I'm going to be taking a first time hunter in the woods next season. It's my sister-in-law. Would you let her shoot a Jake if it came through? I really like to shoot Tom's off the property, but if it keeps her interested in Turkey hunting, I may let her take whatever comes through. Thoughts?
Absolutely. If she wanted to shoot one I'd tell her to drop the hammer and be proud. And pictures would go in my album without shame.
Yes sir. You both will remember it forever.
100% her call if I were taking her. Keep that in mind, my wife turkey hunted very little but had no interest in shooting jakes so she didn't.
Keep it simple.
Agree, it's all about her decision ... shoot or don't shoot.... regardless you both will make some fun memories
Let her shoot if she wants too- will be a memory neither one will forget!!
Shoot first and ask questions later... :agreed:
First time hunter... definitely.
I guess I will repeat the others, her choice but shooting jakes is a personal preferance. My rule is that I dont shoot them, but if it was my grandchild and we could double, I wouldnt hesitate. Its the hunt and the memories for me. Plus, they are " bird veal", lol. Z
Yes! Get her involved and a taste for it. After that first one is in the book then she can be more selective.
if your property holds lots of birds and you have a management plan going, explain the situation to her, her choice. 1st hunt I would pass on jake, 2nd hunt and things are tough, shoot the jake. But like others have said, if you call a jake in and he plays like a Tom, shoot him like a Tom.
It is her hunt and, if legal, it should be her call.
100% would let her shoot a jake if you would like too.
I don't see why not.
Quote from: jhoward11 on September 12, 2022, 04:54:59 PM
I'm going to be taking a first time hunter in the woods next season. It's my sister-in-law. Would you let her shoot a Jake if it came through? I really like to shoot Tom's off the property, but if it keeps her interested in Turkey hunting, I may let her take whatever comes through. Thoughts?
This is a talk that you need to have with her. Ask her feelings and if she want to shoot a jake then welcome it with open arms. The smile on her face in the end will make it all worthwhile. Then to commemorate the hunt you have some great wing bones for making calls from. I did this for my daughter's boyfriend and he and I could not have been happier in the end. Awesome hunt and two wing bones made up by two different call makers.
I have no problem with a new hunter or new guest shooting a jake. Once you have a few birds under your belts then I will discourage it, but that is conversation that happens from the beginning.
I was told when I was introduced to turkey hunting, I could shoot jakes until I killed a gobbler but once you kill your first gobbler, you can never cross back over. I chose to kill a gobbler for my first bird and to this day have never taken a jake. IMO let her decide and Be Happy with her decision.
It's all about her experience. She should be allowed to follow the game laws and enjoy. Down the road once she gets her taste of Turkey hunting, the Jake/Tom talk can happen. But until then, Let her enjoy the experience. Just my thoughts...
I agree with Tom. You really don't need to stress the value of shooting a Tom over a Jake just yet. That discussion might be setting her up for unnecessary disappointment when only jakes show up and she decides to shoot. You risk making her feel like she did something wrong or inferior.
Yup. Heck I never tell anyone I am guiding not shoot a legal turkey. It's their call and their hunt. I am happy to see that everyone I hunt with seems to pass on jakes after their first one though.
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Shoot whatever makes you happy. In the grand scheme of things what difference does it make?
The HUNT is the most important not the length of beard and spurs. Jakes eat good
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Bang - dinner!
I hunt almost exclusively private ground that is controlled. I can pretty much decide how many turkeys are killed on it. It has a forest managemnet plan and it has been very successful. My management philosphy on gobbler hunting does not exclude the taking of Jakes. I will be going into my 52nd year of turkey hunting and I will not rule out shooting a Jake. I believe Jales are the future and should be given as many passes as possible; however, if any hunter with me wants to shoot one they can. I set a total kill number each year and a jake counts the same as a Gobbler. My criteria is if it gobbles and comes to the call it's fair game. I absolutely do not care if I kill a trophy bird and rarely even score one or even measure spurs. Now I do appreciate bagging a big old bird, but it's about outsmarting a seasoned opponent. I thiink we get too caught up in all this stuff. In the last 20+ years I have killed maybe 3 - 4 jakes and the rest all mature gobblers, and all the hunts were great. I am not in any way still on a bird count. I am in that stage of my life where the hunt means way more than the kill, jakes can and do provide a good hunt.....tell her aim well and kill clean, that's all the advice she needs.
Couldn't be said better eggshell. I told one member I killed a jake once that was the advance picket for a dominant bird. Got busted, everything went south and I killed him because he pissed me off. And I would do it again... :TooFunny: