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.

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

Your mash potatoes will be awfully lonely if you don't!

Tom

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

mashed tators will be lonely id you dont, lol..thats awesome.......

i wouldnt in the beginning of season, probably still wouldn't later on, but i can't say for sure, i might.....maybe if you pass on the jakes this year, you'll have your gobbler for next year......it's totally up to you.....just knowing that you could of killed him makes some happy....

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

personally I am a firm believer in long beards, its not always about the kill, I know how you feel though, 2 years ago last day of my 5 day season I had6 jakes walk less than 20 yards from my blind, the thought was their but I just keptthinking that is a future long beard, if I shoot him I wont be happy and probably regret it and next year all I will think about is I shouldnt have shot that jake It could be himI am chasing this morning...If you will be happy shooting a jake well than by all means gas one of them..But dont just shoot a jake so you can say "I shot a turkey" I have a buddy that does that he has shot a turkey something like 8 years in a row and just to keep a stupid streak he doesnt care what he shoots as long as he can tell all the guys at his work "yeah well I bet ya havent shot a turkey the last umpteen years like me" Whatever your decision good luck and shoot straight...

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

I took a jake on opening day in RI. Why? I have gone entire seasons here without seeing anything. I am also hunting CT this season, so I'm holding out for a longbeard there. Also, grilled turkey breast is just about the tastiest dinner I've had in a long time!

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

i would wait.if you usually hunt long beards justhold off you will come along sooner or later.....

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

I killed a jake this year and I'm proud of it. I'm 45 years old and I've only been turkey hunting for 3 years. That was the first bird I called in and killed on my own. I did it with a black powder shotgun and I am damn proud of that bird. If it will make you happy go for it!

RE: Should I shoot? What would you do?
 

i think it's totally up to the indivisual doing the shooting........i have taken one jake and i am proud of him, he was a good jake, but after i shot him, i wasn't pleased with myself...i was happy i had gotten a bird, but then again i wasnt....i really dont think i'd do it again, but like i said earlier, i may or may not take another one....just depends on when it happens to be, if its the beginning of season theres no way i'd take one, but like with my one and only jake, it was the last weekend and i needed a bird, so i took him.....theres no shame in taking a jake.....well, theres one thing that bothers me personally.its when someone takes a 11 in. bearded bird, then the next day goes out and kills a jake with a 2 in beard....i would be so ahamed.....but as long as its legal, then we should support our fellow hunters.......