How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

I'm new to turkey hunting and I am just trying to get all the info I can. I thought that the only way to tell the difference between a jake and a tom was the beard and body size is there another way. If you have any other information to share please do I need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
It Flies It Dies

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

When a jake is strutting, his tail feathers are uneven. Stands out pretty good.

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

thanks for the info

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

when a jake gobbles he sounds sick an old bird sounds perfect

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

As IL said

When a Jake struts the 4 center feathers of his tail will be longer than the rest. A mature Tom will have a symetrical round fan......Jake gobbling can be short and choppy.......

You want to hear the real thing the NWTF has a CD of real turkey voices, you can hear and old Tom and even a young Jake and if you listen close enough you can hear that jake tyr to say Gobble gobble.....it is great.

Also has great hen, yelps, purrs and cackles.

JW

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

Anyone who tells you a Jake's gobbles sounds different from a Toms is hogwash! I have setup on Jakes that sound just like a Tom. You may run across a Jake every now and then that sounds different but they are few and far between. Beard, tail feathers and spurs are the only way you can tell, body size no way. I have seen 20+ pound jakes. You will know its a Jake when he comes in runnning and I bet he won't be struttin!

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

better check your hearin aids ol man theres a big difference where I hunt

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

My buddy shot a jake last year and I would have never thought in a million years it was a jake from the way he was acting. He was spittin and drumming and gobbling and sounded just like a gobbler. He was the king of that hill. It wasn't till we got to him that we realized it was a jake. So yes a jake can sound like a gobbler at least in my area they can. I have also heard them sound like others have said. It's not real easy to tell by the gobble but you have to know what your listening for and being a begginer you most likely can't tell. It will take a couple years. The best way to tell is by the beard. I have never saw a jake with an 8" beard. The biggest I have saw had a 5 1/2" beard. The first thing I look for is the tail if he is strutting. If it's nice and round he's had it and if it's not even then I hold off. If he's not strutting than I look for the beard. In Ohio any bearded turkey is legal and that includes hens which I haven't saw one in the wild yet.

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

Hes Right.

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

Well lets see I have killed turkeys Tennessee, Missississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas. Maybe that's how they sound out west....who knows regardless, but for you to give a beginner advice on differences in a Jake and a Tom being his gobble well that's basically..........crap!

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

all turkeys sound different some jakes cannot gobble very well and some can gobble great not areal great way for identication middle tail feathers are loger when in strut short stubby 3inch beard and when you shoot him he will have just nubs on his legs where his spurs should be

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

thanks for all the help guys:D I think I can tell now but if I shoot a jake instead its no big deal we can shoot anything with a beard here and I am not exactly out for a trophy more for just the fun and the experience, but it would be nice to get a big tom my first year.

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

Just setup on any gobbling bird. If he comes in and he is a Jake let him go or take him its your choice, but he may also be a nice big tom. I just hate for you to leave a setup to locate another bird just because he "sounds like a jake". I had 2 Jakes come into my decoy setup 2 years ago . Next thing I knew a bird gobbled 75 yards away. He did'nt sound any different than the Jakes. Well I hammered him with some cutting and yelps. He came right in! Guess what he was a 28 pound 4 year old Missouri Gobbler! He knew where those jakes were and when he heard the hen calls from their location he was coming over to whip those youngsters. Shot him at 15 yards while he was fighting with one of the Jakes!

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

I wouldn't just go by the sound. I killed a wily old bird last year that had 1 5/8" spur on one leg, and a broken spur (3/4) on the other. He was a smart and fat old beast with a big old paintbrush. His gobble sounded like a toilet flushing.

I've heard jakes that sound like Supertom.

Generally speaking, however, a jake will sound raspy and choppy. As noted earlier, a jake's tailfeather tips are longer, and not in a uniform half-circle when strutting. The middle feathers will be about 1-3" longer. Another sign is beard/spur length. A jake will have a short beard and stubby spurs.

There are exceptions here, too, as sometimes birds will lose their beards and start anew. Those will be mature gobblers with maybe a 2" beard.

You usually can tell, based on the totality of the facts. Jakes will also weigh less, generally.

If you see a strutter and his beard is in the grass, he has a big, pretty, round fan and a flock of hens around - it's no jake.

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

When I see a gobbler, I say "Jake?". If he doesn't respond I say "Tom?". Usually by the second question I get an answer.

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

it flies,

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

it flies,

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

The fan is the first thing I look for and is a dead give away. The size of the bird can be a clue, as can the beard. These are not always solid distinguishers like the full fan, but can help. I've heard both Toms and Jakes that sound alike, so going by sound IMO would be the worst method of comparison. Make 'em strut and check for a full symetrical tail fan. BOOM!

RE: How do you tell the difference between jake and tom??
 

i look for size and beard