Would you shoot a jake?
04-08-2014, 01:36 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: westernPa.
Posts: 2,211
Only one person you need to impress. That's yourself. If you can walk out of the woods with one over your shoulder with no regrets then I say shoot it.If you shoot one then think,I wish I would of shot an old longbeard.Then you had no business shootin it.Only you can determine what is a trophy to you.Just my opinion.
04-08-2014, 04:27 AM
#16
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,227
The season in VA opens this Sat and if a jake comes to my call I'll do my best to take him home. Under those feathers is the meat and I can't eat a beard. For me the hunt is about the table these days. I do the same with deer. Antlers aren't edible and I don't care about them.
However, I'm willing to leave each to his or her own decision on matters like this.
However, I'm willing to leave each to his or her own decision on matters like this.
04-08-2014, 05:07 AM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 360
I have never shot one, but I've only ever called in a few. I'm relatively new to turkey hunting (~5 years now), and I've killed 3 toms. I honestly am not sure if I would or not. It would probably be largely situational: 1) Is it allowed where I'm hunting? ; 2) Do I need the meat? ; etc.
04-08-2014, 06:08 AM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,093
I have shot jakes but I don't anymore. I do hunt really good private ground that we own or lease and I don't overhunt areas and choose not to shoot jakes anymore. I have no problems with my neighbors that do or anyone else. They are a legal bird and it is hunting. My son is 11 and he has never killed a jake. His first year of turkey hunting I called in a jake for him and he would not shoot it, told me he was waiting for a long beard. Youth season starts this weekend in MO and if I call in a jake he has the green light but I already know what his answer will be.
