Just looking for your thoughts on this subject:
I myself won't shoot one even though it's legal nor do i throw lead at jakes. Heck, i want a show most of all. Turkey in the freezer is only icing on the cake.
I've been told that bearded hens are some of the best mothers do to the slight testosterone imballance. Those bearded hens are also sitting now too. By no means am I rediculing anyone for doing so.
bearded hens are still hens capable of nesting. I do not shoot bearded hens in the spring but they are fair game in the fall
to each there own trophy...me personally just dont wana use my tag on a hen
I wouldn't shoot one, if someone else feels like they want to decrease the number of egg-layers in their area that is their decision.
We can shoot hens in in the fall, but I've never understood why someone would want to, a dead hen in the fall isn't gonna lay eggs in the spring. But to each his own.
Not legal in Alabama, but I would not shoot one anyway. Our reg says gobblers with visable beards only. So not only is a bearded hen not legal game, but a beardless gobbler would also not be legal game. Now if you heard that bearded hen gobble, would that make her a legal bearded gobbler? ??? :z-dizzy:
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php?topic=33109
No in spring, maybe in the fall in times of high population density.
No killing hens bearded or not. I have had the opportunity. Would have made a nice trophy especially since I called her all the way to 5' from my barrel.
Have seen bearded hens before and only killed one and that was last fall. Had an eight inch beard. Will not kill another however since I have one. I am after those longbeards. Can't wait until next season.
In the fall I might. We let one go opening day of our spring season this year. Got her on video 15 yards from us while it was still real dim. I ended up getting my only tom of the year so far about 30 minutes later.
id pass need more birds around here.
Fall archery- yes
Spring Season - no
No hens anytime beard or not.
Bearded hens are legal here during the spring hunt. Myself I would give her a pass because it's breeding season. She would not however get the same pass during the fall season.
I took a guy several years ago that shot a bearded hen while we were hunting in the spring. After I cleaned her and pulled out several eggs from ready to lay all the way to pea size, I decided nobody hunting with me will kill a bearded hen in the spring. In the Fall it's fair game. We have too many hens and need some gone as it is. So if you want to kill a hen in the fall with me it's fair game.
TRKYHTR
Nope. Just seems, counter-productive??? I've had a few chances on em in the spring as well but always let em go. My first fall bird was a hen, and that was cool.. but I won't do that again either. It just wasn't the same feeling as stepping on a gobblers head.
I've never shot one, but like all other decisions in hunting, my opinion is this: if its legal, and ethical, and you want to do it, and it makes you happy, then have at it!
No. I have no desire to shoot a hen or jake for that matter.
Plus if you dont shoot them when they get breed all gthe baby gobblers will have double beards. I mean one beard on a hen plus one beard on the gobbler equals two right? :bike2:
I don't shoot jakes or hens.
Absolutely not. I don't turkey hunt in the fall, and there's absolutely no way I'm shooting one in the spring. Ever.
Shoot, I try not to shoot hen mallards and wood ducks I'm definitely not shooting a hen turkey I don't care what kinda rope she's rockin.
I had a buddy out one time and he asked me if he could shoot a bearded hen that we had in our setup. I told him he can but he'll have to wait 10-12 years til he's allowed to hunt again because that's how many turkeys he will have killed if he shoots that hen.
Quote from: turkeyfeathers on May 23, 2013, 09:45:46 AM
Just looking for your thoughts on this subject:
I myself won't shoot one even though it's legal nor do i throw lead at jakes. Heck, i want a show most of all. Turkey in the freezer is only icing on the cake.
I've been told that bearded hens are some of the best mothers do to the slight testosterone imballance. Those bearded hens are also sitting now too. By no means am I rediculing anyone for doing so.
Nope, passed on quite a few of them, as well as Jakes.
I killed one this year. Where I hunt there are way to many hens and this area doesn't get opened for a fall hunt very much. Way to many hens. We started the fall and winter season due to having way to many hens. Some won't agree and that is your opinion. A lot of people won't shoot a doe or hen at all but I feel that to have a good flock or herd you must have balance. I love to fall hunt and I don't take many fall gobblers because I like chasing them in the spring and if I killed all of the fall gobblers that I can legally kill during the fall hunt. The spring only hunters would whine about that and put an end to fall hunting and we will be over run by hens and have deseases popping up. During our winter season we can only shoot non bearded birds because they need thinned out due to over population. I think it only depends on how many bird you have and how many birds the area can support. I hunt on Fort Campbell, Ky and have seen over 300 birds in one cut cornfield and have seen 100 + in some areas many times during the winter. Due to the lack of hunting in some of these area and the limit on how many can safely hunt at one time on those limited amount of days. You do what you can when you can. If you think it is easy to call in and kill fall turkey on their terms. You should try it. I ain't taking about setting in a tree stand and shot one when it walks by your feeder nor hunting out of a blind on a cut cornfield, I'm talking about finding then ad calling them in on their terms. Try it sometime and you will come away with a great feeling of satifaction and will be a much better caller, you have to be a good caller and woodsman because you ain't chasing a love sick gobbler that has lost all of his senses due to nature and sits on a limb telling you where he is at so you can sneak to with a few yards of him, while strutting into your decoys while you sit in a blind. Bottom line opinion vary.
No no hens taken at any time spring or fall
I see bearded hens pretty regular and killed one several years ago that had a nine inch beard. So far the population there is holding it's own. Some states kill'em in the fall and still have huntable populations. So I'm not sure how much the killing of hens impact the population. I have no plans on shooting any in the future. But if I change my mind and it's legal, I hate it for her.
Bearded hens are pretty common out here. I have killed two myself...one in the fall and another in the spring. The spring hen was a matter of revenge as this particular bearded lady had screwed me up twice earlier in the season. Typically, I wouldn't even consider wasting a tag on her, but...it was the last hunt of the season...it was about to start pouring...the longbeard I thought I had roosted pulled a no show...and she came in with an attitude and started mauling my deke. I had no choice but to level her... :angel9:. I definitely wouldn't shoot another one in the spring...
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/WNYBowhunter/Turkey%20Hunting/dhhh-1.jpg)
I will not shoot a bearded hen in the spring. I would probably shoot one in the fall if I had not had any luck in the early part of the season. They are legal to shoot in NY during the spring. It's just not for me.
I want to shoot one that has a nice beard for a mount, then I would be done.
I have heard a couple of people speculate that bearded hens have a tendency to give birth to multi bearded Toms, not sure if there is any truth to that however if it were true I wouldnt want to shoot one so I'd have a better chance at a multi bearded Tom.
Besides its only allowed here in the fall and my deer hunting area is closed except on private land and I hunt public so I dont typically get the tag so its not a problem here
I might in the fall with my bow. Maybe.
I am always amused by those who say, "we have too many hens", when what they are really saying is, "it is tougher to kill a gobbler because there are so many hens". That, to me, is just part of the game. If it weren't, then one might as well just shoot them off the roost.
I did this year. It was the first bearded hen I ever seen while hunting. She carried a nice 7.25 inch beard. It's a one time deal for me. Now that I have one, I wouldn't do it again. But to all that shoot em, If its legal in your state and that's your choice, then have at it. Coons, yotes, foxes, grinners, skunks kill a lot more turkey population than a guy shooting a bearded hen.
In the spring, never. It is legal in NH to take one, but no gobble, and no bling equals a free pass from me.
We do have a week long fall shotgun season, but I have mixed feelings on shoting a hen, anytime.
My problem is it's usually the brood hen that comes marching in to the call, and those young birds in her care will rely on her to get through the winter, and I have no desire to shoot a 10 lb jenny or jake just to say I killed something.
However, if it's legal for you, and you want to pull the trigger, go for it. Just not so sure it's my cup of tea.
What amuses me is those who think fall hunting hurts the population (shooting hens).
Also just because I said we have to many hens someone would come to the conclusion that I have have problem killing gobblers.
FYI seen 15 gobblers and 18 fall hens with 2 fall gobblers die last year and 10 gobblers his year die , hens to be determined. All on public land (Ft. Campbell, KY). I only shot 6 gobblers in the past 2 springs and 1 fall gobbler. Don't think I have many problems killing gobblers.
I choose to carry soldiers and their family members hunting so they can enjoy a day in the woods and maybe I can pass along something to the younger guys. Nothing like watching a 10 year old shoot his first bird or a wife kill her first and watch how proud he is of her. I always try to get the women and children invovled.
I've only seen one bearded hen and was able to shoot it several years ago. I view it as another trophy. I have no problem shooting one or anybody else shooting one for that matter. I also will take a Jake if the opportunity is there.
Quote from: strutnrut on May 27, 2013, 07:45:40 AM
What amuses me is those who think fall hunting hurts the population (shooting hens).
Also just because I said we have to many hens someone would come to the conclusion that I have have problem killing gobblers.
FYI seen 15 gobblers and 18 fall hens with 2 fall gobblers die last year and 10 gobblers his year die , hens to be determined. All on public land (Ft. Campbell, KY). I only shot 6 gobblers in the past 2 springs and 1 fall gobbler. Don't think I have many problems killing gobblers.
I choose to carry soldiers and their family members hunting so they can enjoy a day in the woods and maybe I can pass along something to the younger guys. Nothing like watching a 10 year old shoot his first bird or a wife kill her first and watch how proud he is of her. I always try to get the women and children invovled.
Strutnrut, apparently you think my previous reply was an attempt to single you out. I can assure you it was not, and, in fact, had not even read your previous post when I posted mine. I was speaking in generic terms, because virtually every time one of these threads about the shooting of bearded hens crops up, there are always those that reply that there are "too many hens". I also hear that when talking to other hunters rather frequently. I still stand by my original statement in that most, not all, view hens as their competetition in the spring, and are not speaking from a biological standpoint when they lament the overpopulation of female turkeys.
I've said for years, on this forum, and others, that as long as it is legal, then whatever floats your boat is okay by me. My only argument with the taking of bearded hens, during spring seasons, is the fact that those regulations allowing the taking of them are not in place to encourage shooting a hen, but rather to avoid prosecuting those who make an honest mistake by shooting a bird with an obviously visible beard only to find it is indeed a hen, rather than a gobbler. It is no different than if you shot a deer with antlers, during a buck only season, and found it was actually a doe (supposedly, antlered does occasionally do exist). If one shoots a bearded hen intentionally, knowing it is a hen before pulling the trigger, I, somehow, just don't think that is right. That is just my opinion. In the fall, when legal, if killing a hen floats your boat, then all means go for it. I've killed a couple myself, in years past, and the last time I did so, my boat didn't float, so I haven't killed one for probably 10 or more years, and likely will not ever again.
I also agree that mother nature has much more effect on the population of wildlife in general, than do hunters. Right now, I'm thinking 2015 may not be a banner year for turkeys here in SW MO with very heavy rain forecast tonight into tomorrow, likely wiping out many nests and poults, if there are any already hatched.
Excellent reply Neill. I would have to imagine that the regulations regarding the taking of bearded hens in the spring is to indemnify someone from mistakenly taking a bearded hen. Clearly there are areas in the country where the turkey populations are very strong, unfortunately where I live they do not appear to be so I never shoot hens.
Strutnrut, I notice you say there is no correlation between turkey population and fall hunting where hens are allowed to be harvested, however, in one of your earlier posts you indicate an overabundance of hens where you hunt. You also admit that they dont have fall hunting there on a regular basis.
I havent seen anywhere on here where someone has stated that fall hunting of hens is the only reason for a decline of population, but instead they have indicated that it may be a piece of the pie that includes disease, predation, overhunting, etc.
Getting back on topic, I would have to say that the shooting of hens, in any season whether they have beards or not, depends on the health of the population of the area you hunt.
Quote from: strutnrut on May 27, 2013, 07:45:40 AM
What amuses me is those who think fall hunting hurts the population (shooting hens).
Also just because I said we have to many hens someone would come to the conclusion that I have have problem killing gobblers.
FYI seen 15 gobblers and 18 fall hens with 2 fall gobblers die last year and 10 gobblers his year die , hens to be determined. All on public land (Ft. Campbell, KY). I only shot 6 gobblers in the past 2 springs and 1 fall gobbler. Don't think I have many problems killing gobblers.
I choose to carry soldiers and their family members hunting so they can enjoy a day in the woods and maybe I can pass along something to the younger guys. Nothing like watching a 10 year old shoot his first bird or a wife kill her first and watch how proud he is of her. I always try to get the women and children invovled.
You can be as amused as you want, but the simple fact is that dead hens do not lay eggs. If it is legal and you want to do it, rock on, shoot some girls. But don't you dare cry later if your population seems low or they lower your limit.