I've read also that about 1 in 8 hens has a beard, and as Ryan Tucker got from the NWTF site, that falls right in between the 10-20 percent. I think they are more common than most think. I definately wouldn't call it a once in a lifetime opportunity, or I would have had 3 once in a lifetime birds this spring alone. The bearded hens I saw this year all had pretty good sized beards. Two of them were together in a group of about 4 other hens and they both had about 8-9 inch beards, and almost as thick as a toms. They other I saw had about a 6-7 inch beard which was pretty thick but not as much as the others. I personally wouldn't shoot it just because I'd rather wait and try to get a tom, but if you want one then go ahead. As long as it's legal who am I to say whats wrong and right.