Tom or Jake?
04-30-2008, 03:04 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location:
Posts: 334
Tom or Jake?
Im a first year turkey hunter and i shot my first bird this morning. The bird had an 8 in beard with 7/8 in long spurs. Im not sure if it would be considered a jake or a tom. Either way i dont care i am as happy as can be, it would just be nice to know.
04-30-2008, 03:25 PM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chatham, Ohio
Posts: 8,834
RE: Tom or Jake?
Jakes just have bumps for spurs...its the easist way to tell between tom or jake. Ive seen alot of those "in-between" birds+ with 3/4+ inch spurs, but they still have the longer tail feathers in the middle and shorter beards. Most likely 2 year olds.
04-30-2008, 03:44 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Central, WI
Posts: 1,860
RE: Tom or Jake?
Tom guaranteed. Jakes have 3-4 inch beards, longer tail feathers in the middle of their feathers when they are strutted out, and just short nubs for spurs.
Congrats and lets see the pics!!
Congrats and lets see the pics!!
04-30-2008, 04:27 PM
#8
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 7,437
RE: Tom or Jake?
Symetrical tail fan dictates turkey Puberty! 
As other said - center 4 tail feathers when the fan is spread are an inch or so higher than the other 7 tail feathers are either side of the center four. If there is no difference - Tis a bona fide Tom - and from your spur measurement 2 yr old.
JW
As other said - center 4 tail feathers when the fan is spread are an inch or so higher than the other 7 tail feathers are either side of the center four. If there is no difference - Tis a bona fide Tom - and from your spur measurement 2 yr old.
JW
