Last year I ended up shooting a jake near the end of the season, but also got my longest beard at 11 1/2 inches. 2013 we had very few birds in my area and I took a jake. Funny thing is, I had just let a long beard walk by my because the bird behind him was coming in strutting. Couldn't shoot that first bird before I saw the second, and ended up with a jake. 2007-2012: Two good toms every year. In 2012, first time hunting in West Texas, first time on that PUBLIC land, first time hunting Rios, first time I had even pulled a call out that year. My calling sounded like crap. Here came two toms, dropped one of them. Dumb luck I guess.