_King]

Dakota, if it's a trophy to you, squezz the trigger. lol. I have killed a few jakes in my time but I like to wait for a long beard.

[bbgatech]

I've had chances to shoot jakes and didn't. Its ok for me not to shoot a turkey. I just want the challenge of that older bird, but if its legal...go for it. I just don't shoot jakes, that's just me.

[Limbhanger]

I always pass on jakes as they are easy to verify with small beards and uneven fans.

But in my opinion,If it's a longbeard it's down regardless it's age. I'm just not that good to see their spurs, as this is the true indication of age. I've seen mature 3-4 year olds with 8-9in beards, and 2 year olds with 10in. plus beards. So in general 8 in. beard or better I'm shooting.