RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
Well I think your the only one that can answer that question. Its your hunt, and your call. Everyone has their own reasons behind why we hunt, and harvest what we do.
My own personal example is I haven't shot a tom in last 3 springs. I've passed on many jakes going after only a longbeard. I like to let them live to become bigger in most my spots. However I have one spot that means alot to me, and put in alot of effort yr. around to enjoy it. Its our family hunting camp, and woods. I've never ever taken a spring tom there at all. The birds there are just different, and difficult to hunt. I've tried so many different setups, techniques, gotten suggestions on how to bag a tom there. Every yr it seems any type of calling, and they just walk away, or hang up 50yds out. I've hunted with my brother, had him setup 50yds ahead me, and they still stop too far out. I've walked away calling, scouted routines, and setup in normal paths move. With little or no calling, and would change pattern go another way. I've tried pissing off hens. You name it I've tried it for 10 tough yrs there!! May 1st it finally happened, the toms were all over, and really wound up. Gobbling like I've never heard around there. I finally got the monkey off my back, and bagged a tom. A 17lb jake w/ a 5" beard. Any my other spots he'd walked, but there he's like a real trophy to me. I'm so pumped over that hunt!