Are you a Jake taker?

[Muzzy61]

I don't, but its illegal in MS and that's where I do most of my hunting. I'm happy for anyone who's happy with whatever they legally harvest. There is nothing wrong with shooting any legal turkey or deer. I get bothered when folks apologize for killing a buck that's not a 150. If a 1.5 year old buck makes you happy I'll celebrate with you and if you critique something I kill I'll never hunt with you again. I follow the rules at whatever club I hunt and try to only harvest nice buck, but sometimes I hunt public land near the house and will kill the first legal thing I see. Many of the little deer I've killed in the marsh came harder then some of the nice deer killed on private ground. As I type this I'm thinking I might want a jake fan and might roll one in LA in a couple weeks, or not, but if I do I'll tote it out with a grin from ear to ear.

.              Yep, this about sums me up

[Clif Owen]

I've shot a couple. My first was a jake..well..kinda. He had a 6" beard. I let a couple go last year but had every intention of shooting one of the 4 that my buddy called in the last weekend of the season. I waiteed for him to shoot because he hadn't shot one in a couple of years. It just didn't work out for me when he shot though...he shot the only one I could see at the time and when the survivors came part of the way back, he could see them but I couldn't. I hunted an area that I had seen at least 7 jakes the previous year but we listened 4 or 5 days and never heard a bird. No idea what happened to them.

[El Pavo Grande]

I don't shoot jakes, but have zero problem with anyone that does.  I killed several when I was a kid, both spring and fall.  Last spring on the second and last day of a quick out of state trip, a buddy and I called up 3 gobbling jakes.  He killed one and I watched the show.  I was as happy as he was, but chose not to shoot one of the other two. 

[jlawson382]

This is my first season, so, while I'm not PLANNING on killing a jake... I won't promise not to put a bead on one if he wanders my way.   Especially if he's the ONLY idiot in the woods dumb enough to come to my calls!

[WildTigerTrout]

My first spring gobbler was a longbeard. I can't say I never killed a jake because I have. I took several when fairly new to the game. At this point though I prefer to wait for Mr. Longbeard. I have no problem with anyone who takes a jake. IMO it's up to the individual and who am I to condemn anybody as long as the hunt is legal and the game taken in a sporting manner.

[calebb]

I have killed some jakes in my day but I hung it up on them when I was younger, wouldn't matter anyway they aren't legal in Arkansas anyhow. I'm all for youth and new people killing them, or even people with limited time. Personally I want to wait for a 2 year old or better, thats what gets me going. I will work a jake if he wants to play though, never turn down a free show its a good chance to learn something new.

[SouthEastNC]

I don't mind one bit when a group of jakes comes near. Get to have called a male bird (or birds) into range, watch them, and still have a tag to go after a big boy.

[870FaceLift]

I understand the mentality of wanting to hone your woodsmanship and focus in on mature harvests.  However, I personally never enter the woods with expectations of killing a particular caliber of animal.  I've certainly scouted particular bucks and tried like heck to get on them, but I've never for one hunt went into it thinking that I wouldn't consider harvesting another animal.  I've had hunts where I've passed numerous 2.5 year old deer or jakes.  I've also had hunts where I was tickled to take a jake.

The truth for me is that I just like being in the woods.  I like turkey hunting because to be successful you have to interact with the birds on their level.  I never want to get to the point where I see a small group of jakes run in and I dont get excited.  My worst fear is that hunting will be that way for my kids.  I have a three year old who already picks out "shooters" on the Outdoor Channel.  My wish for him is that he gets to enter the woods and hunt for a lifetime without ever having to be dissatisfied with an animal that he decides to pull the trigger on or draw back on.  There are many reasons not to shoot a jake if you don't want to, but machoism shouldn't be one of them.

Just my $.02, but I let the moment decide what I shoot.  I love long beards and curved hooks, but I'm indifferent when it comes to shooting a jake or letting it walk. 

Good luck to everyone this season!

[PALongspur]

I've been known to shoot a jake now and then. I'm a turkey hunter, I do it because I love it. I could care less about impressing anyone with beard or spur lengths. I do however, love a good action-packed hunt and sometimes jakes will give you that. For me, legal gobbler in range....BOOM!!

[saltysenior]

  I myself, and certain states call it ''Spring Gobbler Season"......I go by that..

[lumberjack]

  I myself, and certain states call it ''Spring Gobbler Season"......I go by that..

Do you then only buy Gobbler calls or do you then go general and buy "turkey" calls?

[appalachianstruttstopper]

It's according to how much hunting time during the season and what chances I have had during that season. In saying that, yes I have and do kill jakes, usually don't unless they work me up like a long beard does. Two of my most memorable hunts where jakes that had me like a 3yr old boss would have me. One a few years ago on public property last week of a 5 week season I spent 3hrs working this bird that gobbled like he was king of the mountain. I carried him the 2 mile hike outta the NF and considered it a trophy because this bird had worked me as hard as I worked him.

[870BkWht]

We are allowed 2 tags here in WV and at this point in my life, I will not turn down a Jake unless Ive already filled 1 tag on a Jake.  Jakes taste better than tag soup.  And its my opinion that most of the time, a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush.

[redarrow]

I have taken Jakes in the past and may take one again in the future.I prefer to hunt gobblers.I have no problem passing up a jake though.So to answer your question . At this point in my life 'No 'I wont shoot a jake.

[renegade19]

I have before.  I might again.  My buddy actually has a mounted jake tail that is one of my favorite tail displays.  To each his own.