Would this be a shooter?
 

My season here opens up this coming Monday and there is not a lot of turkeys around in this area. I have been up around my camp and have been seeing a few birds. Mostly jakes. Then yesterday morning I got to see a tom move in with 3 hens. Now if he survives youth day which is Saturday would you shoot him? I am thinking I would. :s4: What do you all think.. He looks like he may have some decent hooks on him as well.

Public land? Yeah...heck yeah. I'd say it depends on how many days you have to hunt though.

It would for me, I don't eat beards.

Yes, it is actually private land open to the public.. ( former paper company land)

I'd take him.
Dan

Every Tom is a "shooter". Public land, private land, Cleveland. Deer hunter's use the term shooter.

yup........

I'd bust him in a heartbeat.

^^^^^^Yup! I'd guess him as possibly a 3 year old bird.

You know me, I want a big one (long beard in this case), but the young ones eat better !!!

Can I say That ??

Hell YeaaaaaH !!!

Thanks guys.. I know if he survives tomorrow's youth day and he shows himself to me I know I will shoot him.. Good Luck to all of you!

Full fan = shooter.

I've killed a couple of jakes with full fans. Any longbeard is a shooter in my book.

Yep. Visible beard. BOOM! Under them feathers is the sammiches!

its a 2 year old, if he's alone on youth day, he's in serious peril.
RR

Symmetrical fan ~ oh heck ya!

JW

He had 3 hens with him but, still could end up gone on youth day.. I saw another tom today that was a loner and i am thinking that one will be gone for sure on youth day.. He just kept walking a long like nothing was going on..

called in a 2 yo this morn with 2 hens, he will not gobble in the morn.
RR

If there is one Tom in that location - there are more - look for them!

JW

Phil,

Hearing any gobbling during the day down your way ? I'm
not hearing much in mid-coast Maine once they come off
the roost. I'm thinking they are heavily henned up at the present time. Best of luck on Monday.

I can honestly say that I really don't look at beard length... If he's gobblin and strutting I'm shootin if he's in range...

Can't afford to play "I'll wait for a nicer one" game

Not much at all.. However at my camp in near the Old Town area I have been hearing them and seeing a few. Here in my area I don't think they have fully recovered from the harsh winter we have had 2 years ago. I have been seeing them with hens as well but from around 1:30 to 2:30 I have been seeing a few toms wandering alone.. So if early morning does not work maybe mid afternoon will.. Good Luck to you as well come Monday!

Phil,

Hope your hunting is going well, Shot a big Jake yesterday at fly down and a 2 year old tom this morning. I feel like I need to file a complaint my season was way too short.