FYI.

It is thought that bearded hens are normally OLD birds that have become BARREN and can no longer lay eggs. Just like an older human female.

Banded "Rios" have been confirmed to live to be over 9 years of age. The hormones that are produced in them are understood to change with age and allow the beard to grow. Beards on hens are generally very short.

If their was a biological reason to restrict the take of bearded hens, the laws would reflect that fact. If it were thought that they were sitting on nests, the take would be outlawed.

Considering we shoot far fewer hens than Toms, their are many hens that achieve ripe old age. One Tom can "service" many hens. One hen can reproduce for years or until she no longer has embryos. The take of bearded hens has no bearing on the total population or the health of the resource.



I call them .....
"The bearded lady of the circus".

As far as shooting one.. I say Drop the hammer. H E L L yes I would!

It might never reach the record books but it's as "Atypical" as a turkey can get.



Bill

BTW...I've observed many hens in the wild and never seen one with a beard. I wonder if the ones you guys have seen (one in seven?) were sighted near a hazardous waste dump.
I do not support the fall take of hens unless they become a nuisance.

Did you see the beard on that old lady in the original post? WOW!!