Shooting Jakes ??

[Yoder409]

Just that.

Under what circumstances do you or would you shoot a jake ??

Never ??

If it's the last day or two and you have an unfilled tag ??

Whenever you see one ??

Something other ??

Just curious.........

[Yoder409]

Me ??

I can only think of one occasion, now, where I would shoot a jake. 

My younger son is a special needs individual.  I am TRYING to get him to try turkey hunting.  I won't push.  But, IF at some point he'd go.........and we could double........ I'd shoot regardless of whether they were jakes or longbeards.

Other than that......... never.

[Upfold99]

If I did it would be a total accident.  If my young son decides he wants to,  I would be ok with it.  We wouldn't make a habit out of it.

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[zelmo1]

Just for a memory. If my grandchild wanted to shoot one and I could double with them, I might do it. For myself, I don't need to shoot Jake's. I take a lot of young or new hunters. If they want to take one, I have no issue with it. Z

[Tom007]

When I started Turkey hunting long ago, I harvested a few Jake's. Birds were plentiful in my early years. Today, I let them pass. Population decreases and pressure in my areas led me to the decision to harvest gobblers only. This is just the way I hunt now, there is no right or wrong here IMO. Jake's can provide a thrilling hunt for those who choose to harvest them.....

[WAGinVA]

I think the advice given to me by a wise older deer hunter regarding deer also applies to turkeys.  "The first rule for shooting big bucks is don't shoot little bucks.'  Just substitute turkey.

[vt35mag]

Only when its a case of mistaken identity.

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[King Cobra]

I don't shoot jakes, unfortunately through the years have killed two or three by mistake.

[eggshell]

I want a bird to gobble and come to the call, that is my main criteria. When we had a two bird limit I would occasionally shoot a Jake if he met that criteria, but it wasn't something I done the first 10 days of season. It has been years since I shot one. I would always shoot an adult bird with my other tag. The only reason I exclude jakes is because they are the seed for the future, it has nothing to do with a bird's beard, spur, body size or trophy value. However, if I find myself at the end of season and I am having a hard time filling a tag I will shoot a nice big jake in a heartbeat, I intend to have a turkey to eat. We enjoy eating them and the meat has more value then the feathers, spurs and beards in my house. In the end I hunt turkeys for that interaction between me and him, a jake can fulfill that just as easy as a longbeard. I always tell people who hunt with me to shoot whatever they want. Biologically there's no science says passing on jakes makes more turkeys that I know of. All other game bird species we shoot adults and juveniles the same and their populations are not devastated by it, like pheasants. I have a few questions to ask on this as well. Why do we look at a Jake differently and pass on them. There has been a lot of discussion on scoring in that thread. Are we applying trophy standards to not shooting jakes, in other words are we embarrassed over shooting a jake. I admit they are a bit more gullible, but often a lot of fun. If a birds score is not important then why pass Jakes, other then leaving them for the future.

[Greg Massey]

This year Jakes are next year gobblers. But never say never... IMO

[ShortMagFan]

First turkey 30 years ago was a Jake. Have killed a few thru the years but any in the last 20 years were a case of mistaken identity (2 I can think of). I'd have to be on the verge of starvation to knowingly shoot a Jake today

[arkrem870]

Negative

[Gooserbat]

Personally I'm past it.  New hunters I get it, especially with a kid on a limited schedule but if there's a chance to hunt tomorrow let them walk.  Learn from the experience and enjoy your time afield. 

[Dtrkyman]

Shot one ever, he gobbled like a man at the end of season, was really thick and only saw his head, he got it, shocked he was a jake.

One other time I was just about to do the same, thick again late season, fortunately he jumped up on a log to get a better look.

I don't care if someone shoots Jake's, they just aren't the same experience most times!

[Gobbler-one]

Never! I view jakes as most do, as seed for next year. They are also very easily called into a setup and seem to have not fully developed their senses of apprehension and caution. Even if it's the last day of the season and I haven't killed a bird I wouldn't shoot a jake. My desire to fill a tag is not that important compared to the possibility of hearing that same jake blowing it out next season as a two year old. On property that I manage and control, a jake can be taken only if it's someone's first bird. As for others, it's a legal bird and I have no problem with anyone shooting one. It's an individual choice each has to make for themselves. If you're enjoying the hunt and are content to harvest a jake, there's no shame in doing so. It's just not for me or compatible with the goals for the property I manage.