Assuming it is legal in your state, will you shoot a jake while hunting on public land? From what I seem to read, it is more of a challenge to kill a turkey on public land than it is on private land.
Will you shoot a jake if the opportunity presents itself, or hold out for a mature tom?
I don't, but don't fault people who do.
I hunt entirely on public land and don't have any desire to shoot a jake. However, for those who do they have every right and I have no problem with it.
If your a first time hunter or season one, the trophy is in the eyes of the beholder. I agree, i don't fault anyone or people for putting meat on the table. I can remember 39 years ago i was just glad to kill a couple of young bucks for meat. Back then wife and i didn't have a lot of money and anything i killed or caught was a blessing..I guess that's why we still eat deer, turkey's and fish...
I won't ever say never but jakes aren't my thing. Think I have killed 2 jakes in my 15 years of turkey killing. If others are happy with a jake then that's their call. This year's jake is next year's Longbeard the way I see it.
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Killed a pile of jakes in my younger days so who am I to say you should not shoot one? Wasn't any peer pressure for gobblers only back then, folks were happy enough to get a male turkey, stubby beard or long. Took me a few years but I figured out that if a jake has already made it past the first winter then he stands a good chance of making it past the next. I don't shoot jakes out of pure selfishness because I've found the majority I pass up, public or private, are there next year as two year old, full fanned, long bearded gobbling toms. So, if you complain about not hearing gobbling and shoot jakes then you are sort of shooting yourself in the foot. If you are a new hunter, a youngster or a senior then taking a jake can take on a whole different meaning and be something of tremendous and cherished value. Have seen both sides of that coin.
Not anymore, on purpose. I did accidentally shoot one last year after watching 2 big longbeards head to the woods, I went to cut them off and 2 red head birds popped over the ridge and I shot one, turned out the LB's were still up in the field with the hens.
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Killed one last year with my bow, mainly for the fan. I was hunting with my kid and he wanted to hold out for a long beard, but I wanted the fan to bad to let him go.
As for it being more challenge on public land, jakes are no harder to kill on public than private. They've never been hunted before unless during the fall busting hen/poult flocks. Even if they have been shot at during the fall, they're still the dumbest turkeys in the woods. But if you have one looking at you 15 yards away and your heart is pounding and you know you'd be happy with it, blow his head off. I still remember the moment those 2 jakes followed a mad hen on a dead run to 6 yards where I blasted my first turkey ever. I'm not sure if I've killed one that close since then.
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I think its OK in the beginning of a career maybe 1st or 2nd turkey,jakes are far easier to call in public land or private. I've called in jakes to a few yards let them walk off and call them right back fun but not really a challenge.And like others said this seasons jake is next years gobbler. Although the first turkey I killed was a jake and I was as proud of it as I am of any of the longbeards since.
I have no problem with anyone who wants to shoot a jake, although I am long past doing that myself. What I do have a problem with is people shooting either jakes or gobblers for no other reason than to count bodies. Unfortunately, I think there are those that shoot jakes for no other reason but to say they "killed their limit". In my opinion, that is just the wrong reason to pull the trigger. If you have killed a turkey or two this season, let the jakes go for a year,...they will be more fun to hunt next year.
In a word, No.
I don't shoot jakes. I consider them gobbler seed, and I like the hunt to much to cut it short so I'll wait on a gobbler.
I've killed several on public land. I was dang glad I killed any gobbler at that time. I hunt public land 99% of the time & it's tough with so much hunting pressure. I'd much prefer to kill a mature bird but I don't condemn someone who shoots a jake.
It's about the hunt, not the kill for me. I usually won't kill a jake because a like the challenge of an older smart bird. That said, don't care so much about beards and spurs. I'd still hunt turkeys if they didn't have them! If a jake is deserving, I'll oblige...
Last year I gave the jakes a pass. Didn't kill a bird at all. This year, who knows. Just depends on the scenario. If I think the odds of killing a good bird are high, I'll wait. If it's an area where I've only got a day to hunt it and all I'm hearing are jakes, I'll not make a guarantee. I enjoy hunting these things as much as the next guy but I enjoy eating them more than a lot of guys. I'd rather have turkey than most other wild game meats so I'm not particularly concerned about its age if the mood strikes me properly. Bottom line, if I'm excited, I'm shooting.
I don't, but when I take new hunters, kids, or folks with extremely limited time in the woods I let them decide for themselves telling them that in the moment to decide based on level of excitement and not size of the bird. Ive had Jake's come in strutting shoulder to shoulder triple gobbling the whole way as the spring sunshine creeps into the woods. I'm missing the point of sharing what hunting is about if I tell someone to hold off just because I would or want the birds bigger for next year.
I don't lack opportunities on longbeards and don't want to sell my season short. But I certainly don't want turkey hunting to turn into deer hunting where you aren't a hardcore hunter unless you name your deer and "grow" them for 5+ years. Just find a balance of what challenges and excites you and hunt them hard.
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Not always, but sometimes yes. Just depends on the situation.
I have shot jakes which had full gobbles but normally I will let them walk.
Killed a few in my early years. My first turkey was a jake. Like most have said, they will be much more fun to hunt in their 2nd year. I hunt public. Not shooting jakes are just my personal standard. It's public land so I have no place imposing my standard on anybody else but most hunters I know eventually adopt the standard of no jakes.
As far as jakes being the dumbest turkeys in the woods, maybe so, but satellite jakes have a way of sneaking in quietly and ruining a hunt. They have saved several gobblers from riding in my truck.
Different strokes for different folks. If your happy, light em up. If you don't want to , don't shoot it. Same with deer. If you can't be happy until is scores over 150, wait for the 151, and good luck. If you are happy with a 115" deer, smoke it. We all have different "trophies" in life.
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No jakes for me ever. I have killed plenty of birds and have no desire to ever shoot one. The way i see it , if i want a turkey , i can go to the super market and buy one. You kill a jake , what do you have. No beard no spurs. However , if its legal and you choose to do it , i have no problem with that. To each his own.
Quote from: guesswho on February 12, 2017, 11:59:47 AM
I don't, but don't fault people who do.
I'm in this boat. I've complained about and faulted too many folks through the years (on this and other forums) on how they choose to hunt within the bounds of the law.
That's not to say that I agree with everything nowadays and stand for nothing, but life has a way of occasionally reminding us that some things aren't that important. If all I've got to do with my time is blow a gasket over how someone legally hunts, I need to make adjustments.
Quote from: TauntoHawk on February 12, 2017, 01:52:22 PM
I don't, but when I take new hunters, kids, or folks with extremely limited time in the woods I let them decide for themselves telling them that in the moment to decide based on level of excitement and not size of the bird. Ive had Jake's come in strutting shoulder to shoulder triple gobbling the whole way as the spring sunshine creeps into the woods. I'm missing the point of sharing what hunting is about if I tell someone to hold off just because I would or want the birds bigger for next year.
I don't lack opportunities on longbeards and don't want to sell my season short. But I certainly don't want turkey hunting to turn into deer hunting where you aren't a hardcore hunter unless you name your deer and "grow" them for 5+ years. Just find a balance of what challenges and excites you and hunt them hard.
X2
I don't lack opportunities on longbeards :)
MK M GOBL
Like I alluded to earlier, most folks (like myself) pass on jakes for selfish reasons, to get long beard(s) later. Nothing noble about it. :)
Two years of virtually no hatch here in California, with what appears to be a bumper hatch from last spring... I am guessing there will be a few jakes running around (and I will be hunting private and public).
Personally, I will probably lay off the jakes till the last week or so of the season... But I think a mature bird will be tough to come by this season.
And, if my young daughter (6 years old) joins me in field, I will be far more likely to shoot a jake. She wants to run a video camera, and I will be likely to oblige her.
Still, I have not shot a jake in well over 10 years... Two rough seasons in a row create a situation in which I am admittedly likely to be a bit less picky if I cannot locate any mature birds.
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 12, 2017, 01:18:16 PM
In a word, No.
I don't shoot jakes. I consider them gobbler seed, and I like the hunt to much to cut it short so I'll wait on a gobbler.
Hmmm. I seem to remember a jake from Kaw just a few years ago that got a free shoulder ride. . .
Quote from: jblackburn on February 12, 2017, 05:39:21 PM
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 12, 2017, 01:18:16 PM
In a word, No.
I don't shoot jakes. I consider them gobbler seed, and I like the hunt to much to cut it short so I'll wait on a gobbler.
Hmmm. I seem to remember a jake from Kaw just a few years ago that got a free shoulder ride. . .
Or the Push jake from 2-3 years . . . :funnyturkey:
Quote from: jblackburn on February 12, 2017, 05:40:38 PM
Quote from: jblackburn on February 12, 2017, 05:39:21 PM
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 12, 2017, 01:18:16 PM
In a word, No.
I don't shoot jakes. I consider them gobbler seed, and I like the hunt to much to cut it short so I'll wait on a gobbler.
Hmmm. I seem to remember a jake from Kaw just a few years ago that got a free shoulder ride. . .
Or the Push jake from 2-3 years . . . :funnyturkey:
Push comes to shove, many will shoot a jake at the end of the season. Not saying that everyone would/will but if it's in their blood, many will shoot. It's easy to say what we'll do until the time comes. If you've been hammered with a couple bad seasons in a row, it's sometimes hard not to pull the trigger on an available bird. Not casting stones and certainly not pretending to be righteous (because that's not me in any way, shape or form), just stating facts. We've all had those conversations about telling someone off when we've felt wronged but when the time comes, we often think better of it and move on without saying a word. Turkey hunting is no different. When the cards are all laid out and there's no moves left, some (again, not all) will faulter and put that bird in the bag. Personally, if this season shows no promise of being better than the last, I'll gladly fall on the sword and take a jake. And I'll be thankful all the way back to the truck.
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1 on 1 - me? Probably not.
BUT - I have adopted a new mantra for hunting -
Sometimes, the "trophy" is in the details...
I killed a jake 2 / 3 years ago as part of a 2 bird, 1 gun, double with my son. I'd do it again tomorrow. Now, that was on private ground. MY private ground. No regrets.
Shoot what makes you happy. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Just keep it legal and ethical.
Quote from: Marc on February 12, 2017, 04:49:05 PM
Two years of virtually no hatch here in California, with what appears to be a bumper hatch from last spring... I am guessing there will be a few jakes running around (and I will be hunting private and public).
Personally, I will probably lay off the jakes till the last week or so of the season... But I think a mature bird will be tough to come by this season.
And, if my young daughter (6 years old) joins me in field, I will be far more likely to shoot a jake. She wants to run a video camera, and I will be likely to oblige her.
Still, I have not shot a jake in well over 10 years... Two rough seasons in a row create a situation in which I am admittedly likely to be a bit less picky if I cannot locate any mature birds.
More power to you friend. Wishing you a big tom this season or a big jake, either is fine and hope that girl makes a turkey hunting sidekick for you for life.
I think we all have shot a couple in our many years of hunting. If I call one in I choose to let him pass
Quote from: jblackburn on February 12, 2017, 05:40:38 PM
Quote from: jblackburn on February 12, 2017, 05:39:21 PM
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 12, 2017, 01:18:16 PM
In a word, No.
I don't shoot jakes. I consider them gobbler seed, and I like the hunt to much to cut it short so I'll wait on a gobbler.
Hmmm. I seem to remember a jake from Kaw just a few years ago that got a free shoulder ride. . .
Or the Push jake from 2-3 years . . . :funnyturkey:
The Kaw Jake from about 6 years ago was the last purposeful jake on my record. The push jake in question was actually on Three Rivers and he died under circumstances concerning fire ants.
Hunt legal be happy I don't shoot em just to be killing but if fall hunting I'll lay one down in heartbeat. For my 2 cents I have hard time calling in jakes on our public land I'll call in 10 longbeards for every one jake. The jakes are not numerous in big groups around here and usually have their place in pecking order by time season starts and as season goes they go totally quiet and like hermits. These are pressured easterns I'm talking about from my experience Rio and Mrerriams stay aggressive deep into season and way more vocl and willing to work to a call
I've called Jakes in the last hour of spring season and have let them walk. Never have shot one in the spring,but in the fall it's a different story sometimes depending how I feel. If my 13 year old Son would want to shoot a jake im fine with that,but he has so far chosen not to.I use to call hens and young of the year in the Fall and let them walk only hunting mature fall gobblers. Now I like the hen Wingbones for calls so I'd rather target them or sometimes whatever comes in due to time constraints. People have different opinions on what's a trophy and what's not or even different limitations in life. If it's legal do whatever makes you happy who am I to judge.
My biggest goal in turkey hunting is to take a bird on public land, calling on my own, mainly due to the fact that it has always seemed like one of the hardest things to do, based on what I gather from others. It is legal to shoot a jake where I will be hunting (public land), so I will not hesitate to harvest a jake the first chance I get. However, after that I will only shoot a gobbler on public land. On the private land that I hunt, each person only gets one bird/year, so it is common practice to shoot a gobbler, not a jake.
In PA, I can get 2 tags.
1st tag is for any legal bird, unless I'm on a hot big one.
2nd tag is for only a big one.
I consider big as 8 inches or longer.
I love the taste of turkey.
:fud: :OGani:
My likelihood of shooting a jake increases in an inverse correlation with how many days are left in that particular season.
That being said I don't like it, just the way it is. I have never actually had the opportunity or decision to make on private ground but I dont think I would shoot a jake on private.
Way i see it is public land is every man for yourself. If you pass on it someone else will shoot it. Ive shot plenty of fork and spike bucks on public and not thought twice about it. Would i do that on private ground? Never. But if you do it on Your private ground it doesnt bother me any.
I shoot any legal bird that comes into range, including hens. I factor in time away from family and job,fuel and food. I enjoy how I hunt. :z-twocents:
Quote from: HawkeyeGobbler on February 13, 2017, 12:46:34 PM
My likelihood of shooting a jake increases in an inverse correlation with how many days are left in that particular season.
That being said I don't like it, just the way it is. I have never actually had the opportunity or decision to make on private ground but I dont think I would shoot a jake on private.
Way i see it is public land is every man for yourself. If you pass on it someone else will shoot it. Ive shot plenty of fork and spike bucks on public and not thought twice about it. Would i do that on private ground? Never. But if you do it on Your private ground it doesnt bother me any.
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Some private ground is just as bad or worse than public. The farms I hunt here see more pressure on the edges than the farms I hunted growing up. The animals are better here due to higher nutrition levels but still, there's more pressure and I'm less likely to shoot a smaller animal. I'm way more likely to pull the trigger on a "lesser" buck or turkey there than here. So I see kind of where you're coming from. It's all relative to the situation even though ours are inverse.
Quote from: fallhnt on February 13, 2017, 01:07:35 PM
I shoot any legal bird that comes into range, including hens. I factor in time away from family and job,fuel and food. I enjoy how I hunt. :z-twocents:
This I can respect a ton. Hunt what you want, when you want, how you want. Get after them and don't look back. Enjoy it now for as long as you can.
jakes taste better than tag soup.
I don't go out thinking, huh. Ya know what, I think I want to kill a jake today. Sometimes it just happens. I chased a gobbling 12 pound jake around a mountain a few years ago and I kill him dead and ENJOYED giving him a shoulder ride.
I was told when I started turkey hunting, you can kill jakes until you kill your first gobbler but once you kill a gobbler, you couldn't go back. I've used this advice for many years now. By the way, I've never killed a jake, my first bird was a gobbler. Most states say, Bearded Bird, so enjoy the experience and shoot a bird with a beard.
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on February 12, 2017, 11:54:45 AM
Assuming it is legal in your state, will you shoot a jake while hunting on public land? From what I seem to read, it is more of a challenge to kill a turkey on public land than it is on private land.
Will you shoot a jake if the opportunity presents itself, or hold out for a mature tom?
I hold out but that's just me.
I was struggling bad one spring and had a new job that I was starting that spring, it was late season and I had about 15 minutes before I had to leave for this new job a jake came in and I smoked him first and only jake I have ever shot. I have no issues if your struggling,a new hunter or just like shooting one turkey a year. But if your killing them just to rack up numbers you need to rethink your priorities.
On public land if it's legal I'm shooting. Bubba
In the spring no, not saying I never have. In the fall every time I get a chance.
Never
I killed two or three jakes years ago when I first started hunting spring gobblers. I have not killed one in the spring in years and do not intend too. I will however take one during the fall season if the opportunity presents itself.
I've never shot a bird with a jake fan. My buddy has one on a wall display and I have to say it is pretty cool looking. I've killed several birds with full fans but stubby 4" beards. I call those jakes but to some they may not be? I'd be interested in hearing opinions. Either way, IF it's legal, shoot it if you want. Trust your DNR to regulate limits to boost the populations. I'm doubtful that any of us will impact the turkey population by shooting or not shooting a jake.
I don't shoot jakes, just my preference. I do have a question though. Do public land jakes and fall jakes taste better than private land and spring jakes? A jake is a jake and shooting a jake just because " if I don't somebody else will " is not a real good reason to kill one. If its legal go for it! I was really just wondering if they tasted different? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I'm just surprised the term "super jake" hasn't emerged yet!
Quote from: M Sharpe on February 14, 2017, 12:33:22 PM
I'm just surprised the term "super jake" hasn't emerged yet!
I prefer runt 2 year old.
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I don't, but have let a young hunter take one as his first bird on occasion.
I killed one a couple years ago. My first public land bird that I shot (I have called in several Toms for others) and my first 20 gauge kill. It was the last day of the season I could hunt and I had not killed a bird. I had called a couple in, but not one for me. He came in semi strut chasing two hens later in the morning and I took him. No regrets. Would probably pass today, but we were having a family get together that weekend and I wanted fried turkey on the menu. It was a personal decision. I have let them go for years, but took this bird. I have no idea why and I certainly did not plan it, was a little shocked it was a jake, but I just said what the heck and took him. As of this moment I have no plans to ever take another, but I may have a muzzleloader in my hands and decide to. I don't know. I had 2 jakes, in full strut at 5 steps earlier that year and just let them walk. I let a bearded hen walk multiple times one year, but no promises in the future. Probably won't, but it will be a game time decision.
I must say I am impressed with the responses here. Not a single moralized sermon and I would wager most other hunting sites would get lots of folks on their soapbox. Good for everyone.
I don't generally shoot jakes. However, if I was on a WMA, and the hunt were almost over (especially if I went out of state), then yes, I would shoot a legal bird.
Quote from: HawkeyeGobbler on February 13, 2017, 12:46:34 PM
Way i see it is public land is every man for yourself. If you pass on it someone else will shoot it.
not necessarily...don't let that be the only reason for shooting one. If someone else shot every jake there wouldn't be any longbeards. Which there are, so some jakes always make it. If you pass it, it might just be a LB next year. But if you really want to shoot it, blast him in the head.
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It would depend on the land and how much pressure is on it.Also how many gobbled on it .
Time of the season and how many times you have to hunt. Been around a lot of northern and southern Missouri public ground and it was busy .
As far as betting on others there to not shoot a jake you passed, odds are way against that.
Of course on these lands if you don't park in a spot with someone else you better have some gas in the truck because you will be driving around alot and when you get back there may be others that came in behind you.
Of the two I have taken I never factored in whether or not it was public or private and what the odds of them making it to next year. The first was also my first bird and he was looking at me from a distance of 13 steps and all I could see was his head. I knew it was a male by the head and it was all I needed. The second was after two tough years of no shots fired. I had hit a slump and on the last Two hours of the last day of season I called in two jakes. I saw them coming from behind me . I was sitting with my legs out flat and I decided to see if I could get the gun on them. I didn't start to move until the were even with me at about 10 steps. I managed to get my knees up and the gun up with the sight turned on when they were at about 30 yards and headed away (no decoy). One didn't make it and I was happy to have a turkey to eat. I had passed up plenty of jakes that year but I needed to get my MOJO back. That's why I never say never. I don't ever plan on doing it again but my thoughts are if it is a bird that's legal and fairly won then it's your choice. I have called plenty in for others that were tickled pink with them and I am ok with that.
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Nope, and nothing against those that do. Last jake I killed was back in the late 70's. I find long beards more of a challenge.
My shooting of jakes depends a lot on the hunt. If given a choice of ending the season with a tag of shooting a jake, probably gonna shoot the jake. If I am just starting the season, the Jake will live to see another day. ;)
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Quote from: Happy on February 14, 2017, 04:59:05 PM
Of the two I have taken I never factored in whether or not it was public or private and what the odds of them making it to next year. The first was also my first bird and he was looking at me from a distance of 13 steps and all I could see was his head. I knew it was a male by the head and it was all I needed. The second was after two tough years of no shots fired. I had hit a slump and on the last Two hours of the last day of season I called in two jakes. I saw them coming from behind me . I was sitting with my legs out flat and I decided to see if I could get the gun on them. I didn't start to move until the were even with me at about 10 steps. I managed to get my knees up and the gun up with the sight turned on when they were at about 30 yards and headed away (no decoy). One didn't make it and I was happy to have a turkey to eat. I had passed up plenty of jakes that year but I needed to get my MOJO back. That's why I never say never. I don't ever plan on doing it again but my thoughts are if it is a bird that's legal and fairly won then it's your choice. I have called plenty in for others that were tickled pink with them and I am ok with that.
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I believe I've shot a couple of those jakes you've called in the past. 2 that I can recall and I'd shoot both of them again. Can only recall 5-6 total and haven't regretted any of them but the one with the shotgun was by far the most memorable. Whole thing just played out too weird.
All depends. Usually no. But last year I would have been more than happy with a short beard by the end of the season. I have nothing but respect for anyone who sticks to his guns and won't kill one no matter how bad his season is going. Personally, I'm not that strong! Lol.
That last jake was a humorous one hick.
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I'll kill any legal bird public or private land.
Shoot jakes until it's not satisfying for you anymore. I think it's just a personal preference.
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Quote from: WNCTracker on February 14, 2017, 10:07:00 PM
Shoot jakes until it's not satisfying for you anymore. I think it's just a personal preference.
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WNCTracker pretty well sums it up. As a hunter matures and his/her game improves we naturally raise the bar. I think those who don't raise the bar lose interest and eventually fade out of the sport.
My grandfather always taught me that shooting jakes was stealing longbeard gobblers from the future. It doesn't matter what land I'm hunting, all jakes are safe around me. I have nothing against anyone harvesting any turkey legally.
Even though my grandfather is long gone, his words replay in my mind whenever I see a jake. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't drawn down on jakes before, but they all get a pass from me, even if I end up eating a tag. It's just how I was raised.
Jim
98% of the time I don't... but there are always exceptions. Have before and probably will in the future, especially if my son, daughter or wife is behind the gun.
Personally it depends on the situation and many factors ranging from my mood to how the bird responds.
I have had jakes come in gobbling and strutting many times and that is almost always a recipe to come home with me. Typically I will let a jake go if I'm hunting an area with lots of birds and the Jake does little in the way of gobbling or responding to my calls.
I don't shoot jakes. Just my preference... I think they should be passed up so they can grow up . Give them a chance to do what we all love for gobblers to do. The exception for me is if you have a youngster along for the hunt.
I dont care what you shoot. I have killed a few jakes,but these days I wont kill one on purpose . I like to save them for a kid , someone who has never killed a turkey,or for seed. With that being said..... Last year the last day of season I had seen 5 jakes and a Tom go into the woods. I cut around and got infront of them. I let what I thought were the 5 jakes go by and blasted the last one in line because I thought he was the Tom. I walked over to see a jake flopping.
no...
I have, and I may do it again some day. It's not really my preference tho.
Quote from: Happy on February 14, 2017, 12:40:11 PM
Quote from: M Sharpe on February 14, 2017, 12:33:22 PM
I'm just surprised the term "super jake" hasn't emerged yet!
I prefer runt 2 year old.
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I call them Jakebeards in the fall when they are pretty much longbeards but still a little young.
Some Springs- calling in a jake gang is perfect. I called up 2 lines of jakes in PA some years apart during years when gobbling was low. I took a jake from last in line the 1st time and took the lead jake some years later. Both times the jakes were in almost a straight line coming to my calling.
I hardly ever hunt private land. I let jakes walk. If there is an issue of having the kill be an accomplishment where you think a public jake is the equivalent of a private gobbler, I put it to you that consistently killing a limit of by singling one out and calling it on purpose is probably as great a challenge as doing the same with gobblers.
Do whatever floats your boat. If you need the approval of others to make your kill a trophy, take up golf.
Yeah, I'll shoot a jake unless it's real early in the season and I don't want to use my tag right away. I shoot hens & jakes in the fall, so why shooting a jake be a problem in the spring?
I'll hold out for a mature gobbler but last I checked I couldn't eat the beard. I fault no one for calling in and killing a turkey.
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I passed over 10 jakes last year on public land. I prefer to shoot long beards. I am excited this year to hunt some of the ones I passed. Just my preference!
I hunt mostly public land and generally don't shoot jakes (gobbler seed as someone else put it). I enjoy the hunt too much to cut it short by tagging a jake. Now, on the last day of the season, I've been known to occasionally accommodate a suicidal jake. ;D