Ok guys, it's the last day of the season. You have been around birds, but can't seal the deal.
It's now becoming crunch time, and you hear a gobble. Then another. You send out some cutts, and he cuts you off!
You see a bird easing through the timber, and you ease your gun to your shoulder.
The bird completely shows himself, and you see the bump in the middle of his fan, and a very short beard.
Now, he's in your sights.
Do you pull the trigger and smoke the jake? He has done everything a mature bird would have done, and by all accounts has given you a very exciting hunt.
What would you guys do?
Myself personally.... Pass
If someone else wants to tag the bird... no problem.
I would pass as well...let that boy get a little older
Quote from: bird on December 31, 2011, 06:46:33 PM
Myself personally.... Pass
If someone else wants to tag the bird... no problem.
Exactly :icon_thumright:
I myself have never had to take a Jake. But all of my group has a saying that "if you pass a Jake it'll be the last chance to take". Seems to ring true every year. So if a Jake is the first bird to pass in front of my red dot...... He's goin down!
Pass
Last day of the season..most likely, I've already killed a few...get him next year.
Gman
Pass for me, but I don't have a problem sigh someone taking him.
My first thought was ,BANG! But to tell the truth I really dont know anymore.
If he would give me a good hunt and act like a mature gobbler then I would take him. Some of those Jakes can be stubborn too.
If he acts like a big boy I'm gonna kill him like a big boy..
Depends on my mood. Maybe a 75% chance he walks...depending on how many unfilled tags i have.
Pass.hope he would grow another year.
How hungry am I? Probably not going to dry up and blow away any time soon. I'll pass. If I need some turkey nuggets he's toast.
TRKYHTR
Bang!
Strut. Gobble. Die.
Especially if it's been a tough year.
Quote from: redarrow on December 31, 2011, 09:35:11 PM
My first thought was ,BANG! But to tell the truth I really dont know anymore.
C'mon now Red you shoot the first deer you see, you cant tell me with time running out and a bird in the cross hairs you wouldnt be shooting.
Personally since I dont travel for turkey hunting out of state that often I can only bag 1 so BANG!!
Depending on the situation at that very time I would prolly shoot
I'll pass, let him grow up, if it means tag soup so be it.
Since I'm usually on my own property, and it's been ingrained in my thinking and actions for so long, on management of land and wildlife, he's gonna get a pass.
I have to admit, I like killing longbeards.
God Bless,
David B.
He's safe on the first day and is just as safe on the last.
I'll make him bleed when he's a two or three year old that id be more proud of.
If I have a tag left on the last day of the season I'm passing on the jake and selling all my turkey gear and retiring.
Twenty years ago, I'd drop him in an instant. Now, I've killed enough gobblers that it just doesn't rock my world shooting a jake, so I'd let him walk, and have done so many times through the years. Neill
Last year I passed on 19 Jakes. I've passed on up to 30+ some years. No need to kill another one. Unless I get hungry.
TRKYHTR
GOD! you guys are good.......however the question asked left out some small details...public land or on some private place you will hunt next year that is loaded w/ birds and you have the only key.........did the hunter walk walk 1.3 miles, 4 times to hunt this area or did he drive a golf cart to a comfortable hide......there are probably 50 other factors that would have to be considered before I would give an answer....reading the info given in the original question , i would shoot... :boon:
PASS
My first gobbler was a jake. (Didn't realize it when I shot, I was too excited.)
I felt joy about killing my first turkey and sad because I shot a jake. If somebody else wants to that's their choice. I've got no problem with it. But for me it's like shooting young deer. I don't want to.
Quote from: 2ounce6s on January 02, 2012, 06:35:08 PM
Some jakes are indeed gifts from above and meant to be shot.
http://youtu.be/LAONKxFlsXc (http://youtu.be/LAONKxFlsXc)
I'll shut up and will sit down now.
a good example of one of the factors that would effect someones decision..
Quote from: saltysenior on January 02, 2012, 04:56:42 PM
GOD! you guys are good.......however the question asked left out some small details...public land or on some private place you will hunt next year that is loaded w/ birds and you have the only key.........did the hunter walk walk 1.3 miles, 4 times to hunt this area or did he drive a golf cart to a comfortable hide......there are probably 50 other factors that would have to be considered before I would give an answer....reading the info given in the original question , i would shoot... :boon:
Public or private, 10 mile or 3 mile walk, last day on a property or first, beginning or end of the season, the answer is still no and I believe those who have answered the same have done so honestly.
There are an astounding number of lethal hunters on this site.
Nope i wouldnt.
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on January 02, 2012, 07:49:22 PM
Quote from: saltysenior on January 02, 2012, 04:56:42 PM
GOD! you guys are good.......however the question asked left out some small details...public land or on some private place you will hunt next year that is loaded w/ birds and you have the only key.........did the hunter walk walk 1.3 miles, 4 times to hunt this area or did he drive a golf cart to a comfortable hide......there are probably 50 other factors that would have to be considered before I would give an answer....reading the info given in the original question , i would shoot... :boon:
Public or private, 10 mile or 3 mile walk, last day on a property or first, beginning or end of the season, the answer is still no and I believe those who have answered the same have done so honestly.
There are an astounding number of lethal hunters on this site.
would you consider 2oz 6s's Pop to be a ''lethal hunter'' ???? he shot a perfectly legal to take turkey.....i hope we are not getting into the beginning of Q.T.M. :boon:
Pass...I've been passing them over 20 years. There's no reason to stop now.
i have'nt been hunting turkeys for a very long time so i might kill him depends on a few things
[/quote]
would you consider 2oz 6s's Pop to be a ''lethal hunter'' ???? he shot a perfectly legal to take turkey.....i hope we are not getting into the beginning of Q.T.M. :boon:
[/quote]
I don't know him so I cant comment.
I do know some guys on this site that will show you a very clear definition of what lethal
is once the seasons open.... And most of them won't displaying their lethality with Jake harvests.
Since I posed the question, I'll give you guys my honest answer.
I would also let him walk. For me, the hunt is about the thrill of fooling a mature gobbler. I passed on jakes for the past 2 seasons, and I agree with all of you. He is a legal bird, and if someone wants to punch their tag with him, by all means, go for it. I also don't have a problem with that.
However, after killing longbeards, I just don't get the rush from hammering a jake.
Now if I was coaching my son or another youth or newbie, I would highly encourage them to take the shot. Gotta start somewhere.
I would pass.
I would have to say I would encourage my 13 year old son to take the shot since he has never bagged a turkey. I have shot a few jakes in the past when I was new to the game. Nothing like matching wits with "The Old Gobbler" though. I would let him pass.
After about 10 years of hunting turks I had never been skunked. Last evening of season a jake came in and I gave him a pass. about 30 min. later just before dark he came back. I shot him just so I wouldn't be skunked. Somehow I still felt skunked. I have no problem with anybody that wants to shoot one. Someday I might shoot another one.
Quote from: Gus_13 on January 01, 2012, 03:13:42 AM
Strut. Gobble. Die.
Especially if it's been a tough year.
This. If I haven't shot anything, then yep. Boom!
Quote from: 2ounce6s on January 02, 2012, 06:35:08 PM
Some jakes are indeed gifts from above and meant to be shot.
http://youtu.be/LAONKxFlsXc (http://youtu.be/LAONKxFlsXc)
I'll shut up and will sit down now.
Agree 100%. I have no desire shooting them but I will never tell someone I'm hunting with not to shoot if thats what makes them happy.
Regardless the numerous scenarios presented, personally, I'd pass. If you want to shoot jakes, and it's legal, that's your prerogative. Over the years I've let mature gobblers walk on the last day of the season after getting my gun on them and giving an imaginary "bang". If they've made it that long, sometimes, and the key word is sometimes, I'll let them walk on the last day, especially if they've put on an entertaining show.
Personally, I would pass even if it's the last day of the season. But, I fault no one for choosing to shoot a jake.
Quote from: decoykrvr on January 03, 2012, 07:57:32 PM
Regardless the numerous scenarios presented, personally, I'd pass. If you want to shoot jakes, and it's legal, that's your prerogative. Over the years I've let mature gobblers walk on the last day of the season after getting my gun on them and giving an imaginary "bang". If they've made it that long, sometimes, and the key word is sometimes, I'll let them walk on the last day, especially if they've put on an entertaining show.
That is something I can guarantee you I wil NEVER do :lol:
Pass and enjoy the show
last year I ate one of my tags after passing some 2yr olds with 7-8in skinny beards because I knew there were some real nice limb hangers around. I killed 2 nice 3yr+ Toms early and wasnt in a rush to tag out and go home unless it was a big ol warrior..
I was in that very situation years ago. It was the last day and I had all of my tags burning a hole in my pocket. 3 jakes came to my setup and 3 jakes were allowed to walk away from my setup.
Not that it's wrong to shoot a jake by any means.
Do what you WANT to do and don't worry what someone else thinks.
Here in Indiana, we get ONE bearded bird in the spring. If I've hunted hard and its the last day of season "Thats a dead bird!" and I'd be happy to have him. Luckily I've not had to hunt til the last but once in 10yrs so I'm pretty thankful I haven't had to be in this situation.
I would shoot.
If I ever get to a point where a jake does not thrill me as much as a tom, I need to hang it up. THe spike I killed this year means as much to me as my 130+" 10 point. And with deer hunting, if a doe or a spike ever gives me less of a thrill as a mature buck, then I will hang that up too.
LaBio, I am right there with you on the deer thing. I got a pretty nice 8 with a 17.5" spread but the big button I mistook for a doe had me pretty excited about a tasty and tender blackstrap supper.
When it comes to Turks, I want the big one but the last week, I'm shooting what gobbles.
As long as its legal... Just like taking a hen in the fall. I sure do like fresh turkey nuggets. Nom nom nom.
I am posting before I have read the other comments, but I think it would depend on two things
1. The state laws and regulations concerning killing jakes
2. If legal, would that satisfy you as hunter
Our laws here in MS protect jakes, only young hunter can take one (which I think is a great idea :icon_thumright:).
Me, personally, if it were legal I would still let a jake walk. I want to get a mature gobbler under my belt. I think I would feel more accomplished taking a mature gobbler. Once again, it depends on if it is legal and what would make you feel accomplished as a hunter.
I think it boils down to a person's personal choice....bottom line. Jakes can offer just as good of a hunting opportunity as mature gobblers. Some can gobble and be difficult to call in like big gobblers.
Quote from: LaBiologist on January 04, 2012, 06:01:33 PM
I would shoot.
If I ever get to a point where a jake does not thrill me as much as a tom, I need to hang it up. THe spike I killed this year means as much to me as my 130+" 10 point. And with deer hunting, if a doe or a spike ever gives me less of a thrill as a mature buck, then I will hang that up too.
I love this post.
I have passed on immature deer and also shot immature deer. I havent been turkey hunting too long but I goofed on a small gobbler last year but that enabled me to shoot a better one a week later.