Spring Hen with a beard

[chrisun]

I was curious, how many of us would shoot a hen with a beard in the spring?

[deerhunt1988]

I wouldn't. In a few months she could produce a few gobblers.

[guesswho]

Did it one time where legal, that was enough for me.  I see several every spring but it never crosses my mind to shoot them.

[chrisun]

I wouldn't. In a few months she could produce a few gobblers.

I would agree with that.

[Jourdan_D]

Voted yes, just becasue i've never seen a hen with a beard.

[jakesdad]

Have killed a couple in the fall,but have not put the hammer down on one in the spring and passed on a few.

[sugarray]

I'm new to turkey hunting, and as my second bird, yes I would.  Not as a first bird, and not on an out of state hunt.

[PANYHunter]

I'm gonna say no.  I had one come in and was gonna shoot it but she stayed out of range.  Looking back I am glad I didn't shoot.

[unclerick]

I would not, 1 reason is I'm not going to waste a good tag on a hen, the 2 reason is someone told me once that bearded hens are what gives you multi-bearded toms, don't know if thats true or not butit sounds good.

[Shotgun]

Never have.. See them most years...Any time you kill a hen your taking a chance of having ten or so less hatch for the following year.

[hookedspur]

I did kill one when I first started hunting turkeys ! But I will not (never) shoot another. Theres a voice in the back of my head saying if pop and mom both had beards Jr's going to start shaving early, I don't know if that's true but I cant get away from thinking it .

[hookedspur]

By the way I see several every year where I hunt most in WV.

[perrysbirds]

I Killed one here in Ontario this fall that had an 8 inch beard!
Didnt think much of it until and friend told me I just cooked a trophy bird!

[timbrhuntr]

 

[Gobble!]

I look at it like this
1 beard in a hen plus 1 beard on the gobbler
Equals chicks with 2 beards
Right? Lol