Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Some of the guys from the hunting camp I belong to say I'm crazy for not killing the jakes, but I think if you keep killing them, it cuts down on the number of big Toms available.

I personally pass them but have no ill feelings toward anyone that does


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Absolutely not.

Don't understand why anyone other than a novice or newbie would.

For me its a NO!! I have killed one in my life and he should have lived  but a stray pellet hit him upside the noggin about 30 yards and about 5 foot to the right past the one I shot. I did not even notice I hit him until I picked my other bird up and heard him start flopping. I dont care if people do it somewhere else where there is a lot of birds, but if you hunt where I do in south west alabama and south east mississippi ( My back yard is the state line) there is not enought turkeys anyway so we dont need to kill them.. Need to let the grow a little anyway.

I've been known to take a jake now and again.  I really try not too, but sometimes (especially in late May) I get frustrated and fried jake is pretty good.

I don't shoot jakes nor do I shoot a buck thats not going on the wall...

Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on March 12, 2013, 10:13:44 AM
Absolutely not.

Don't understand why anyone other than a novice or newbie would.

That's how I feel. If it's the first bird you ever have a chance on, I understand doing it. My first bird ever was a jake... I shot at and missed a nice strutter, and was so mad that an hour later when I got 2 jakes to come in, I decided to take one out. But never since then. It felt good to get a bird under my belt, but after that I didn't see any point in shooting a bird without hooks.

I do also feel that as long as you leave the jakes alone, those are more 2 year olds you'll have to hunt next year.

Quote from: SouthEastNC on March 12, 2013, 10:51:51 AM

Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on March 12, 2013, 10:13:44 AM
Absolutely not.

Don't understand why anyone other than a novice or newbie would.

That's how I feel. If it's the first bird you ever have a chance on, I understand doing it. My first bird ever was a jake... I shot at and missed a nice strutter, and was so mad that an hour later when I got 2 jakes to come in, I decided to take one out. But never since then. It felt good to get a bird under my belt, but after that I didn't see any point in shooting a bird without hooks.

I do also feel that as long as you leave the jakes alone, those are more 2 year olds you'll have to hunt next year.

You hit the nail on the head!! I might get beat up for this,but if it was up to me killing a jake or not taking a bird the whole year I guess I would just not take one.

I do.  I hunt places where I might only hear 1 bird a day and have to go over a mile to get to him.  That makes it a trophy for me.

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Late season, look out jakes. Normally I don't. But i will tag a jake before I eat a tag samich. I really like fried turkey.

Why not? Its called turkey hunting.....you (at least I) go to the woods to kill a turkey!!!  Television has skewed the minds of hunters in all disciplnes..... To my knowledge, even though it is limited, there is no biological reason to let a jake live.  I believe their survival rate is about 50% (this may be for all turkeys), and thats survival....no guarantee if he does survive that next year he will be within a country mile of where you let him walk!!  A bird in hand is better than two in the bush!!!

Done it a time or two, my first bird was a jake. I like to shoot gobblers these days myself but not going to look down on anyone else if they want a jake. Or bearded hen for that matter (legal in my state).

Quote from: lumberjack on March 12, 2013, 12:06:05 PM
Why not? Its called turkey hunting.....you (at least I) go to the woods to kill a turkey!!!  Television has skewed the minds of hunters in all disciplnes..... To my knowledge, even though it is limited, there is no biological reason to let a jake live.  I believe their survival rate is about 50% (this may be for all turkeys), and thats survival....no guarantee if he does survive that next year he will be within a country mile of where you let him walk!!  A bird in hand is better than two in the bush!!!

Recent studies conducted in Mississippi on public land have indicated that a Jake has a 93% chance of survival to its second year of life where they are protected.

There are a myriad of reasons of reasons not to shoot jakes; the most popular and justified reason being that they are young, naive, and easy to harvest.

I hunt for the challenge of pursuing mature game and harvesting it consistently in a variety of different environmental conditions and geographic locations.

Perhaps this is judgmental, but, if you're a veteran of the sport and you're still killing jakes, I guess I just assume you have a learning disability. Jmho ;)

I would just rather let him walk and give a kid or someone else that never killed one the thrill, I get what some of you are saying and I am not going to look down on the ones that do but just in my home state we can take 5 turkeys and I can take 3 in mississippi also. Witch is only 1 mile from my back door to the state line so I hunt there also. So for me if I get 4-5 the rest is a bonus anyway.. and in mississippi its illegal to shoot a jake anyway

I go to kill long beards. I will not think less of anyone who choose to kill a jake.

Last Jake I killed was probably 30 years ago.  But if someone wants to punch a tag on one, knock yourself out

I won't shoot a jake that doesn't gobble and strut, but if he can gobble or especially if he has a full fan - I give him lead poisoning.

I've killed a couple, the first few were on purpose when I was a kid, and I've killed 2 more on accident. If you kill enough birds, mistakes happen, but I don't shoot jakes on purpose anymore.

Shot a gobbling jake my first year, didn't know enough to tell a difference in his weird choked off gobble and was still pumped as could be.

Now I always eat what I kill but I don't hunt turkeys for the 6lbs of breasts meat it yeilds..

If I can help it I try not to shoot birds I suspect to be 2yr olds, not that I pass on Toms that come in but when I'm picking where to hunt in the morning I try and focus where I've scouted and found Mature birds. I only get 2 tags a spring in NY and there's so many Tom I'd hate to be done in two days after waiting all year.

If they Gobble and Strut I will give a youth hunter the choice to shoot if it makes them happy, alot of the time they say "no, I want a Slammer!' and we just watch the show.

I don't in the spring but they are fair game for Cutter and I in the fall.

Quote from: Daman on March 12, 2013, 01:50:13 PM
I won't shoot a jake that doesn't gobble and strut, but if he can gobble or especially if he has a full fan - I give him lead poisoning.

heck yeah.  i shot a superjake last year.  first one i'd shot in a long while.

Quote from: ziggy on March 12, 2013, 03:27:57 PM

Quote from: Daman on March 12, 2013, 01:50:13 PM
I won't shoot a jake that doesn't gobble and strut, but if he can gobble or especially if he has a full fan - I give him lead poisoning.

heck yeah.  i shot a superjake last year.  first one i'd shot in a long while.

My first bird was a superjake, weighed 17 lbs and had a fairly thick (for a jake) 5.5" beard

Just doesnt do anything for me....

I'd rather wait and know he'll be back next year.

I don't kill jakes but they are legal so go for it. I want to put my tags on gobblers with spurs. Just my .02. To each their own.

NO I do not.But do not think i'm any better than someone who will. If its legal and suits you then its your tag,go for it.I do encourage first time hunters or people who have taken very few birds to shoot first legal bird tho.

I just hope tv doesnt turn turkey hunting what deer hunting has become.You know the "I only shoot 4 yr old gobblers or nothing so they can reach their potential"types.If its 2 its through in my book!!!

Quote from: jakesdad on March 12, 2013, 05:17:17 PM
NO I do not.But do not think I'm any better than someone who will. If its legal and suits you then its your tag,go for it.I do encourage first time hunters or people who have taken very few birds to shoot first legal bird tho.

I just hope TV doesn't turn turkey hunting what deer hunting has become.You know the "I only shoot 4 yr old gobblers or nothing so they can reach their potential"types.If its 2 its through in my book!!!

From the posts on this forum, I'm afraid TV already has!!

I don't know a whole lot, but a 93% survival rate for anything in the wild sounds a little high.  Many of us aren't even right 93% of the time.  Don't believe me, ask your wife, she'll tell you how often you're right!!  You have to watch believing everything you read too, as my pappy would say, paper lays still and you can right anything on it..  I've read a few studies too, and one report discussed how jakes leave their home territory and the jakes you have this spring may not even be around for you to hunt next spring.  Is it true, who knows?  So far TV hasn't shown how you could tell the difference between individual birds, but when they do they'll have names for them too.. 

My opinion, if it has a beard and tail feathers, have at it!!  A trophy is in the eye of the beholder.  I'm not one to impose my beliefs on others.  This is what is ruining the deer hunters and their hunting.   For some reason hunters that don't hold the popular belief, as in this case the killing of a jake, some of you act like they're second class citizens.  Why?  Because they enjoy killing a legal bird that they called up, that they love to eat?  Would it be fine if the thread starter would have worded this by saying "If you only had one day to hunt all season, would you kill a jake?"  Would that have made any difference?  Many of you will still say "NO."   Good for you.  If you enjoy doing that I am fine with it.  It's your choice.  Just don't expect any invites over to eat any "Jake" from those you've so graciously criticized for being hunters who still enjoy the smell of gunpowder on a cool April morning, or the sound of breast frying in the skillet on a sunday afternoon. 

Perhaps in time turkey hunting will get to the point when everyone is trying to "Field Judge" their spurs prior to pulling the trigger, or trying to tally up the score to make sure it meets club standards.  Or maybe they'll have to wait until old hairy head or club foot comes in, as they've watched him grow for three years, etc.   I hope I'm no longer around when and if it does, but if I am, count me out, I'm not afraid to stretch a jake's neck in the spring, nor a hen's in the fall.  I've even been known to kill a spike in bow season too.  Guess I'm just not grown up yet, or perhaps I'm slow learner too.  Probably both.  At least I'm not alone!!

I choose not to shoot jakes,but my pickiness stops there.I choose also not to shoot small bucks,not because I want to watch Ol' Mossy Horns grow to be 5 or 6 yrs old,its just i've gotten to lazy to drag any deer out of the timber!!If i'm draggin its gonna be something at least worthy of a euro mount(in my eyes,nobody elses).I really wish hunting could go back to how it used to be....people happy for others when they were successful not demeaning because it didnt meet TV credentials!

Jakesdad, I couldn't agree with you more. 
And I know what you mean about the "Lazy" part.  When my wife informed me she didn't cut up deer meat, and I'm not living with my mother, well that really put the damper on my killing..  LOL...  Should have done a background check on her first!!  Hahahaa...

I've killed two before. The first one on purpose because it had two beards, the second one on accident. Anymore, I let them walk. I've got nothing against anybody else shooting them, there are enough mature birds around for me to find. If he puts on a good show for you and makes an exciting hunt, who cares what his score is.

When I'm Hunting with my dog They are fair game. Breaking up a flock of gobblers in the fall and calling them back is just to much fun.  It's a little different  calling to them in the fall then in the spring, a different language so to speak. But like I said to much fun.

Quote from: wvcurlytop on March 12, 2013, 06:45:48 PM

Quote from: jakesdad on March 12, 2013, 05:17:17 PM
NO I do not.But do not think I'm any better than someone who will. If its legal and suits you then its your tag,go for it.I do encourage first time hunters or people who have taken very few birds to shoot first legal bird tho.

I just hope TV doesn't turn turkey hunting what deer hunting has become.You know the "I only shoot 4 yr old gobblers or nothing so they can reach their potential"types.If its 2 its through in my book!!!

From the posts on this forum, I'm afraid TV already has!!

I don't know a whole lot, but a 93% survival rate for anything in the wild sounds a little high.  Many of us aren't even right 93% of the time.  Don't believe me, ask your wife, she'll tell you how often you're right!!  You have to watch believing everything you read too, as my pappy would say, paper lays still and you can right anything on it..  I've read a few studies too, and one report discussed how jakes leave their home territory and the jakes you have this spring may not even be around for you to hunt next spring.  Is it true, who knows?  So far TV hasn't shown how you could tell the difference between individual birds, but when they do they'll have names for them too.. 

My opinion, if it has a beard and tail feathers, have at it!!  A trophy is in the eye of the beholder.  I'm not one to impose my beliefs on others.  This is what is ruining the deer hunters and their hunting.   For some reason hunters that don't hold the popular belief, as in this case the killing of a jake, some of you act like they're second class citizens.  Why?  Because they enjoy killing a legal bird that they called up, that they love to eat?  Would it be fine if the thread starter would have worded this by saying "If you only had one day to hunt all season, would you kill a jake?"  Would that have made any difference?  Many of you will still say "NO."   Good for you.  If you enjoy doing that I am fine with it.  It's your choice.  Just don't expect any invites over to eat any "Jake" from those you've so graciously criticized for being hunters who still enjoy the smell of gunpowder on a cool April morning, or the sound of breast frying in the skillet on a sunday afternoon. 

Perhaps in time turkey hunting will get to the point when everyone is trying to "Field Judge" their spurs prior to pulling the trigger, or trying to tally up the score to make sure it meets club standards.  Or maybe they'll have to wait until old hairy head or club foot comes in, as they've watched him grow for three years, etc.   I hope I'm no longer around when and if it does, but if I am, count me out, I'm not afraid to stretch a jake's neck in the spring, nor a hen's in the fall.  I've even been known to kill a spike in bow season too.  Guess I'm just not grown up yet, or perhaps I'm slow learner too.  Probably both.  At least I'm not alone!!

Well said.

Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on March 12, 2013, 10:13:44 AM
Absolutely not.

Don't understand why anyone other than a novice or newbie would.

Do you shoot longbeards that come running into your decoys? Some of the easiest hunts i've ever had were fired up longbeards that really took no skill to kill. To this day my most memorable hunt was a hard earned bird that ended up being a stubby beard.

I've shot two in my life, my first bird which took me 4 seasons to get so any male bird was going down and my third bird.  Luckily since then all toms but then again I've never really seen to many jakes while hunting so can't choot em if you don't see em.  I've seen my dad and good friends kill jakes or super jakes where I could have pulled the trigger to double up with them but I just left my gun on my lap and enjoyed the show.  For me ill never say never again but would rather watch someone else kill em if they want to for their first bird or if they are a novice.  I will say this though, jakes can put on a hell of a show gobblin, strutting fighting and what not.  Two years ago I watched 20 jakes for 45 min in South Dakota and I wish I had a video camera to record it all, it was an enjoyable and informative 45 min.  If its legal shoot em if you want to and don't worry about what someone else might think or say. 

I have shot one in 37 years ,when i started my 3 boy's there first turkey were Jake's, then after that they could pick out there turkey's and pass on what ever they wanted, eating a tag is not that big of a deal  to me .i can wait on that long beard ,with age comes the different out look on hunting and knowing you don't have to kill ever turkey that walk close to you sometimes it nice to watch them .i sat over the last 4 years and got tons of video of turkeys while hunting.

Quote from: wvcurlytop on March 12, 2013, 06:45:48 PM

Quote from: jakesdad on March 12, 2013, 05:17:17 PM
NO I do not.But do not think I'm any better than someone who will. If its legal and suits you then its your tag,go for it.I do encourage first time hunters or people who have taken very few birds to shoot first legal bird tho.

I just hope TV doesn't turn turkey hunting what deer hunting has become.You know the "I only shoot 4 yr old gobblers or nothing so they can reach their potential"types.If its 2 its through in my book!!!

From the posts on this forum, I'm afraid TV already has!!

I don't know a whole lot, but a 93% survival rate for anything in the wild sounds a little high.  Many of us aren't even right 93% of the time.  Don't believe me, ask your wife, she'll tell you how often you're right!!  You have to watch believing everything you read too, as my pappy would say, paper lays still and you can right anything on it..  I've read a few studies too, and one report discussed how jakes leave their home territory and the jakes you have this spring may not even be around for you to hunt next spring.  Is it true, who knows?  So far TV hasn't shown how you could tell the difference between individual birds, but when they do they'll have names for them too.. 

My opinion, if it has a beard and tail feathers, have at it!!  A trophy is in the eye of the beholder.  I'm not one to impose my beliefs on others.  This is what is ruining the deer hunters and their hunting.   For some reason hunters that don't hold the popular belief, as in this case the killing of a jake, some of you act like they're second class citizens.  Why?  Because they enjoy killing a legal bird that they called up, that they love to eat?  Would it be fine if the thread starter would have worded this by saying "If you only had one day to hunt all season, would you kill a jake?"  Would that have made any difference?  Many of you will still say "NO."   Good for you.  If you enjoy doing that I am fine with it.  It's your choice.  Just don't expect any invites over to eat any "Jake" from those you've so graciously criticized for being hunters who still enjoy the smell of gunpowder on a cool April morning, or the sound of breast frying in the skillet on a sunday afternoon. 

Perhaps in time turkey hunting will get to the point when everyone is trying to "Field Judge" their spurs prior to pulling the trigger, or trying to tally up the score to make sure it meets club standards.  Or maybe they'll have to wait until old hairy head or club foot comes in, as they've watched him grow for three years, etc.   I hope I'm no longer around when and if it does, but if I am, count me out, I'm not afraid to stretch a jake's neck in the spring, nor a hen's in the fall.  I've even been known to kill a spike in bow season too.  Guess I'm just not grown up yet, or perhaps I'm slow learner too.  Probably both.  At least I'm not alone!!

:z-winnersmiley:

wvcurlytop  we need to get together!!! Well said!!!!!

When I started out I lived by the phrase "if he cries he dies". Killed 3-4 jakes in my first few years but not since. I love big hooks to much to kill jakes now.

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I don't, but its illegal in MS and that's where I do most of my hunting. I'm happy for anyone who's happy with whatever they legally harvest. There is nothing wrong with shooting any legal turkey or deer. I get bothered when folks apologize for killing a buck that's not a 150. If a 1.5 year old buck makes you happy I'll celebrate with you and if you critique something I kill I'll never hunt with you again. I follow the rules at whatever club I hunt and try to only harvest nice buck, but sometimes I hunt public land near the house and will kill the first legal thing I see. Many of the little deer I've killed in the marsh came harder then some of the nice deer killed on private ground. As I type this I'm thinking I might want a jake fan and might roll one in LA in a couple weeks, or not, but if I do I'll tote it out with a grin from ear to ear.

No, and I do not allow anyone who hunts my property to shoot one. Only exception is a child who has never killed a turkey. My thoughts are all the jakes I see running around are more long beard's I can play with the next year or so.

I only shoot 4 year old birds! Lol
I like hunting longbeards, but I'm mostly a weekend hunter and if it gets late season and a jake comes in, he usually in trouble. I have a decent lease but its a 2 bird county and we have a 3 bird limit in Oklahoma. I take what I can get. Usually have 8 days in the spring season to hunt. Depending on the weather it maybe closer to 4 days.

Quote from: QuickDraw on March 12, 2013, 11:02:23 PM
I only shoot 4 year old birds! Lol
I like hunting longbeards, but I'm mostly a weekend hunter and if it gets late season and a jake comes in, he usually in trouble. I have a decent lease but its a 2 bird county and we have a 3 bird limit in Oklahoma. I take what I can get. Usually have 8 days in the spring season to hunt. Depending on the weather it maybe closer to 4 days.

some of my biggest turkey's came on really bad weather days,3 years ago my 1 sons shot one then 20 minutes later my oldest shot one and it rained so hard you could only see out 15 yards .2 years ago first day of youth season my youngest shot his long beard in a storm so bad i had to move the blind because of the river coming  down the hill and in the blind was filling up not really but we had a river almost as wide as the blind .

heres a very wet bird
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll78/firstflight111/0416110856.jpg)

Jakes should walk unless you just haven't killed very many turkeys, but I certainly wouldn't criticize anyone for pulling the trigger.  This is the same age old argument about killing small bucks.  If that is what a hunter wants to do, then who are we to say they shouldn't.  We can't all kill 12 inch long bearded gobblers and 150 inch plus bucks.  To each his own!

I like almost every reply I've got so far. Thanks for sharing your opinion.   :happy0064:

I am not judging anyone that takes a Jake. It's your tag and I feel it's between you and the bird.

But as far as I go, I am in this hunt for what it provides. I love being close to nature and watching the woods wake up. I love the sound of the gobbler and especially when it starts getting closer. The smell of the woods in early morning make me want to do it more and if I shot the first two redheads I seen, I'd miss a lot of enjoyment. I'm in love with the hunt..... but not the kill. I'm the same way with deer.

Last spring I killed a nice respectable Tom on my second morning out with my 835.  He came running to my calls about an hour after fly down. I had watched him hit the ground but he was just hanging in the area under his roost tree, about 150 yards away and I called very sparingly. All of a sudden he decided he had heard enough and came on a rope.

After that hunt I decided I would hunt with my bow for the rest of the season and even though I didn't harvest another Tom, I had a ball doing it. This spring I'm only hunting them with my bow.

My partners at camp think I'm crazy because I refuse to kill another Jake. But even though I enjoy eating some turkey off my grill, I'm not a meat hunter so I won't kill them.

So please...... keep on replying...... I love the fact that everyone on this site seems to be able to share their thoughts without a lot of arguing.

I think we all like going after the mature gobbler but I have no problem taking a jake if that's what I can get. I'm limited to a very small area that I can turkey hunt so it's challenging and if it's not happening with the big boys and my options are jake or nothing...jake down.

I enjoy the meat and hunting experience from what I kill more than the pictures and mounts hanging on the wall. It's really annoying that so many ppl get caught up in getting the biggest trophy they can that they look down on and belittle the person who takes the jakes/spikes/does. Did you ever think that someone might just enjoy being in the spring woods and not care if they take a jake or tom? Maybe they just enjoy the sweet taste of fried turkey?

To say someone has a learning disability or is an inferior hunter b/c they take jakes?! I would never hunt with someone that has this mentality.

BTW I'm fairly new to the sport (4th season) and I've only taken one turkey and it was a big 'ole tom  :boon:

My first spring turkey was a big strutting jake but I have passed on many since.   I like loudmouth birds and thats one more I could have a chance on next season.   I think the deer "headhunter"  mentality can be a little annoying but its not all bad.   It just means people are getting smarter about management including habitat management which benefits all wildlife.  I think its a good practice to let the youngun's grow up.   Its led to bigger deer, bass and turkeys.   Also you have to admit that most of us get a little chuckle when you see pics of grown men with their killer faces holding up their jake or spike on the tailgate.. my 2cents

Quote from: dirt road ninja on March 12, 2013, 10:50:19 PM
I don't, but its illegal in MS and that's where I do most of my hunting. I'm happy for anyone who's happy with whatever they legally harvest. There is nothing wrong with shooting any legal turkey or deer. I get bothered when folks apologize for killing a buck that's not a 150. If a 1.5 year old buck makes you happy I'll celebrate with you and if you critique something I kill I'll never hunt with you again. I follow the rules at whatever club I hunt and try to only harvest nice buck, but sometimes I hunt public land near the house and will kill the first legal thing I see. Many of the little deer I've killed in the marsh came harder then some of the nice deer killed on private ground. As I type this I'm thinking I might want a jake fan and might roll one in LA in a couple weeks, or not, but if I do I'll tote it out with a grin from ear to ear.

.              Yep, this about sums me up

I've shot a couple. My first was a jake..well..kinda. He had a 6" beard. I let a couple go last year but had every intention of shooting one of the 4 that my buddy called in the last weekend of the season. I waiteed for him to shoot because he hadn't shot one in a couple of years. It just didn't work out for me when he shot though...he shot the only one I could see at the time and when the survivors came part of the way back, he could see them but I couldn't. I hunted an area that I had seen at least 7 jakes the previous year but we listened 4 or 5 days and never heard a bird. No idea what happened to them.

I don't shoot jakes, but have zero problem with anyone that does.  I killed several when I was a kid, both spring and fall.  Last spring on the second and last day of a quick out of state trip, a buddy and I called up 3 gobbling jakes.  He killed one and I watched the show.  I was as happy as he was, but chose not to shoot one of the other two. 

This is my first season, so, while I'm not PLANNING on killing a jake... I won't promise not to put a bead on one if he wanders my way.   Especially if he's the ONLY idiot in the woods dumb enough to come to my calls!

My first spring gobbler was a longbeard. I can't say I never killed a jake because I have. I took several when fairly new to the game. At this point though I prefer to wait for Mr. Longbeard. I have no problem with anyone who takes a jake. IMO it's up to the individual and who am I to condemn anybody as long as the hunt is legal and the game taken in a sporting manner.

I have killed some jakes in my day but I hung it up on them when I was younger, wouldn't matter anyway they aren't legal in Arkansas anyhow. I'm all for youth and new people killing them, or even people with limited time. Personally I want to wait for a 2 year old or better, thats what gets me going. I will work a jake if he wants to play though, never turn down a free show its a good chance to learn something new.

I don't mind one bit when a group of jakes comes near. Get to have called a male bird (or birds) into range, watch them, and still have a tag to go after a big boy.

I understand the mentality of wanting to hone your woodsmanship and focus in on mature harvests.  However, I personally never enter the woods with expectations of killing a particular caliber of animal.  I've certainly scouted particular bucks and tried like heck to get on them, but I've never for one hunt went into it thinking that I wouldn't consider harvesting another animal.  I've had hunts where I've passed numerous 2.5 year old deer or jakes.  I've also had hunts where I was tickled to take a jake.

The truth for me is that I just like being in the woods.  I like turkey hunting because to be successful you have to interact with the birds on their level.  I never want to get to the point where I see a small group of jakes run in and I dont get excited.  My worst fear is that hunting will be that way for my kids.  I have a three year old who already picks out "shooters" on the Outdoor Channel.  My wish for him is that he gets to enter the woods and hunt for a lifetime without ever having to be dissatisfied with an animal that he decides to pull the trigger on or draw back on.  There are many reasons not to shoot a jake if you don't want to, but machoism shouldn't be one of them.

Just my $.02, but I let the moment decide what I shoot.  I love long beards and curved hooks, but I'm indifferent when it comes to shooting a jake or letting it walk. 

Good luck to everyone this season!

I've been known to shoot a jake now and then. I'm a turkey hunter, I do it because I love it. I could care less about impressing anyone with beard or spur lengths. I do however, love a good action-packed hunt and sometimes jakes will give you that. For me, legal gobbler in range....BOOM!!

  I myself, and certain states call it ''Spring Gobbler Season"......I go by that..

Quote from: saltysenior on March 14, 2013, 08:58:42 PM

  I myself, and certain states call it ''Spring Gobbler Season"......I go by that..

Do you then only buy Gobbler calls or do you then go general and buy "turkey" calls?

It's according to how much hunting time during the season and what chances I have had during that season. In saying that, yes I have and do kill jakes, usually don't unless they work me up like a long beard does. Two of my most memorable hunts where jakes that had me like a 3yr old boss would have me. One a few years ago on public property last week of a 5 week season I spent 3hrs working this bird that gobbled like he was king of the mountain. I carried him the 2 mile hike outta the NF and considered it a trophy because this bird had worked me as hard as I worked him.

We are allowed 2 tags here in WV and at this point in my life, I will not turn down a Jake unless Ive already filled 1 tag on a Jake.  Jakes taste better than tag soup.  And its my opinion that most of the time, a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush.

I have taken Jakes in the past and may take one again in the future.I prefer to hunt gobblers.I have no problem passing up a jake though.So to answer your question . At this point in my life 'No 'I wont shoot a jake.

I have before.  I might again.  My buddy actually has a mounted jake tail that is one of my favorite tail displays.  To each his own.

Struck a bird late one morning, rattled the woods like a fool. Came from the same location and about the same time of day as some big birds I had killed in the area. Well it was a super jake. Strutted and gobbled like a full blown tom. He acted like a big boy so I treated him like a big boy.

Couple years ago I had a buddy who is a good bit older than me. I had tagged out earlier in the year and was at the farm doing some work. It was the last day of the season in the afternoon and I talked him into tagging along with me. Got set up on a ridge top in some thinned pines where the briars and new growth was a little thick for my taste, but I knew they would want to roost there. Thirty minutes before dark a bird cut my calls off. Couldn't see him for the vegetation and terrain features, but soon enough I heard him spit n drummin'. My buddy drew a bead and rolled the bird out. Ran up high fiving, hooping and hollering...turned out to be a jake. He sounded full grown and acted full grown, but I never saw him till he was dead. I'm not a jake killer by any means, but I will rememeber that hunt forever, Sometimes it's not all about the spurs, beard, or weight. What matters is the size of the memory.

Was fortunate in that my first bird was a nice tom, so I have never killed a jake.  I won't say I never will, and I have no problem with someone who does.

I might kill one every now and then. I try not too, though. I have no problem with anyone that does, or don't.

I'll whack a jake, just don't want to use one of my high end turkey shells to do it. :fud:

If a bird comes in gobbling strutting and acting like a big boy i will treat him like one and feed him the nitros doesnt matter to me if its a jake. between me and 2 friends we killed 3 mature birds all of which had beard rot 2 years ago, biggest one was 19lbs with 1.5 inch spurs all were close in weight and had spurs over one inch and beards around 2 to 3 inches long. Point being i really dont pay attention to beard lengths if it makes for a memorable hunt i take advantage of the opportunity.

Last season I let the biggest gobbler in my life walk when he stayed about 50yds away from me and strutted back & forth for 20 mins. For the rest of the season I hunted that bird hard and on the last day, I had a jake walk right in to wear I was and I laid him out. This was the first one that I had shot in probably 15yrs & the only reason why is b/c I wanted to have fresh wild turkey for the dad & daughter camp out the next month. They all taste the same so I don't have a problem with or without a person taking a jake. At the end of the day it is an individual choice that each hunter has to make.....

I can't really vote in the poll... I will pass jakes unless the season is going bad or I just want to kill one for the meat and to fill a tag. This year I plan to pass all jakes and my goal is to tag out with only longbeards. 2011 I killed my first bird, a jake, and the only one for that season. 2012 I killed 3 toms and 1 jake, which would have been 4 toms if I hadn't hesitated on a strutter because I wanted his head up for the shot... ended up shooting one of the jakes instead...

This year it will be hard not to shoot if I have a jake in range on opening morning. one of my goals is an opening morning bird. But I think I will pass it anyway, since my main goal is 4 longbeards for the season...

Fall season is a different story... bag limits by county and plenty of birds flocked up. I will shoot almost any bird in the fall but try to avoid poults. Hard to tell sometimes when you walk out on a group of them at 35 yards and start shooting... yep I killed 2 poults like that last fall, but hey it's meat in the freezer and more tender too.

Occasionally. It really depends on what kind of season I am having. And I agree with everyone who is saying that tv and the mature animals only crowd is going to kill our sport. People shouldn't forget why humans started hunting and that it is the background for all harvesting of any animal or fish.

My 14 yr old day daughter killed her first turkey, a JAKE, Saturday morning. 10 minutes after fly down.  She was very proud of her 'trophy'.  It was as exciting a morning hunt as I could have asked for her first time in the woods.  Birds gobbled on roost and came in gobbling and strutting.  She was a bit scared to shoot and let them get to 15 yrds. I personally have never killed a jake, but believe there's nothing wrong with letting a kid or a first-time hunter shoot one.  A 'trophy' is in the eyes of the beholder.

TV hasnt really influenced a lot of guys on here. Most were hunting before tv hunting got big. Heck TV is the reason there are so many spring turkey hunters. There were very few people that hunted turkeys here till the past 10 years or so. I dont shoot jakes. I killed one when I was 11 then killed one on accident and felt bad. There was him and a jake with 4 hens in a thick pine bottom. I had been staying with em all morning and finally got in a position to kill him. I heard him spit then seen a head pop up and kaboom. I shot the jake. The longbeard was behind him and I knew what I had done when I seen him go air born. Have no problems with someone else wanting to bust em though.

Yes I am. The farmer I hunt on in kansas,Doesn't turkey hunt. But he always wants a jake for frying.So It's normally the first bird I shoot every year.  He ownes 600acres that he has let me hunt for over 25 years,Has a real nice camper we stay in,And his wife makes the best strawberry shortcake I've ever ate, That she brings out every night after supper. Super nice people Try to pay them some thing every year for the use of the land and camper, water, electricity, but won't take a dime. Just wants a jake for frying.

Only if the season is not working out the way I like... Somtimes I may harvest a Jake as the season winds down.  :OGturkeyhead:

Quote from: turkey_slayer on March 19, 2013, 02:18:28 PM
then killed one on accident and felt bad. There was him and a jake with 4 hens in a thick pine bottom. I had been staying with em all morning and finally got in a position to kill him. I heard him spit then seen a head pop up and kaboom. I shot the jake. The longbeard was behind him and I knew what I had done when I seen him go air born. Have no problems with someone else wanting to bust em though.

These are the ones I don't understand. Sounds like a great hunt. You got the same hunt out of that Jake as you did the longbeard. The only difference between those was in beard length/spurs. But if thats what you're into..


**And I don't specifically mean turkey_slayer. People can shoot or hold out for whatever they want. I might shoot 1 jake for every 5 longbeards. It all depends on how exciting the hunt is.

If I hunted places with high numbers of gobblers and opportunities to kill one where high, I wouldn't shoot a jake. More meat on an older bird..not to mention I'd rather kill one with long beard and long spurs. However, I don't hunt those kinda places anymore. To me hunting those kinda places is like for some..people killing jakes.

I've been hunting only public land for over 30yrs now and some places killing a gobbler of any kind can be very hard even when hunting just about everyday of the season. 

So, since I like fried turkey breast..no gobbler is safe around me no matter if it gobbles, struts or not. If a jake is the only thing between me and not having some fried turkey I will definitely kill it if I can..just one though and then save my tags for bigger birds... and I don't mind if other people don't shoot them.

My son and I have only killed 1 turkey each in our 4 seasons turkey hunting. His was a jake and mine was a 9-1/2" two year old. We get 2 tags each and the area we hunt has 3 lottery weekends and a 7 day season so yes I would shoot one near the last day if I did not kill any for the season yet but if I have a kill for the season I would pass on him.


>>>-----8up----->

Quote from: CntrlPA on March 20, 2013, 11:01:55 AM

Quote from: turkey_slayer on March 19, 2013, 02:18:28 PM
then killed one on accident and felt bad. There was him and a jake with 4 hens in a thick pine bottom. I had been staying with em all morning and finally got in a position to kill him. I heard him spit then seen a head pop up and kaboom. I shot the jake. The longbeard was behind him and I knew what I had done when I seen him go air born. Have no problems with someone else wanting to bust em though.

These are the ones I don't understand. Sounds like a great hunt. You got the same hunt out of that Jake as you did the longbeard. The only difference between those was in beard length/spurs. But if thats what you're into..


**And I don't specifically mean turkey_slayer. People can shoot or hold out for whatever they want. I might shoot 1 jake for every 5 longbeards. It all depends on how exciting the hunt is.

I see what your saying but I can't help I feel bad when I shoot one. They just don't do anything for me. Same way with a buck. If he's not big I don't want him. But I love to shoot does with my bow. It's all about what gives me a rush and a Jake and young buck nor does, unless its with a bow, just doesn't do it for me.

Thank you to everyone that participated in the poll and gave your honest answers.   :icon_thumright:

As you can see it was almost even. Forty four hunters said they don't shoot them.  Thirty Eight said they do.   :wav:

As I said before, I do not care if you do or not and I think it's your tag, your hunting area and your choice.

Thank you.... all my hunting brothers and sisters. Good luck with your season this year!   :funnyturkey:

I have shot two jakes. One because I had just returned form Afghanistan on the last day of the season. My good buddy from KY said go get you a license and meet me at the house. With only about 3 hours to hunt no longbeards showed and I was happy to have a jake. Second time was hunting with my son. Called in the jake on a fairly windy day. That one went home with us. Probably won't take any more unless it's last weekend and haven't killed a bird.

Quote from: yankeedeerslayer on March 27, 2013, 03:06:10 PM
I have shot two jakes. One because I had just returned form Afghanistan on the last day of the season. My good buddy from KY said go get you a license and meet me at the house. With only about 3 hours to hunt no longbeards showed and I was happy to have a jake. Second time was hunting with my son. Called in the jake on a fairly windy day. That one went home with us. Probably won't take any more unless it's last weekend and haven't killed a bird.

God bless you for your service!  :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an

Usually not, out of the last 20 or so birds I've killed I think 2 were jakes.

I had never killed one until 3 yes ago, something happened to the turkey population in my area a few yes ago and I went 4 years without killing a bird, I kill the first legal bird now

Yep.

Leave those poor, defenseless, naive baby turkeys alone.

Shoot the Gobblaz.

Yes I have killed them in my first few years of turkey hunting.  I however do not shoot them any more.  I have no problem if anybody shoots them or not, if you buy a license and just want a bird have at it, if you want a longbeard then pass them up-  up to you personally.  Good luck to all.   

I've seen this happen twice in the last 3 years...one year I will see and pass up 8 or 9 different jakes and the next year.....you can't even hear a bird. I blamed it on a die-off last year. No idea if there was (nobody here seems to have heard of one) but we not only saw 8 or 9 jakes the previous year but also saw 4 mature birds. I guess we listened or hunted about 8 or 9 days in those spots and never heard a bird and could not find a single track either.
This year...I'm hunting a spot that has always held birds and haven't heard one but it has been windy a bunch. Very possible that they are just a bit out of hearing range. Hogs invaded it too. No idea if or how they impact turkeys.

I started turkey hunting last spring. Did not get a shot in the limited times I had to hunt (bow-hunted only), but I am hooked. Hoping for different results this year!

I appreciate the replies from those who state they do not look down or pass judgment on those who take jakes. Like beauty, a trophy is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

Where I will do the majority of my hunting this year (private land with limited pressure), I know there are several mature birds. I have also scouted several "super jakes", whose body size is quite comparable to the mature toms. I cannot say for sure how I am going to react when that first legal bird gets in range of my Mossberg (you're darn right I'm using a shotgun this year!), but I sure hope to find out.

One thing that gets increasingly frustrating is some of the mentality from the hunting shows that seems to spill over to us normal people. Watching a professional hunter on closed, private land that is manged specifically for game make comments like, "I had nice 2-1/2 year old 8 point come in to my rattling but he is not the deer we are looking for. We are looking for that mature, big-bodied, blah, blah, blah..."; and then seeing or hearing that mentality in a hunter like me is a sad state of affairs, in my opinion. The overwhelming majority of us have full-time jobs (other than hunting), families, and other pursuits, obligations, and responsibilities. Our time afield can be limited and precious, and we treat it as such. Consequently, any game animal taken legally and ethically using fair chase methods needs to be respected by fellow hunters. If you thing it is a trophy, then it is! And I have a feeling if I take one of those jakes this spring as my first bird, that uneven tail fan is still going up!

Quote from: MEbeardlover on April 03, 2013, 05:37:14 AM
I started turkey hunting last spring. Did not get a shot in the limited times I had to hunt (bow-hunted only), but I am hooked. Hoping for different results this year!

I appreciate the replies from those who state they do not look down or pass judgment on those who take jakes. Like beauty, a trophy is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

Where I will do the majority of my hunting this year (private land with limited pressure), I know there are several mature birds. I have also scouted several "super jakes", whose body size is quite comparable to the mature toms. I cannot say for sure how I am going to react when that first legal bird gets in range of my Mossberg (you're darn right I'm using a shotgun this year!), but I sure hope to find out.

One thing that gets increasingly frustrating is some of the mentality from the hunting shows that seems to spill over to us normal people. Watching a professional hunter on closed, private land that is manged specifically for game make comments like, "I had nice 2-1/2 year old 8 point come in to my rattling but he is not the deer we are looking for. We are looking for that mature, big-bodied, blah, blah, blah..."; and then seeing or hearing that mentality in a hunter like me is a sad state of affairs, in my opinion. The overwhelming majority of us have full-time jobs (other than hunting), families, and other pursuits, obligations, and responsibilities. Our time afield can be limited and precious, and we treat it as such. Consequently, any game animal taken legally and ethically using fair chase methods needs to be respected by fellow hunters. If you thing it is a trophy, then it is! And I have a feeling if I take one of those jakes this spring as my first bird, that uneven tail fan is still going up!

Well stated!

I wish you luck on your first bird. I remember my first well and he was a jake shot at 7 yards with a 20 gauge single shot.

Quote from: MEbeardlover on April 03, 2013, 05:37:14 AM
I started turkey hunting last spring. Did not get a shot in the limited times I had to hunt (bow-hunted only), but I am hooked. Hoping for different results this year!

I appreciate the replies from those who state they do not look down or pass judgment on those who take jakes. Like beauty, a trophy is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

Where I will do the majority of my hunting this year (private land with limited pressure), I know there are several mature birds. I have also scouted several "super jakes", whose body size is quite comparable to the mature toms. I cannot say for sure how I am going to react when that first legal bird gets in range of my Mossberg (you're darn right I'm using a shotgun this year!), but I sure hope to find out.

One thing that gets increasingly frustrating is some of the mentality from the hunting shows that seems to spill over to us normal people. Watching a professional hunter on closed, private land that is manged specifically for game make comments like, "I had nice 2-1/2 year old 8 point come in to my rattling but he is not the deer we are looking for. We are looking for that mature, big-bodied, blah, blah, blah..."; and then seeing or hearing that mentality in a hunter like me is a sad state of affairs, in my opinion. The overwhelming majority of us have full-time jobs (other than hunting), families, and other pursuits, obligations, and responsibilities. Our time afield can be limited and precious, and we treat it as such. Consequently, any game animal taken legally and ethically using fair chase methods needs to be respected by fellow hunters. If you thing it is a trophy, then it is! And I have a feeling if I take one of those jakes this spring as my first bird, that uneven tail fan is still going up!

Very well said MEbeardlover, best of luck on your first bird, be it jake or tom. 

My husband introduced me to turkey hunting just last year.. (btw I am hooked) I remember how he aggravated me the morning of my first hunt, continuing to ask me time and time again if I was gonna kill a Jake! My first bird was a longbeard.. ;) and I still had a tag to fill.. when on a hunt three jakes come in and we waited forever for them to leave.. lol we'd think they was leaving and they'd just come back.. They done that over and over,  and my last tag filled was another longbeard =) so I haven't killed a Jake.. And don't really plan to, but who knows bc we do love to eat wild turkey

I was lucky enough to kill a long spurred bird as my first turkey. Since then (6 seasons?) I have killed only one jake. It was probably the most exciting hunt I've ever had. I certainly prefer a longbeard if given the choice, but with it being my senior year, and endless projects being due and extracurriculars going on, I will not hesitate to shoot a jake this year if the hunt is exciting. Life is whatever you make of it! I am after the thrill of the hunt.