Some hunters consider those nearly one-year old male birds the same as older males – gobblers, that is, legal, obtainable turkeys. Others would never shoot a jake, and still others won’t shoot jakes unless they come in strutting and gobbling, in which case they are treated just like a mature tom.
Is it OK to shoot a jake turkey?
According to the NWTF, there’s no biological reason that exists on whether or not hunters should kill a jake. If a jake is taken legally, no biological backlash comes from harvesting that bird, other than reducing the potential of 2 year olds that could be in the area the following year.
Is a Jake considered a gobbler?
Generally, people define a jake turkey as a one-year-old bird. They can also sometimes be confused with hens in the field. What is a gobbler? A gobbler or tom turkey is a mature male bird.
Can you shoot a jake turkey in Texas?
Only shoot gobblers or jakes since hens, unless they also have beards, are illegal to harvest in the spring. Quiet, call-shy birds can be had, but setting up an ambush along a travel route likely is your best and only option.
What is the difference between a Jake and Tom turkey?
The Turkey’s Beard
Thus, a Jake will typically only be sporting a 2-4 inch beard. This can sometimes get confusing with hens in the field, as they can also sometimes have a thin, short beard, but more on that later. Toms are more mature turkeys which can grow beards up to 11 inches in length or more.
Why is a turkey called a Jake?
Since turkeys are obviously not cats, the phrase was shortened simply to “tom.” Juvenile males are also known as “jakes,” while the young female turkeys are known as “jennys.” Part of the mating process is attributed to the tom’s ability to “gobble” loudly enough to both attract the hens and dissuade other males.
What is a Super Jake turkey?
Super Jake
His beard is now 6 or 7 inches long, his tail fan is full, and he’s nearly the two-year-old you’ll try to kill next spring. He’ll gobbler cluck, yelp, gobble on the roost, strut and work to your calls. Sometimes he runs with other super jakes and longbeards.
Can a Jake turkey have a full fan?
A Group of Jakes
In the second year, the tail molts in the standard adult pattern from the outside in and the gobbler will then have a full, even fan. Once a bird reaches 2 years of age, he will have an even fan for the rest of his lifetime.
Can you shoot a jake in Mississippi?
Shooting a jake is not legal in Mississippi, for instance, as the state has a 6-inch beard rule, and most juvenile gobblers have beards 5 inches or less. Be sure to check your state’s regulations, too.
Can you hunt turkey over bait in Texas?
Shotgun and lawful archery equipment are the only legal means of take; no hunting over bait; all turkeys must be reported to the department within 24 hours after they are killed. Harvested turkeys may be field dressed, but must otherwise remain intact until reaching a final destination.
Can you shoot a roosted turkey?
(Be sure to check current ammo regulations.) True enough, you can legally shoot a turkey off the roost in some states, while in others you’ll lose your license privileges for it. Right here is where some might interject the idea that just because it’s legal doesn’t make it ethical or sporting.
Can you hunt turkey with a 22 in Texas?
Game animals and non-migratory game birds may be hunted with any legal firearm, except: Rimfire Ammunition (of any caliber) may NOT be used to hunt white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, or pronghorn. Fully Automatic Firearms.
What is the longest turkey beard ever recorded?
Location: Canatlán, Durango, Mexico. Clyde Neely, a Texas resident, travelled south of the border and took this record-book Gould’s on April 10, 2006, using a box and slate call. 14.0625 inches is a long turkey beard anywhere.
Does a female turkey need a male to lay eggs?
Do Turkeys Lay Eggs Without a Male? Like most birds, a mature female turkey (5 or 6 months old) will lay an egg each day. This happens whether there is a male turkey around or not. The main purpose of a male turkey is fertilization.
How long does it take a Jake to become a tom?
A baby male turkey, or a poult, becomes a jake at about one year of age. Once he reaches two years old, he is known as a tom turkey. Jake turkeys have a few key characteristics that can help you identify them.
Can a female turkey turn into a male turkey?
1) Female turkeys can basically clone themselves
This seems impossible, but it’s not. Occasionally, the eggs of female turkeys will — without any sperm involved — spontaneously develop into embryos and then into baby turkeys (which are always males).
How much does a jake turkey weigh?
A juvenile or one year old male turkey is called a “jake”. An average adult gobbler weighs about 20 to 23 pounds and a jake will weigh approximately 14 to 16 pounds.
Will a turkey come back if spooked?
The gobbler wanted to be where you were when you spooked him. So, after he thinks you’re gone, and he hears a hen softly calling, there’s a very good chance he may come back in that direction. Remember — the gobbler has a limited number of days to breed.
Is hen turkey better than a Tom?
Most experts agree that a hen turkey is better than a tom, but it is probably a matter of personal preference. Hens are generally smaller than tom turkeys of the same age. Hens weigh less than sixteen pounds while toms always weigh over sixteen pounds.
How old is a turkey with a 10 inch beard?
2-year-old
Beard Length
According to Turkey & Turkey Hunting magazine, a 2-year-old gobbler’s beard usually measures 8 to 10 inches. When it’s 3 years old, a gobbler’s beard will have grown about 14 inches.
Can Jakes gobble?
Yes Jakes do strut and gobble. This time of year most of the mature toms are with hens and your jakes are on the prowl.