Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

I have two birds roosted, and I am 110% positive I know where they are going to go and what they are going to do in the morning. I am 99.9% sure I can kill one. Problem is they are Jakes. I know a jake is a wonderful bird, but I love to harvest longbeards. Problem is I cant find one anywhere! I cant even get a gobble anywhere. Would you go try to harvest a jake in the morning or hold out? Thanks for your opinions.

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!

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

depending on the time in your season (unless first day that is) i would take one, for a few reasons. 1. you said you can't find any toms2. you know you have the opportunity to kill a bird, wich as a hunter, is what your out there to do (yes, i know thats not what its all about and all that, but you are bringing a wepon arent you). and 3. as you said, a jake is a wonderful bird, and who knows by going to that spot you may catch a tom late to roost and you'll see him in the morning. Good Luck man, its your call.

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

oh and one last thing, kill a jake, you aren't on team 5 :D[8D]

just jokin, good luck!

KP

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

thats your call. if a jake would make you happy than id take one and brag about it all day. but...if a jake wouldnt make you happy, id be lookin for a new area to hunt that has some longbeards on it.....they gotta be somewhere. kill whatever makes you happy...dont be concerned about what a bunch of guys on the internet thinks you should take:D

good luck...have fun...thats what huntings all about

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

It is all up to you. If your looking for my opinion, I would gladly take a jake if the season is dwindling down. I would rather fill my take with a tasty Jake vs not eating anything at all. Jakes are more gullable than longbeards, but they are still great birds to harvest. To me, turkeys are different than deer. It is harder for me to take a yearling buck vs taking a Jake.....maybe because a turkey can be a longbeard in two years vs a deer taking 3+ years to be a monster. I don't know, just my opinion.

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

This is how I look at it, if I cant find a tom to atleast attempt to kill then a jake sounds pretty darn good.

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

I get the chance to hunt many states - I do not kill jakes but that is my decision..Yes I have taken a few early in my turkey hunting endevors......and that as stated by others is Your Choice!

JW

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

Ethically and legally, there is nothing wrong with it. It is just a personal choice. If you want to, go ahead and kill one. If you do, make sure to tell us the story!

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

I stopped killing jakes years ago and it has helped me produce larger Tomsfor the future. I kow that most of the mature gobblers i harvest now on my dads farm were jakes I could have wacked when they were babies. It's personally up to you. I can only speak for myself, but don't feel bad about not getting a turkey this year....those jake will be adult breeders next season and after. I try to only shoot 3 year olds now, I scout hard all year and every year, look at their spurs and pecking order to gauge how old birds are in that area. i usually can tell by their gobble tone and face/head characteristics. Tail and body characteristics are slightly diff on 2yr olds from 3/4 year olds. It's alot of fun. Jakes are the stupidist birds in the woods...kinda like a 1.5 year old buck in the rut season. Really no challenge. A jake is a great bird for kids getting into hunting though.