Taking Jakes

[McGoose]

I took a jake today. It had a two inch beard and nubs. It was shot on public land. It seemed as though I couldn't resist. Does anyone else shoot jakes when they have more than one tag? Or is this kiddy stuff?

[njdevilsb]

I have before and I probably will again.  Early in the season I don't anymore, but later in the season it's game on.  If you're happy with him, good for you.  You can't eat the beards and spurs anyway.

Congrats on your success.

[guesswho]

If it is something you want to do then do it.  You hunt for yourself, enjoy it however you see fit.

[McGoose]

To be honest, it wasn't that rewarding. I'm sure he will fry up good but it was anticlimatic after the shot. He was basically a big hen with the size of his beard and nubs. I still have one tag and look forward to a gobbler, didn't help that my wife is due any day now and didn't want to eat a tag.

[Struttin Spurs]

If it is something you want to do then do it.  You hunt for yourself, enjoy it however you see fit.

Well put.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

I don't shoot jakes and don't understand why any seasonsed hunter would.
It's an immature animal with less than a year of life under its belt.

That being said, I encourage newbies to take the opportunity to harvest one if they've never taken a bird.

JMHO

[TRKYHTR]

I have been turkey hunting a long time and have killed a few Jakes. I choose not to shoot Jakes anymore but that is my decision. I took a friend out a few weeks ago that has killed several turkeys, most of them Jakes. He killed a Jake that day and was very upset because he wanted to kill a longbeard. I reminded him that it's not the size of the game that makes a good hunt. It's the hunt itself. If you want to kill a Jake and it's legal, thats your call, have a great hunt. That Jake is a Turkey and we are Turkey hunting.

TRKYHTR

[WyoHunter]

I have been turkey hunting a long time and have killed a few Jakes. I choose not to shoot Jakes anymore but that is my decision. I took a friend out a few weeks ago that has killed several turkeys, most of them Jakes. He killed a Jake that day and was very upset because he wanted to kill a longbeard. I reminded him that it's not the size of the game that makes a good hunt. It's the hunt itself. If you want to kill a Jake and it's legal, thats your call, have a great hunt. That Jake is a Turkey and we are Turkey hunting.

TRKYHTR

Well put! My thoughts exactly.

[mdtkyhntr]

First bird I killed was a Jake, and I will never forget it. I haven't shot another one since, but I've only passed 2 or 3 in those years. I have to say that I agree with TRKYHTR, it's more about the whole hunt rather than taking a jake.
Zach

[Gobble!]

I don't shoot jakes and don't understand why any seasonsed hunter would.
It's an immature animal with less than a year of life under its belt.

That being said, I encourage newbies to take the opportunity to harvest one if they've never taken a bird.

JMHO

You don't shoot 2 years olds do you? I have called in way more 2 years olds then jakes so IMO that makes jakes smarter then 2 years old and more of a trophy right?

[deadbuck]

If you call him up and kill him a jake is a trophy. I would not ambush one or shoot one that was not gobbling or strutting though.

[West Augusta]

I don't kill jakes but don't look down on you for doing so. I also don't take bearded hens.

[fallhnt]

I only bowhunt ,so I shoot jakes&bearded hens

[hunttherut]

I have been turkey hunting a long time and have killed a few Jakes. I choose not to shoot Jakes anymore but that is my decision. I took a friend out a few weeks ago that has killed several turkeys, most of them Jakes. He killed a Jake that day and was very upset because he wanted to kill a longbeard. I reminded him that it's not the size of the game that makes a good hunt. It's the hunt itself. If you want to kill a Jake and it's legal, thats your call, have a great hunt. That Jake is a Turkey and we are Turkey hunting.

TRKYHTR

[jakesdad]

I dont take jakes but only as a personal choice.I dont look down on anybody that takes any legal bird.What may be an "inferior" bird to some may be the trophy of a lifetime to others,to reasons known only to that particular hunter.