Bearded Hen
 

I saw a bearded hen during deer season this year. She was fifteen yards from where I was sitting last spring When I shotmy turkey. How would I go about in hunting a bearded hen. Sure I would take another big tom this year but if I could get a shot at that bearded hen that would be the best turkey season I have had yet.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

You better make sure it is legal first. Most states do not allow hens, bearded or not, to be shot.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

During the spring turkey season that is.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Agreed...I can't think of a state where you can shoot hens during the Spring...

RE: Bearded Hen
 

i know most states require gobblers, but some states simply require BEARDED TURKY which the hen falls into this category. read into your states regs and find out the ruling. i know kentucky used to be just a bearded turkey with 6" or longer.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

i know in nebraska in the spring you can shoot a tom or a bearded hen

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Minnesota, you can shoot any turkey that has a beard. Spring or fall doesn't matter if it is a hen or not as long as she as that beard.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Wisconsin allows you to shoot a bearded turkey..including a hen.

As far as going about hunting a bearded hen, there isn't a special way other than finding out where they roost, where they fly down, where the feed, and possibly nest.

If you have some hens around you, do a lot of purring.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

A "bearded bird" is legal in NY as well. Personally, I'd pass on a bearded hen during the spring season for three reasons. (1) they can still lay a clutch of eggs, so your loosing that hatch if you bang her (2) Hens that have beards, have short, thin, scraggly beards, again, another reason to pass and take a Gobbler, (3) Hens don't have spurs, another reason to hold out for a Mature longbeard!!
Here in NY, we have a fall turkey season, at that time, I may take one, but not during the spring season!!;)

RE: Bearded Hen
 

yes i would agree, leave the hen alone . you would only be hurting your futre hunts in that area. she might be a unique trophy but not worth the consequences.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

You can shoot anything with a beard in Indiana.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

id pop it to her since its legal. just locate and pattern her and set up somewhere she feeds travles roosts. anything. just set up where she would be, and if you wanna try calling call to her as a hen not a gobbler. get loud and aggressive and mocl her if she calls back. throw out a few fighting purrs and see if she wont come in. just try any tactic you can think of to help you bag this bird. if it would be a trophy to you then dont worry what others would do in your shoes, kill thehen if you feel like it.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Bearded Hens are legal in Missouri also. They are pretty rare, and would be an awesome trophy, but i would just hunt like you usually do, maybe at that same spot you saw her in the fall. Good luck.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

First turkey I ever saw was a beared hen. I passed on her and shot a jake.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

its legal in mo.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Its legal in PA and most other states. I personally would take one and this spring I awill try to. Be cool to take the slam of bearded hens.:D

RE: Bearded Hen
 

It's legal in IL. Must have a visible beard. Would make a heck of a trophy!

RE: Bearded Hen
 

In Michigan you can only shoot one bearded bird in the spring season but in the fall season you can shoot one of ether sex.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

so technically you could shoot a bearded hen during the spring in Michigan? i know most people wouldnt simply because they wouldnt have a tag left for a gobbler.

i actually read in the Turkey Call magazine the other day (forgot which issue) that on average 10% of all hens are bearded. idk if this is for a certain area or not. It does seem a bit high because they seem to be pretty rare around here seeing as how ive seen hundreds and hundreds of hens and not one bearded hen.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Thats the way it is writen in the general rules of the spring hunting guide.
It clearly states " One bearded turkey per licensed hunter " it says nothing about the sex of the bearded bird.
The DNR of Michigan basicly leaves it up to thehunter to know the diffrence between a male and female bird.
Every turkey hunter I know can tell the diffrence just by looking at the color of there head and feathers.
Personaly I wouldn't shoot at a hen with or without a beard.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

It's the same in MD & VA, bearded turks only in the spring, which would allow a bearded hen to be taken. While I have no problem with shooting a (young) hen in the fall (VA) season, it would rub me wrong to take a bearded hen in the spring, a matter of personal choice...
-fsh

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Its legal in Indiana as long as it has a beard, I know because i have been there. checked this one in with no problems. 7 1/4" beard

RE: Bearded Hen
 

ame as in Fla. it says gobbler or bearded birds.

my wife took a bearded hen with her bow this year.when I got to her, I ask what in the world was she doing shooting a hen, she said it has a beard.it was 6 1/2" beard.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Hey, I actually shot a bearded hen that's beard was 8 inches plus, here's a picture she's on the left, I will have more pictures but I have to find em first. It was too dark to distinguish it was a hen, and it is legal in New York. I shot after it came from the brush and into the meadow to my decoying and calls. I dont think it responded to my calls so much unless she was the boss hen. I saw the long beard on it and figured that was where the gobbling came from I heard. I found an egg inside when I dressed her out, Boy was I surprised. But luckily my grampa killed a nice tom, as you will see me holding it up too.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

Ive seen several bearded hens in Iowa where they are legal game, but only when I was driving around. I asked a DNR officer what he thought about it and he brought up an excellent point. Bearded hens need to be shot so they dont pass on that gene to other generations. Otherwise more and more hens would end up getting shot. So if a bearded hen comes into range for me you can guess what I'll do. Plus they probably are very tender and juicy ;)

RE: Bearded Hen
 

I've seen three bearded hens at one time in a small flock. I even saw one that had a beard as big as any gobbler Ive ever see. It was very heavy and long. I have always passed them up because of the nesting factor. The only reason they are legal is because of the confusion it can cause. They aren't really very rare.

RE: Bearded Hen
 

legal as well to take in KS. in the spring!

RE: Bearded Hen
 

I didn't think that was a true statement and it seems from the responses it is not. In Ont it is the same as most. "bearded turkey"

While the idea of not shooting hens makes sense I just apply a little probability to that. If it's less than 10% are bearded that means you will see quite a few hens in gun range before you have one with a beard. Chances are as well that a jake or tom will be at the end of your gun before this happens as well so on that rare occasion you might get the shot you aren't doing a whole lot to populations stats. Add to this as well that there are hunters who 100% choose not to shoot one and you taking one is even less of an impact.

Start factoring in percenatge of those bearded hens which would be non-brood hens and........:eek:Ah you get the point.

I don't think it is a big deal at all in the grand scheme of things so if you want the trophy, take her!

I have never had the chance but if I did I would want a standing hen mount under my full strut gobblin tom I'm getting done. After that I would want those big nasty spurs so I could pass on one.:)