Killing a Jake

[JDogg]

I got to be honest, I hunt to fill my tags.  I eat every bit of everything I kill(well not every bit!!!).   And right now on the stove top is jake turkey marsala!!!!!

[Spring_Woods]

If he gobbles like a man (Tom) he can die like a man.

[coyotetrpr]

I am less then a week away from my season here in Wisconsin.  I have been scouting the the farms I will be hunting and there are an abundance of jakes! True there are a few toms also. However this area is broken and it varies greatly where certain birds will be. I'm an experienced turkey hunter but have been out of the game for several years and I'm jumping back into it this year. My wife is expecting our first child(hopefully my little girl will hunt with me)! But baby showers and other obligations are breaking up my season! So long story short is it ok for an experienced turkey hunter to kill a jake? I love to hunt turkeys and I know killing a jake would not take from my experience.

Just my opinion, but it troubles me some that you seem to be asking permission from the readers on this site. If you have personal issues with killing jakes then you should do some soul searching about this matter. I just don't think one should ever feel bad or guilty about the harvest of a legal bird because of what others might think. Sorry if I sound like I am preaching, but I believe that more folks need to worry about what makes them feel good than what others might think.

[Fastcat]

I have no issue killing jakes as I have before. My reason for this post is more of inquiry into the views of fellow turkey hunter in a respectable community. And its hard not to sound preachy in type. Its the curse of the text message generation! Unfortunately its my generation!
Ah progress.

[mountman62]

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", i don't feel guilty at all bout the 2 jakes i took in Texas tuesday, 2 different setups, 2 different jakes, my first RIOS, i was like a kid in a candy store after taking them both, so it's really just a matter of personal preference

[Scout24]

You cetainly don't need our approval to shoot one, do what your gut tells you. Alot depends upon your circumstance, how much time you have, how many birds and tags, etc. Long ago I stopped hunting for what every else thought. If your family enjoys eating turkey, they're definately more palatable than a shoe leather tom, and some  also give you challenging hunts with lots of gobbles. We have a pile this year in NH as well after two bad hatch years and few jakes.

[slawman]

its not the length of the beard or or the spurs or the weight of the bird that measures my hunts....it's all about the game we play leading up to the harvest of a magnificint bird that we are so fortunate to have a chance to go after.

[davisd9]

Killed a nice tom this year on the April 22 and then on April 23 I took a friend new to the sport and we both shot jakes.  I was very excited, mainly cause it was his first bird, but also cause it was my first double with a friend.  Nothing wrong with shooting one.  Would I rather a Tom that weighs 25 lbs, with a 12" beard, and 1.5" spurs, yes, but that don't always work.  THe hunt is about everything up to the time you pull the trigger and should not be measured on what is on the other end of the shot, that should be gravy.  Good Luck!

[csgrizz]

its not the length of the beard or or the spurs or the weight of the bird that measures my hunts....it's all about the game we play leading up to the harvest of a magnificint bird that we are so fortunate to have a chance to go after.

Well said! I agree 100%.

[Muskie03]

Everyone one this forum will be %110 supportive of what you shoot. Time and circumstances dictate how you hunt, enjoy every minute. Killing a bird is just a bonus no matter what age he is.

[bowhunter84]

if it makes you happy shoot him. if it doesnt then dont shoot him.

[CASH]

Kill what you want, but remember that Jake will be a longbeard next year!