jake decoy beards
 

i have a decoy and the beard is about 5 1/2 inches long and i think it is to long but i was wondering what size i should cut it to

I would think 2 to 3 inches only basing that on the jakes I have seen after the hens. Seems to be like that and the jakes with longer beards seem to be older and a little smarter and don't tend to be a threat to a big Tom. Maybe it is like when you are 17 or 18 you can take on the world but ya turn 20 even know your still a kid you know you can get your butt kicked!!!!!!!

why a curl

I would be far more concerned about: where their roost tree is, what time is fly down, where they move to from there, where do they water, where do they feed, where is their strutting area, where do they dust themselves, to call or not to call....................

95% of the action a Jake decoy gets from live birds is more on the color " Red" and the Tail of the decoys. As far as the beard I have to size with RR on this one, A curl up would be the only difference in the look of a jake beard. I have seen jakes with a 2 inch beard and have seen them with a 5 inch beard....

what is a stepped tail

Monkey,

A young bird's tail is not fully developed, so the tail feathers are not all the same length. The feathers in the middle of the tail are the longest and are noticeable shorter as they fan out (like "steps").

You know that's a "jake" or a young male: also the "beard" is just developing (under 4" or so).

Why cut it? I use a full 10" beard on my full strut decoy. If I want to set up the decoy as a Jake I just pull the beard into the becoy leaving 2 or 3" showing and add a Jakes fan. If I want to set up your decoy as a long beard, don't pull so much through the decoy and add a full fan.