Killed this bird hunting with my dog Maizy this weekend. Strange bird, had a 7 1/2" beard. I'm 99% convinced it's a bearded hen, but it had a VERY large head, larger carnucles, VERY small nubs where it's spurs would grow, and irregular length on the tail feathers. Brown tips on the breast feathers, so I'm going with bearded hen. I usually let them go in the spring when I see them, but not much gets past me in the fall if I can help it.