Juvenile males are called jakes. Gobblers average around 18-22 pounds and can have a wingspan of 5 feet. Adult female turkeys are called hens. Juvenile females are called jennies.
What kind of turkey is a Jake?
A jake is an immature male bird. How old is a jake turkey? Generally, people define a jake turkey as a one-year-old bird. They can also sometimes be confused with hens in the field.
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’s the difference between atom and a jake turkey?
With some careful listening, an experienced turkey hunter can distinguish a Tom gobble from a Jake gobble at a good distance away. Jakes tend to gobble a lot softer with a quick drop off. A Tom has a longer drawn out gobble that is significantly louder.
Should I 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.
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.
Does a jake turkey 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.
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).
What male bird is called a Jake?
While all young turkeys can be called poults or chicks, as they get slightly older but are not yet independent, they may be called a jake (for male birds) or a jenny (for female birds).
Can you shoot a jake turkey in SC?
Since the advent of modern fish and wildlife management, fall turkey hunting has never been allowed on a statewide basis in South Carolina.
What is an immature female turkey called?
A young male turkey is called a jake and a young female is called a jenny.
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.
What tastes better hen or tom turkey?
Most experts agree that a hen turkey is better than a tom, but it is probably a matter of personal preference.
Which is more tender a tom or hen turkey?
The designation of the turkey being male (tom) or female (hen) may or may not be found on the label because it has nothing to do with the tenderness or overall quality of the bird. The main difference is that a tom turkey ready for market is larger than a hen.
What is the feather that hangs down on a turkey?
beard
That one long feather you see hanging down on the female turkey breasts is called a “beard.” It’s actually a bunch/bundle of long skinny feathers. Adult male turkeys and a small percentage of the females apparently have beards. Why do the females (or males) have these beards?
How long does it take for 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 you hunt a jake turkey?
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.
How many tail feathers does a Jake turkey have?
Made up of 18 tail feathers 12 to 15 inches long, toms display the fans to attract females during the breeding season. In juvenile males (also known as jakes), the middle tail feathers are longer than the rest of the tail feathers, but adult males have tail feathers uniform in length.
What does it mean when a turkey fan its tail?
TURKEY FACT #4: Tom turkeys aren’t the only ones that swagger and fan their tail feathers to woo mates and ward off rivals. Some hens strut, too.
How do you tell if a turkey is a tom?
Watch for the turkey to fan out its tail.
Male turkeys frequently raise their tails up into the shape of a fan. If you see fanning happen, it’s likely that you are looking at a male. On the other hand, a female turkey will always keep her tail down and won’t fan it out.
How can you tell a male turkey from a female?
The easiest way to determine the turkey’s sex is by examining the feathers on the breast and sides of the turkey. On males, these feathers have black tips. The feather tips are brown on females.