Every year I see a few of them but this morning there was a flock of hens in the road and 4 or 5 of them had 1" beards? Maybe something genetic in that group?
I usually see 1 or 2 a year on different land, it seems the ones that I see are lone hens.
I've seen a few on our land over the years ... got a few pictures of one a couple years ago while deer hunting that had about a 9" beard!
Seems to run more common in certain flocks and areas. I hunt a ranch in TX that has quite a few.
10% of the hen population has beards.
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Quote from: WNCTracker on February 07, 2018, 12:38:23 PM
Every year I see a few of them but this morning there was a flock of hens in the road and 4 or 5 of them had 1" beards? Maybe something genetic in that group?
Well my guess is those are all the same brood mates (sisters) of last year with the "beard" trait. They would be Jennys just as jakes. I see them often enough each year and in some areas more often.
MK M GOBL
Real common on the grounds I frequent, as are multibeards. Not sure if there is any correlation between the two or not.
Quote from: guesswho on February 07, 2018, 02:36:55 PM
Real common on the grounds I frequent, as are multibeards. Not sure if there is any correlation between the two or not.
There is a theory that there is because of the beard gene coming from both sides. The farm I hunt has bearded hens and multi beards. No idea if there is more to it than just the theory.
Quote from: guesswho on February 07, 2018, 02:36:55 PM
Real common on the grounds I frequent, as are multibeards. Not sure if there is any correlation between the two or not.
I have been told by my turkey mentor, that he has seen an correlation between bearded hens and multi bearded gobblers.
One tract I hunt, the only bird killed off it 2 years ago was double bearded. Then this past fall, while deer hunting, I saw 3 bearded hens in a group of 6 birds. These hens all had 4 inch beards minimum.
Depends on the location I've never seen a bearded hen in Louisiana last year a guy hunting with us in Nebraska shot two bearded hens and we saw a few more on the same farm.
We hunted one last year 7-9 inch beard just couldn't find her. Unreal how big she was and how long her beard was. Only one I have ever seen.
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I agree that it is a genetic thing; certain areas seem to hold more bearded hens than others. For example, Delaware seems to have a higher percentage of bearded hens than most areas. However, if I remember correctly, I believe the overall percentage of hens with a beard is closer to 2-4%.
Quote from: fallhnt on February 07, 2018, 01:17:55 PM
10% of the hen population has beards.
Agreed. 10%-12% average (as a whole)
In Plymouth Ma I have seen bearded hens for many years now. Not an over abundance but more than I have seen anywhere else, even neighboring states. It must be in the gene pool in this area. I add that I have never shot a bearded hen. Never wanted a turkey that bad to kill a hen in the spring.
I've seen several. But they ain't common when you want a hen bone call.
I saw my first one twice last year and I have been hunting over 30-years. Pretty cool sighting for sure.
The majority of the Turkey articles that I have read over the the last 30 years
state that a hen population is about 10-12% of the turkey flock.
I live in Erie, Pa and with respect to Fall turkey hunting in nearby New York; I have
been blessed to have killed 3 hens that had beards that measured
5", 7 1/4" and 8 1/2 " respectively.
I would like to mention two interesting coincidences, 2 of the birds were killed 70 yards apart and the
other bird was shot about 250 yards from the nearest dead bird. Plus, as a crow flies, they were in a direct line of each other from North to South.
Therefore, the point I am trying to make is that I believe that genetics may influence a larger population of bearded hens in a given population of turkeys. Additionally, as long as you are in the turkey woods, anything can happen and I mean anything!
I see 1-2 every year. Even though they are legal, I give them a pass. I'll eat tag soup before I'll kill one.
I have about 4 different farms to hunt, all within 10 miles or so of each other here in Illinois and have only seen bearded hens on one of the farms.
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Totally based on genetics,....just like multi-bearded gobblers, color phases, etc.,...all based on the random combination of genes between the parents.
Here in the Merriam's country of south-central NM , I would say with some level of confidence,...having looked over a few thousand hens over the years,...that the percentage of bearded hens runs around 3-5%. Then again, 100 miles away in the northern part of the mountain range, the percentage could be totally different.
To quote a fool I know,..."I have heard some people say 'it is what it is'". ;D :toothy9: :toothy12:
I have ran across bearded hens a few times here in Ontario. On a hunt in Nebraska in 2015 I had these 3 hens bring in my first out of Province bird. 2 of the hens were bearded ladies. The video is below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYEsyqhcZyA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYEsyqhcZyA)
I've only seen one in all the years hunting my area.