I've been doing a little asking around from some people scouting areas for turkeys and I guess they're seeing a lot of jakes and just a few big toms. I'm wondering if I'll catch HE11 if I were to post a picture of my first bird being a jake or if I should pass them all up if the opportune moment comes this season.
Those of us who have been at this a while tend to like to let the jakes walk for future years. With that said, first bird, or even one taken late in the season when a longbeard hasn't been killed I am all for someone doing that. It has to do with what YOU will be proud of and to he#% with what anyone else thinks. You post your first bird and we are going to be happy for you.
Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 17, 2014, 02:33:16 PM
Those of us who have been at this a while tend to like to let the jakes walk for future years. With that said, first bird, or even one taken late in the season when a longbeard hasn't been killed I am all for someone doing that. It has to do with what YOU will be proud of and to he#% with what anyone else thinks. You post your first bird and we are going to be happy for you.
X2
I agree with what Skeeter said. It's a personal choice you decide when the opportunity presents itself.
The bottom line is... if you are happy it shouldn't matter what someone else thinks. A trophy to one does not always equal a trophy to others.
My first was an ol shorty and i would hope no one would say a word about it being a jake and your first bird. I don't care if it's your 100th bird; if you feel like taking a jake... Have at it!!!
If a jake gives a fun hunt, take him.
I agree, shoot what you want the hack what others think. Them jakes can be just as tough to call and just as rewardable to take as a long beard. I hope turkey hunting does not get like the deer hunting has,everyone wants to pose a limit on the size you can shoot or they chastise you. I just wish there were more trophy hunters hunting where I hunt so there would be more meat for me.
x3
No sir no flack coming your way if you clobber a Jake . If that's what you want and he's legal I will congratulate you
Skeeter hit the nail on the head. I'm personally not going to shoot one but to each there own.
Not from me, but you never know on a forum. OG is usually a good place for all , but lately there have been more negative Nancys than ever before. Hopefully it's just cabin fever.
I wouldnt do it,but I certainly don't or will not look down on anybody that shoots a jake;whether its their first bird or 50th bird.Its your tag,do what makes you happy!
Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 17, 2014, 02:33:16 PM
Those of us who have been at this a while tend to like to let the jakes walk for future years. With that said, first bird, or even one taken late in the season when a longbeard hasn't been killed I am all for someone doing that. It has to do with what YOU will be proud of and to he#% with what anyone else thinks. You post your first bird and we are going to be happy for you.
My thoughts exactly Skeeter! :icon_thumright:
What Skeeter said x 3.. and just like beauty..it is in the eye of the beholder.. whatever makes you happy ..and is legal and sporting...
The first turkey I called in and shot was a jake. He made me shake against the tree with anticipation like he was the biggest turkey in the woods. In the last few years I have taken both my brothers out for their first turkey. They each shot a jake first and were smiling from ear to ear at the experience. I would pass on them today because I'm comfortable with the time I have to hunt that I'll be able to shoot a couple longbeards, and I know if I don't shoot him as a jake Ill have a chance to hunt him next year. If I were starting over again I would start with bagging a legal turkey for the first one. I bet you will have fun doing it and good luck this season.
what ever is a trophy to you be happy with rather see a hunting success photo than a anti gun ad
If you shoot a Jake, that is between you and the Jake. No one else.
There are people on here who will bust your balls for shooting a monster gobbler, out of a blind, or the use of decoys, or too far of a shot, wrong kind of shell, or wrong type of shot composition, or wrong size of shot, or wrong gun or choke, for that matter, the wrong camouflage!!
If the time is right for you and you are happy taking a legal Jake, that's all that matters. Your decision. No one else's.
Mike
Glad to hear good feedback. I'm thinking if I get into them pretty good this year, a jake may be a last resort at the end of the season. Only time will tell. I get a lot of crap from everyone for shooting small 3 point deer, but I'm only after the 50 pounds of jerkey.
Post up the pics don't be ashamed of any animal you take ,,,your the one pulling the trigger so u be the judge ,,in my eyes any animal I take is a trophy ,,,, ive had a harder time calling some jakes in then long beards ,,,Good luck
This is what I was told when I started out, you can kill Jakes until you kill your first Gobbler but once you kill a Gobbler you can't go back the other way. I believe for adults, that is sound advice. But for teenagers, it's about accomplishments and having fun so let them enjoy the experience.
If legal, your tag your business. No one else is paying for your time off tag etc. I've never cared for people putting someone down for hunting. No matter what you shoot if you're happy then I'm happy!
I've killed 2 jakes. The first was trailing 3 longbeards and after a swing and a miss with some #6's on the biggest, the big boys ran off. He should've followed suit because shell #2 was on the money. My 2nd jake was my last tag of last year. Killed a longbeard opening day and on the last week of the season after hard hunting and sitting on that tag he rode home with me. I'd shoot another one under similar conditions every time. I'd never frown on a jake if it's someone 1st or 100th bird. The hunt is the memory and the breasts go in the grease
Let the first bearded turkeys head roll! If it were my very first I would kill a bearded hen! I did kill a Jake for my first bird when I was around 16.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
I was wondering what the common consensus on here would be and I gotta tell ya, I am pleasantly surprised. The major sentiment expressed here is pretty much how most of the guys I hunt with and talk to feel. My son, that had only killed 2 birds at the time-first jake, second huge longbeard-had a jake walk into the decoys last year with me. I said "Take him", he said "Are you sure Dad, it is a jake" I said, "You have only killed 2 birds in your life and there is a week left in the season, take him now" BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM. He was delicious.
The biggest bird I killed had 1 5/8 inch spurs and weighed 18 pounds and had an eleven inch beard. A few years later on the last day of the season I killed a bird that had a 3 1/2 beard and weighted 18 pounds. I was proud of both. I hunted both of them, one was as leary as the other (public land). Most generally I will let a jake walk, But !
What ever you are happy with! I'm sure everyone has shot a Jake or 2 in there lives because i know i have shot and seen many others shoot them. Even Jakes will challenge you and aren't the easiest to harvest at times.
It's turkey hunting not giant spurred rope bearded monster turkey trophy hunting. Shoot what's legal if that's your choice. First bird I killed on my own was a jake in the fall. I was proud of him.
I'm not going to lie to you - I've shot jakes over the years, and in fact shot one last year. It was kind of a fluke deal b/c he was roosted with another mature tom, we had to RAMBO them thru the woods, and as they were running I took a shot at the nearest white head & popped the jake instead of the tom.
Just me personally - but if a jake has a FULL gobble & a 5-6" beard, he's going down. If he's got a beard smaller than that, and can't gobble, I let him walk.
I've not yet met anybody who can tell me when eating a wild turkey if it had a 4" beard or a 4 ft beard or nubs as spurs or 10 inch spurs? It's all personal choice if you want to take a Jake. Waiting towards the end of the season to shoot a Jake is great but you better take the opportunity when it knocks or you might have to wait until next year.
It's what ever you want to do when and if you take a Jake.
Quote from: Hognutz on March 17, 2014, 03:50:25 PM
If you shoot a Jake, that is between you and the Jake. No one else.
There are people on here who will bust your balls for shooting a monster gobbler, out of a blind, or the use of decoys, or too far of a shot, wrong kind of shell, or wrong type of shot composition, or wrong size of shot, or wrong gun or choke, for that matter, the wrong camouflage!!
If the time is right for you and you are happy taking a legal Jake, that's all that matters. Your decision. No one else's.
Mike
Can't argue with that!!!
My buddy actually prefers a jake......fits on his grill better than a big ol' gobbler. :z-guntootsmiley:
I'd rather see a picture of a man and a Jake that he hunted hard for, than a man with a longbeard he paid other people to do the leg work so he could show up and pull the trigger. Good luck to you.
Its your hunt, your trophy if you want to shoot a Jake go for it don't worry about what others say, I don't know many turkey hunters that haven't killed one at some time. Best of luck!!
Quote from: guesswho on March 17, 2014, 06:38:37 PM
I'd rather see a picture of a man and a Jake that he hunted hard for, than a man with a longbeard he paid other people to do the leg work so he could show up and pull the trigger. Good luck to you.
Guesswho, here's that picture. We hunted these birds *HARD* almost the *entire* season, and finally got a kill shot on 'em. I was one happy hunter to have taken this bird; I guarantee you that.
I dont frown on taking a jake. I let em pass but that don't me you have to
Quote from: JuniorPre 360 on March 17, 2014, 02:26:06 PM
I've been doing a little asking around from some people scouting areas for turkeys and I guess they're seeing a lot of jakes and just a few big toms. I'm wondering if I'll catch HE11 if I were to post a picture of my first bird being a jake or if I should pass them all up if the opportune moment comes this season.
You won't catch heck from me. I killed my share. One thing I will say though, letting a jake, or group of jakes, walk is some of the easiest scouting for the next season you will ever do.
Quote from: guesswho on March 17, 2014, 06:38:37 PM
I'd rather see a picture of a man and a Jake that he hunted hard for, than a man with a longbeard he paid other people to do the leg work so he could show up and pull the trigger. Good luck to you.
Or a turkey shot out of one of them out'e house blinds over a flock of dA'oys
I don't care what someone pays for a hunt.
We all pay something.
I see lots of $50,000 trucks parked in public ground parking lots.
Shoot whatever you want, rich or poor, smart or dumb, why does it matter so much to some?
I have yet to see a post from a rich guy saying po' folks don't know how to hunt :)
Some of my best birds have been jakes, more have been toms though...
mudhen
Quote from: guesswho on March 17, 2014, 06:38:37 PM
I'd rather see a picture of a man and a Jake that he hunted hard for, than a man with a longbeard he paid other people to do the leg work so he could show up and pull the trigger. Good luck to you.
This.^^^^^^^
My first bird was a jake, and was as exciting of a hunt as I have ever been on.
My buddies first bird he killed was a jake, and this bird acted like a 4 year old gobbler, he was so wary. He came in from over 100 yards away through a field, saw the decoy, skirted into the woods and started hammering and we finally coaxed him into the field where my buddy made an awesome shot.
I personally give them a free pass, but will NEVER judge another man for shooting them as long as they are legal.
As a good friend of mine has said,"there is no shame in this game." All that matters is that YOU are happy, and had a great hunt.
Kill what you want whenever you can. I will never trash someone for killing a jake, its your tag use it however you want.
:OGturkeyhead: :OGturkeyhead:
I agree with everyone else. Shoot whatever you want as long as its legal. I have been at this for a long time and have shot plenty of nice gobblers but just 2 yrs ago I shot a jake on the last week of the season. Here was a situation where I was on public land that gets hunted hard and I worked my tail off to get that bird. The trophy for me is not all about the size of the bird but instead the excitement/experience of the hunt. Good luck this season.......
I went after a single season Royal Slam in 2011 and I'm not making excuses for myself but I had three days to hunt the Rio and as things turned out one day to hunt the eastern both ended up being jakes I was beginning to think my Royal Slam would be all jakes well the other three were very nice mature toms. Even though i took two jakes I was proud of my accomplishment and had all the birds mounted.
Its about the hunt and thrill to me not the beard ....I have kill my share of Jakes most late season after a hard season of hened up longbeards and i was a happy man to call up a big oh Jake and shoot him and good chance it will happen again
Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2
Last year was my first season & I hunted hard, really hard, but didn't land a Turkey FOR a few reasons. So, I will have a hard time passing on a Turkey of any size this year. Would I prefer a Big old Gobbler? Yes. But, I'd almost as happy with a Jake.
Some are blessed with flocks of longbeards on their hunting grounds and wont shoot a 2 year olds cause there are limbhangers roosted on every tree branch. Others will starve, not really but you know what I mean waiting to take longbeards on regular bases. Kill what makes YOU HAPPY, NOT WHAT MAKES OTHERS HAPPY!
For your first bird, I'd say any turkey is a great accomplishment no matter if he's sporting a big old rope or a tiny nub for a beard. It's probably been about 10 years since I've shot a jake, but I'm certainly not going to think less of someone if they shoot one. Enjoy your time in the turkey woods and have a great season!
if it's legal where you hunt and it makes you happy,I say go for it
Not in my book. Too each their own. Who am I to judge what others do with their tags as long as it is legal?
I say do what feels right to you. I introduced a good friend of mine to turkey hunting a few years ago, and called in a nice super Jake that he was able to take as is first bird ever. He and I were just as excited as I was on my first bird.
ive shot 2 jakes i was just as happy shooting one of them as i did with a long beard. my first and second birds were long beards. if i call in a jake on the first day im going to throw some shot at him. then save my other tag for a longbeard. there is nothing to be ashamed about if u kill a jake
More power to you brother, what ever makes you happy! :icon_thumright: No flack from me only Congrats.
Shoot what makes you happy within the guidelines of the game laws, and don't be ashamed of it. It's your choice and many who have a problem with it are, in my opinion, probably in it for the wrong reasons anyway (i.e. Ego).
The last thing turkey hunting needs is to head the way deer hunting has over the last 20 years with the "bigger is better" mentality.
Good luck this spring
I have, do and will again. Some of my most memorable hunts was with a jake slung over my shoulder walking out of the woods. Also some of my most memorable hunts I have wlked out of the woods empty handed.
You are the one you are hunting for, a trophy for you is a trophy for you! My Dad has been turkey hunting for as long as I have, about 28 yrs and he will bust one in a heartbeat if it came to his calling. He is just as tickled with these trophy's as he is with a 4yr old bird.
i will pass but dont care if my hunting buddy wants to shoot him.
I have killed many a Turkeys in my day and alot of those Turkeys have been some dandy ones; I travel to several different states, spend several dollars on out-of-state license, and enjoy every penny spent on what I consider the best animal on planet earth to hunt; I kill many long beards and hope the Good Lord allows a few more, so with that said, if you want to shoot a Jake, then be certain that a Jake is still classified as a Turkey and don't you worry not one bit what any other hunter thinks and or says about you killing one if that Jake is a Legal bird in your state;
Would I kill one? after 38 years of chasing these birds all over everywhere, ya dang tootin' I would pull the trigger on one in a New York second if it was legal and I wanted to......... :OGturkeyhead:
Quote from: duckaholic25 on March 17, 2014, 02:38:04 PM
Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 17, 2014, 02:33:16 PM
Those of us who have been at this a while tend to like to let the jakes walk for future years. With that said, first bird, or even one taken late in the season when a longbeard hasn't been killed I am all for someone doing that. It has to do with what YOU will be proud of and to he#% with what anyone else thinks. You post your first bird and we are going to be happy for you.
X2
X3
I could care less. and I will say congrats to anyone who kills a turkey. I would just say its not all about the hunt if you pass one the first day why shoot it the last day? just because you want to kill one sometimes its more about the hunt then the kill. but I will never ever ridicule anyone for shooting anything. its not my place to judge and everyone hunts different and has different standards. don't worry about what people think.
If he makes you happy go for it! I love telling people about my jake hunts. If they put on a good show and do it for me then its lights out.
My only jake was my first bird.
Ill never understand why experienced hunters would ever consider shooting one but to each their own. I can enjoy interactions w jakes without feeling any inclination to kill them but that's a personal choice.
That's cool to see there's a lot of supportive comments :icon_thumright:
I will say this, I have never killed a jake, but initially I was fixin to shoot the first legal bird to come to the gun. For my first bird, my buddy and I doubled up on what were likely 3 years olds, really nice birds. However, I did learn something last season. In the 2012 season I was hunting a property pretty consistently with my buddy and it was a jake factory. There were a couple good ones too who would gobble their little heads off and strut right into the decoys. This happened every time we hunted and my buddy's only rule was that nobody shot a jake. It was difficult for me to eat tag soup in 2012 when I could've put the hammer on a decent jake multiple times. Well his plan worked out, and last spring there were some real dandy birds runnin around that farm. Three mature longbeards took rides in the truck from that spot alone last season, and if you ask me, it was worth the wait. Just good for thought! After that, I may be out of the jake-shooting game for good, but like somebody else mentioned if a jake provides a fun hunt, go for it.
Kill whatever's legal that you want to shoot, and enjoy the sport that we're all blessed enough to enjoy!
Tale jake if you want too. I would not take a whole bunch of them in one season. Same some of the jakes so you will have good chance at a longbeard. I knew a guy once that bragged about getting his 5 bird limit. He had taken three jakes and two longbeards on our club. I did not see anything wrong with him taking a jake. But I thought three jakes was a little much. But I did not give him a hard time about. It was his choice. And this is your choice. I would not worry about what others think about it. Good Luck.
2 years ago I called in a jake for pawpaw when he was 73. Hes 75 now.
I have killed a couple jakes in the past. My first bird was a jake as was my first double with a buddy. I try to shoot just longbeards now but you will not see me look down my nose at you. Hope you bust whatever legal turkey you get a crack at and be proud of him. Good lick
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wow! I would not have guessed that my question would reach 5 pages of nothing but support. I appreciate it all. If my fishing buddy bails on me, my backup plan is a "hike" with my wife on Saturday. We'll be looking for gobblers.
Its a hunters choice I would never dog someone for it its your tag be legal safe and have good hunt all you'll ever hear from me is congrats. For me personally I wouldn't complain if they made them illegal for adult hunters but thats just my 2 cents I don't even shoot all the long beards I see.
Smoke his azz. Get one under your belt then you can pick and choose as you become more proficient at turkey hunting.
Quote from: Gobblerjim on March 18, 2014, 11:58:28 AM
Smoke his azz. Get one under your belt then you can pick and choose as you become more proficient at turkey hunting.
x2, I think you will find like most of us who have hunted Turkeys for awhile, after taking a jake or two you will start to let them pass & only go for the long beards. I don't even have to take a gobbler to enjoy hunting, just hearing them gobble & watching them seems to be enough for me.
Shoot em! I do! Maybe if I had private ground that only I hunted on I would pass on jakes but since I pretty much just hunt public I shoot em. Same with deer I shoot 1 1/2 yr old bucks every year :icon_thumright:
You know you guys that "got it made" can let em walk... I my friend hunt public land... And it sucks some times... I don't harvest gobblers each and every spring... So if I'm having a bad season and a Jake comes by I'm lettin him have it
I've never hunted private land for turkeys. In my county (in Indiana) there was a record 3 birds killed last year. I don't have turkeys so if I go to Alabama and hunt public birds, a wary jake is a trophy in my eyes. I'm still a rookie turkey hunter. However, if I had a club or a big family farm loaded with birds I'm sure I'd challenge myself. It seems natural to challenge yourself to take bigger birds over the years. Every situation is different.
:icon_thumright: If it's your first bird and opening day "toast" and post. Like most things in life the "first" one is allways the most difficult. You can be selective next time your call. You will always have a nay say-er in a group. If someone knocks it just ask to see pics of his first bird. If you take a bearded hen (rare but legal) somebody will ask way you took a egg layer. IMO, your first bird "smoke um and post um" :OGani:
Another jake bites the dust - this is my friend, Adam, who took this jake on public land this morning - his very first bird! This bird was with a bigger bird, and Adam couldn't take the big one b/c he was behind some brush. We went together yesterday morning & confirmed that there were two birds; they gobbled like crazy on the roost.
Adam worked HARD to get this bird this morning; been working them for 4 straight mornings -- *and* this is his very first season to ever turkey hunt. I'm personally VERY proud of him; he put in the time scouting pre-season, had got on these 2 birds, and closed the deal; we're going together in the morning so I can film him taking down the big'un that's still there.
It's a personal choice and if you're happy with it then, by all means, dont think twice about it. Particularly on someone's first bird, nothing wrong taking a jake.
Most of the more experienced hunters like to pass on jakes so that they can hunt them the next year when they're gobblers. I dont think it's as much about guys getting offended by what you prefer to hunt as much as it's just the mindset that that's one less gobbler they can hunt the next season when a jake gets shot.
if you want to shoot a jake, by all means shoot one!!!
By all means shoot a jake if you are so inclined. It was red head is dead for a while there for me too, nothing judgmental going on here. My previous comment about letting jakes walk "is the easiest scouting you will ever do for next season" came from hunting public land for 30+ years. In my experience, if you pass jakes mid-season or later on public land then there's a darn good chance you'll see them there a year older too. Best way to hear more gobbling too! Good luck!
Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 17, 2014, 02:33:16 PM
Those of us who have been at this a while tend to like to let the jakes walk for future years. With that said, first bird, or even one taken late in the season when a longbeard hasn't been killed I am all for someone doing that. It has to do with what YOU will be proud of and to he#% with what anyone else thinks. You post your first bird and we are going to be happy for you.
Yes sir! :fud:
I agree with just about everyone here.............. you get a chance @ shooting a jake and he's your first turkey, you kill him and be proud!!
My first turkey was a jake as well and I killed one more when me and a buddy had a chance to double up.
Most guys switch to shooting mature birds the more they hunt...... its just a natural progression. But to kill your first one, two or even three, don't worry about it. Shoot whatever makes you happy.
Shoot what you like, if a jake is legal then take the shot. You can't eat the beard. Lovett Williams did a study years ago about mortality rates in turkey's and for each spring gobbler it takes two jakes. One bird statistically will die due to harsh weather, disease or predation.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nothing wrong with a Jake for your first bird.
Sent from my 1950's rotary phone using Tapatalk
A Jake will fry up just as tasty as a 3 year old.
my first turkey was a jake and he had my heart a thumpin!! that's why we all turkey hunt...not to see how big the bird is or long the spurs are. its how big of a memory you make!
My late father put it best:
Shooting a jake is like kissing your sister!! :funnyturkey:
Killed my 3rd jake ever yesterday
Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 17, 2014, 02:33:16 PM
Those of us who have been at this a while tend to like to let the jakes walk for future years. With that said, first bird, or even one taken late in the season when a longbeard hasn't been killed I am all for someone doing that. It has to do with what YOU will be proud of and to he#% with what anyone else thinks. You post your first bird and we are going to be happy for you.
This
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
:deadhorse: