You guys keep talking about letting her go in the spring but killing her in the fall. You're still going to take her out of the breeding population either way. She may get to raise this years clutch but that's it. It's like folks talking about not shooting does late in the year because they may have bred already..........It's irrelevant. If you kill them then aren't breeding either way so you have accomplished the same thing. If you want to shoot her then shoot her. If you don't then don't but shooting her in the fall is going to accomplish the same thing that shooting her in the spring is going to.

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.

She was out in the feild again today with 4 other hens. I have noticed, I can veiw her at any time during the day by just driveing around the feilds and glassing from the road. However the other hens dissapear most of the day and come out only periodically. I don't think she has a nest? But it would not bother me if she did. I don't think its cruel to let a couple eggs go bad. We have too many turkeys anyway. The population seems to be getting out of hand in this area. I glass and film turkeys alot.. all year. This is only the second bearded hen I have ever seen, after looking at hundreds. Maybe they are more prevalent in other areas, or maybe when guys are seeing several at once they are sisters from the same hatch. For me, I would definately consider it a trophy. I would full mount it and put it next to a Tom mounted.

silentassassin,

You're right...it doesn't matter whether you take her out in the spring or fall...you're still ultimately removing her from the breeding pop. My logic for not shooting her in the spring is based on the fact that she has probably been bred like any other hen...so why not let her lay her clutch and try to raise a brood over the summer. To be honest...I'd kinda be upset if I shot a bearded hen in the spring and found eggs while dressing her out. In the fall it wouldn't bother me a bit to shoot her. You can take her out of the pop. then and have several hens to take her place the following spring. I usually take the first bird that I see during the fall season...whether it's a gobbler, hen or poult. Although I try not to take the momma hen out of a flock and will settle for one of the young 'ens instead. In the spring, my tags are strictly reserved for birds that have both beards and spurs and come in strutting and gobbling. To me, that's what makes spring turkey hunting what it is.

My personal choice would be to let her go to hatch some more gobblers for my hunting area in the spring, but I would be there in the fall to try to bag her! Would be quit a trophy with a beard that long!

Yes!!!!! I have been hunting for 12 years and have never seen one. It's leagal. And it would not hurt the population. And it would make a awsome full body mount

I have 1 by me Ive been watching for 3 years but havent shot it. If I could afford to get it mounted Id take her, but at the same time it is just nice to see in the backyard from time to time.

I probably wouldn't shoot it, hoping it would pass on that trait.

I would never intentionally shoot a bearded hen.

hal

The season ended with the bearded hen still alive. My camera guy decided to take a big gobbler instead. After reading some of the post you guys made he did hold out for a couple days and even passed a nice Tom. But when his 5 day season was comeing to an end he took one of the gobblers. I will head back over there and try and film her some more. Thanks for the comments.