Will you kill a jake this spring?

[dan]

bump

[62kodiak]

Being as this is my first year turkey hunting(and with a bow) I am going to shoot the first legal bird that gives me a shot. Here in MN that means it has to have a visible beard.

[yungbuck]

passed a bearded hen last year and look to pass any jakes this year...I may change my mind with the bow in my hand but right now I am looking for gobblers- end of story

[hunter_mike]

Depends what weapon im using. Shotgun = big boys only. Longbow = any legal bird

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[Brad]

Early in the season I won't shoot a Jake, later in the season maybe. I only use a bow so it depends on how the season is going. I did kill a Jake with my second tag last year after killing a tom first season, main reason was there was nothing moving and the season was winding down fast.

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[Bigburner]

Prepare for the worst hope for the best. I had allot of oportunities at jakes and wanted a bigun'. Still hopping for a bigun'. Turkey hunting is tough around here. Not nearly as many birds as there are in other states.

[FRH]

If i'm using the shotgun its gonna be a tom even if i don't get a shot at one then ill eat my tag. With the bow i have yet to shoot a turkey with it so anything is game.

[backstraps]

I voted NO.

However, I am within a few minutes of the #1 county in my state for turkeys. I have some pretty good places to hunt turkeys, and always give the jakes a pass.

I still yet have no problem with anything hunters kill as long as it is legal and in season. Last year was the first year in many years that I used a shotgun.
My favorite hunts of the entire calendar year for me is always run-n-gun type hunts with my verticle bow, no blinds, no decoys. Just stick n string, and mouth calls.

I feel like I am blessed to chase birds where I live. I often compare our local turkey population to other states deer herd. I am always wishing I had some better deer land to hunt, and have heard from friends in other states about how they travel to TN for big Eastern Gobblers.

[bowmike]

I will try and hold out for a full fan bird. If it is not strutting and has a 4-5" beard it might be tough for me to decide. I don't want to shoot a jake, and like full fan birds. Last year was my first tom and it had a 8.125" beard. To be honest when it was walking up to me I thought its beard was only 6-7" long. Can be tough to judge if they are not strutting.

I will not knowingly shoot a non-full fan bird. I can put it that way. If I see a little stub jake, I will most likely let him walk. Those 4-6" beard birds may be in trouble, and anything after that will get it. I got 2 tags this year, if the first bird is a thinner beard 2 year old, I will definitely try to hold out for a thick beard bird for the second bird. I guess it all boils down to the hunt to be honest.

If I have a hard gobbling action packed hunt, and it ends up being a jake, I may be tempted.

[fishlips]

I'll shoot a jake. I like turkey hunting but am not as serious about it as I am about deer hunting.

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[wiscbowhntr]

Turkey hunting for me is all about running and gunning and having fun. The size of the bird or beard does not dictate how much fun the hunt will be. I also hunt Northern WI so this spring I think I will settle for a sighting let alone a shot.

[olivertractor]

I hunt for a tom for most of season, but trigger gets lighter as season wears on!

[bowmike]

Yeah I agree with you guys that what state you live in can dictate your choice. I have 3 longbeards and quite a few jakes withing 250 yards of my house so it is an easier choice for me. :)

[BassBoysLLP]

Go big or go home!

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[solocam88]

Leave the jakes for next year. Toms only.

[ Post made via iPhone ]