What about bearded hens...where legal?

[lumberjack]

The Jake taker thread got me to thinkin.  Here in WV the law for spring turkey season says bearded birds only.  So therefore bearded hens are legal.  How do other states handle this and would / do you shoot one?  I personally have never seen a bearded hen during the spring season so I have not had to make the decision....depending on the season and date it would be hard to pass up!! However, hens do potentially have an impact on the population for next year so there is a biological reason to let her walk....may not make it easier though! 

[budtripp]

Its legal in Missouri. I saw one once, I believe it was 2009. I was home on leave during turkey season and was really tempted to shoot her as I hadn't been turkey hunting for years since joining the Marine Corps but a gobbler suddenly appeared in the field so my sights shifted to him. A buddy of mine killed one back when we were in middle school and did a fan mount of her. Looks pretty cool next to his gobbler fan mounts. Something different.

[Byhalia]

Legal here in PA.......won't shoot here in the spring......but come fall......

[turkey harvester]

I'm not killing the turkey factory.

[SouthEastNC]

They're legal here in NC. The only time I've seen one, I had just started hunting and my host/teacher didn't want it shot.

If it was at my place this season... not sure what I'd do.

[Ded Goblr]

I'm not killing the turkey factory.

Nobody wants the title of "Hen Killer"..

[drenalinld]

Hi, my name is David and I've shot two bearded hens.

[guesswho]

I'm a hen killer.  I see bearded hens pretty regular and killed one several years ago that had a nine inch beard.   So far the population there is holding it's own.   Some states kill'em in the fall and still have huntable populations.  So I'm not sure how much the killing of hens impact the population.

[J Hook Max]

 Never would kill any hen, legal or not. The one you kill could not raise any poults. I know I may be old fashioned but in my neck of the woods, you would not want to known as the guy who killed a hen. You may as well have killed your Mama.

[Boatdoc39]

No hens, including bearded hens can be taken at any time here in Louisiana. 

[WildSpur]

Legal here in pa.  I would shoot one. 
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[budtripp]

In the spring, they get a pass to raise another batch of poults.  I'll whack hens any day in the fall when I'm bowhunting though.

[Tomspur]

Shot my first bearded hen this past fall. Saw one last year that I passed on and said I would  take one if I got an opportunity which I did. It is legal in Texas by the way.

[jakesdad]

Shot one in the fall probably 15 yrs ago,when populations were pretty high.Would not shoot a spring bearded hen,or any hen in fall(maybe with a bow)until the population gets high again(if ever )Have really got a interst in trying to kill fall gobblers,but havent really taken the step forward to really focus on it yet........but I can see it happening soon!

[wvcurlytop]

I've never saw one in the spring, but I have saw several in the fall.  I don't think I'd shoot one in the spring, as she may lay a nice clutch of eggs full of next spring's JAKES!!!! 

And the ones I've saw in the fall,  ..  So far we still have turkeys to hunt!