Yes, I know...I would never shoot a "regular" hen. We have plenty of birds here. I just want to make an old time wingbone call. This would "kill one bird" and give two stones or so to speak...a neat and legal bird and a call.

got one here on camera last week looked as if her beard was 7 or 8 inches but thin. Had a buddy thats wife had a beard but then i thought only in alabama

and from what i understand, franklin and montgomery counties missouri are two of the top kill counties in the top kill state in the nation, id say we have enough birds here. and its also not your right to question a 100% legal kill

He has the right to hisopinion, You just dont have to agree with him.

But I do. Ive had the opportunity to shoot a couple bearded hens, but as Born to Hunt said, they are egg layers, and the get a pass.

Hey guys, I appreciate you looking at the pic. I sure didn't mean to get the ethics argument going. We all have to choose each shot at each animal as we pull the trigger. Most of us here are all members of a noble fraternity of hunters who believe in making ethical choices. We all know that legal and ethical aren't always on the same moral plane. However, if we want to get that thread started, I would rather someonelse start it. I just wanted to share a cool picture. I've probably gotten 20 or so of her over the last two months.

Happy hunting and God bless.

Three springs ago, I was dead 100% positive I was looking at a bearded hen. I watched that bird yelp, scratch, cluck, feed and carry on just like one of the girls. I shot it at 25 steps and damn it all if it wasn't the only jake I've ever killed in my life. Had a fan like a regular turkey, about three inches of beard... grey head.... and spurs about like a cock pheasant. Strangest thing I've ever seen. No more bearded hens for me.

Swamp, there is no doubt about this one...I mean I haven't gotten to examine certain organs, if you know what I mean, but there are no spurs, pale head, feathers up to the jaw. I must have 20 pics of this bird. Anyway, sorry about your story, but hey, that's hunting right?

I agree with you about the bird in your pics... but then again... I had myself convinced and I watched that bird at 80 yards with 10x binoculars. Burned me up because as a duck hunter, the line between a legal limit and being over on species (espeically in my black duck and mallard infested blinds) is a very very fine one. I rather pride myself on my bird/game ID.... and this was one time where I would have bet the farm and lost. Makes me a little gun shy I guess. Never hurts to be careful. That is definately hunting I suppose. I suspect the bird tasted better than a nasty ol' bearded hen anyway....

Any hen, bearded or not, is illegal to shoot in Louisiana.

Well, thanks to a friend of mine on this site, I have re-read the rules on turkeys and have found out that any hen is illegal in Alabama as well.(Idon't know what I was thinking)I sure am glad I found out now. Thanks guys for a great discussion and comments. I now will have to shoot this bird with a camera instead of the gun. Thanks again for the comments guys. Happy Hunting and God bless.