I got on one single long beard all season. Can't complain cause I killed him but these jakes are everywhere. I know they had to have had a daddy but where in the world is he at. Maybe I'll find him in Missouri this coming week.
good luck
I hunted the panhandle of Texas and western Ok this past week and the number of jakes is just insane. With the rain, cooler weather, and all the jakes, the longbeards have reverted back to bachelor groups. Most acted like they weren't interested in breeding and were not responding well to calling. I managed to scratch out 4 good birds in 6 days of hunting, but only by watching the birds and setting up on their travel routes..basically an ambush.
Gman
I love seeing big bunches of jakes. Next years horny two year olds!
Good luck. Where I am hunting there are at least seven jakes that are still bunched together. If I don't see a long beard, I may have to reduce their numbers by 1.
I have seen a flock of 10 jakes and another 12+ (too many to keep counting). The big flock of 12+ was crazy ... we were walking back to our truck and a flock came running down a two track road towards us, they obviously went right around our truck.
Jakes all over place here on eastern shore of MD plus every gobbler is courting a couple hens too. Son got a longbeard this week that had 2 hens and 5 or 6 jakes with him. State said poor hatch last year so must have been all jakes.
Sounds like you fellas are going to have lots of of long beards to chase next year. I can almost hear all the gobbling.
First year of not seeing Jake while hunting.. had some before season on trail camera ...
Ditto, jake sightings way off this year...
Quote from: Tom007 on May 17, 2020, 05:40:52 AM
Ditto, jake sightings way off this year...
Same here. Usually always see or call in some and never seen a one.This whole season was odd compared to usual
Haven't seen one in the past two seasons...
My area seemed void of Jakes as well. Never seen a single one this year.
Didn't not see a single jake last year, but saw lots of them this year. Can't wait for next year! :turkey2:
Saw three this season.
Quote from: Gooserbat on April 20, 2013, 10:31:00 AM
I got on one single long beard all season. Can't complain cause I killed him but these jakes are everywhere. I know they had to have had a daddy but where in the world is he at. Maybe I'll find him in Missouri this coming week.
Sounds like your in for some awesome hunting next season GB.
Sounds like your in for some awesome hunting next season GB. Maybe ,maybe not. I doubt many have survived the past 7 years.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on May 17, 2020, 06:55:48 PM
Sounds like your in for some awesome hunting next season GB. Maybe ,maybe not. I doubt many have survived the past 7 years.
I myself don't think having alot of Jakes is a bad thing, some prospects for next season.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on May 17, 2020, 06:55:48 PM
Sounds like your in for some awesome hunting next season GB. Maybe ,maybe not. I doubt many have survived the past 7 years.
I've tried really hard to make sure they didn't survive that long.
I've probably seen 20 jakes this year - had a pair walk within 10 yards looking for the hen in my slate call, but safe to say that there are lots of them and if they've lasted this long they should be nice birds next year.
All I've run into are jakes, everyday has been jakes I think it's actually hurting the hunting for me. Tom's aren't talking on the ground much and how ruckus they were today I'd say they are doing some bullying. I saw 10 from the same tree this morning, 1 strutting with a hen then 6 came running to my call together and while they were chasing each other around 3 more slid in behind me quiet.
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Glad some are seeing them.
I hunted in Texas the second weekend it was open. Called up 37 jakes in three days. Ive never seen or heard so many turkeys in my life. One group of jakes had 11 in it.
The areas I hunted in maryland pennsylvania and ohio were over run with jakes. Saw more this year than I ever remember. I did tag out on longbeards and had some kids out and they killed longbeards but we had to work through the jakes.
This year was the least amount of gobbling on the ground I can remember. They were vocal on the limb most days but shut up at flydown. Lots of patterning and ambushing.
I have only called in 3 Jake's so far. Tom's made just starting to gobble on the roost now. Still haven't found one without hens but hopefully that changes soon. Everything I have found has nmbeen roosting right with the hens and hanging with them all day. This artic front we got screwed has this gas screwed up a bit
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Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on May 18, 2020, 12:45:11 PM
I hunted in Texas the second weekend it was open. Called up 37 jakes in three days. Ive never seen or heard so many turkeys in my life. One group of jakes had 11 in it.
Thats great news. What part of Texas? Our numbers in Sutton county have been down the last few years. I didnt get a chance to go this year but I'm hoping there was a good hatch.
Whole lot more than I have been seeing. Congratulations.
I shot a Jake in Ky this year. It was my first turkey. I was thrilled to get it as it was my third year of trying to get a turkey. I guess I will be more selective from now on, as I have broken my streak of bad luck. The turkey pot pie was delicious.
I used a Stoeger M3020 20 gauge, with Sparc red dot, and Browning 7&9 TSS shot.
I shot him at 25 yards.
Quote from: Lenhow on May 21, 2020, 07:58:00 AM
I shot a Jake in Ky this year. It was my first turkey. I was thrilled to get it as it was my third year of trying to get a turkey. I guess I will be more selective from now on, as I have broken my streak of bad luck. The turkey pot pie was delicious.
I used a Stoeger M3020 20 gauge, with Sparc red dot, and Browning 7&9 TSS shot.
I shot him at 25 yards.
Congratulations on your first bird!
Quote from: Lenhow on May 21, 2020, 07:58:00 AM
I shot a Jake in Ky this year. It was my first turkey. I was thrilled to get it as it was my third year of trying to get a turkey. I guess I will be more selective from now on, as I have broken my streak of bad luck. The turkey pot pie was delicious.
I used a Stoeger M3020 20 gauge, with Sparc red dot, and Browning 7&9 TSS shot.
I shot him at 25 yards.
Congrats, man!
No need to hedge or be apologetic about it. Whether you do or don't shoot jakes in the future, feel solidly good about your decision.
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Quote from: Lenhow on May 21, 2020, 07:58:00 AM
I shot a Jake in Ky this year. It was my first turkey. I was thrilled to get it as it was my third year of trying to get a turkey. I guess I will be more selective from now on, as I have broken my streak of bad luck. The turkey pot pie was delicious.
I used a Stoeger M3020 20 gauge, with Sparc red dot, and Browning 7&9 TSS shot.
I shot him at 25 yards.
That's great! Congrats on your fisrt turkey. As stated, no need to be picky or shamed. If it's a legal bird, go for it. I love wild turkey meat, and if a jake presents himself, I will shoot. Kinda like bass fishermen wanting to throw all the fish back. Whats the difference if I eat him when he's a jake vs 2 years old?
X2 - congrats and more turkeys to follow for sure.
I only heard one gobble all season in South FL and a Jake is the only legal bird I saw as well - kids loved the turkey soup out of his legs/thighs!
x3 They all taste the same.
Quote from: Tomfoolery on May 18, 2020, 08:02:10 PM
Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on May 18, 2020, 12:45:11 PM
I hunted in Texas the second weekend it was open. Called up 37 jakes in three days. Ive never seen or heard so many turkeys in my life. One group of jakes had 11 in it.
Thats great news. What part of Texas? Our numbers in Sutton county have been down the last few years. I didnt get a chance to go this year but I'm hoping there was a good hatch.
Sutton county.
Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on May 26, 2020, 12:45:06 PM
Quote from: Tomfoolery on May 18, 2020, 08:02:10 PM
Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on May 18, 2020, 12:45:11 PM
I hunted in Texas the second weekend it was open. Called up 37 jakes in three days. Ive never seen or heard so many turkeys in my life. One group of jakes had 11 in it.
Thats great news. What part of Texas? Our numbers in Sutton county have been down the last few years. I didnt get a chance to go this year but I'm hoping there was a good hatch.
Sutton county.
Sweet!!
I saw 3 jacks(my son called "jacks" when I first started taking him at 4 or 5 and the name kind of stuck) while hunting. I hadn't many around the house, until I started predator trapping the last few years. I had 4 this year running around my house house. We called them the "poker jokers"....4 jacks.
I wish I had that problem. I have only heard one gobble in 3 seasons. Be nice to just hear one.
I think I called in 4-5 this year. One had a good gobble on him. Caused me to set up on him and proceed to call him up after he flew down. The second gobble was just a little weak on the tail end. That made me question things so when he showed up I confirmed my suspicions.