Bearded Hens....

[Hunt 365]

Where legal, who will take one?

I will, if I have an area with good numbers. No jakes though

 

[Setterman]

Never and I mean never will I intentionally kill a hen for any reason.

I don't view bearded hens as trophies, I don't see them as special, they're just another hen who's better off laying eggs and raising poults rather than getting shot for a pitiful little beard.

Also, why would I waste a tag on a 6 lb cube of meat when I can kill a 22 lb wad of meat? They taste the same, so to me there's more reason to only shoot mature gobblers.

If you can't tell I've got issues with hen killing

 

[catman529]

I haven't had the chance yet, but would rather kill one in the fall season.


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[Mike Belt]

I've passed on the opportunity every time I've had one. The only hen I might shoot would be when legal, an archery hen and then only because I've never shot a turkey with my bow. Otherwise I'd never shoot a hen. The more hens the more eggs the more available gobblers for hunting.

 

[Gravey]

At one time I thought I would kill one if given the chance but have changed my stance over the years where now I'm like Setterman and hate the thought of it happening.

 

[muddyboots]

No

 

[Wrangler95]

I've had the chance several times but I won't shoot a hen!!

 

[Dover_Mike]

I killed one with my bow in archery season a few years back.

I wouldn't kill one in the spring because I would rather kill a tom but, to each their own.

 

[Andy S.]

Negative.

 

[xdjay]

Opportunity hasn't presented itself, but I'm pretty sure I would not in the spring season.

 

[darn2ten]

Even though I may not agree with everything a person does, I usually take the stance of if it's legal who am I to judge you. But....not on this issue. I totally disagree with killing hens for any reason. I've seen many bearded hens and not one single time did the urge to kill it cross my mind. I've got one with about a 7 or 8" beard running around my farm now. To me being able to kill hens ranks right up there with being able to shoot birds off the roost where legal, SMH!

 

[Hunt 365]

Well, I appear to me in the minority. I would be interested to see if there was a similar consensus against killing does in deer season a couple of decades ago. If you have a property that is loaded with hens, especially in a county where there is a 6-bird, either sex fall hunt, like Hickman County, I don't see any problem with it. The biologists can't be all wrong. I respect every one's opinion as preferences, just as I hate the thought of shooting a jake because I love to hear them gobble too much.
I would rather kill one of these during turkey season though over even a gobbler. Please do the same! If it makes a difference, I also shot an armadillo this weekend, and hopefully saved a whole nest of eggs.

 

[REN]

No. The beard looks like a pube gone wrong. Just not my thing


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


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[Spurhunter]

I would be interested to see if there was a similar consensus against killing does in deer season a couple of decades ago.

Deer biology and turkey biology aren't in the same universe. Not sure why hen killers always make this arguement.

The biologists can't be all wrong.

The biologists aren't all wrong. And the good ones say don't ever kill a hen. The ones setting hunting seasons in TN are more interested in license sales than biology. This comment would be humorous if not so misinformed. Lovett Williams, the most respected turkey biologist that ever lived despised hen killing.

 

[Spurhunter]

Never and I mean never will I intentionally kill a hen for any reason.

I don't view bearded hens as trophies, I don't see them as special, they're just another hen who's better off laying eggs and raising poults rather than getting shot for a pitiful little beard.

Also, why would I waste a tag on a 6 lb cube of meat when I can kill a 22 lb wad of meat? They taste the same, so to me there's more reason to only shoot mature gobblers.

If you can't tell I've got issues with hen killing

I agree 100%.

 

[catman529]

I really don't think TWRA is trying to sell our turkey population off, honestly that's an absurd assumption IMO. Birds have gotten so thick in some areas that they want to reduce the flocks, not get rid of them. The fall county bag limits are so high because most people don't fall turkey hunt, so the few who do can kill more. TWRA has a tough job when turkey populations vary so widely in TN. If I ever see a noticeable decline in turkeys where I hunt, I won't kill another single hen.


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[Spurhunter]

Birds have gotten so thick in some areas that they want to reduce the flocks, not get rid of them.

What is the reason for reducing flocks? Crop damage? Nope. Car accidents? Nope. Starvation? Turkeys can survive on almost anything, so nope. What is so dangerous about too many turkeys? Enlighten us, Mr. Biologist.

 

[Hunt 365]

Deer biology and turkey biology aren't in the same universe. Not sure why hen killers always make this arguement. [/quote]


The biologists aren't all wrong. And the good ones say don't ever kill a hen. The ones setting hunting seasons in TN are more interested in license sales than biology. This comment would be humorous if not so misinformed. Lovett Williams, the most respected turkey biologist that ever lived despised hen killing.[/quote]


I see from your signature that you are very opinionated about this subject. It's good to have opinions. But folks with more degrees and letters after their names have decided otherwise at the TWRA, and last time I checked, Tennessee had a very respectable turkey flock. So with the rarity of a bearded hen, taking one out if you have good numbers is probably neglible. Otherwise the regulations would say gobbler, with a minimum beard length, as in Mississippi's regulations.
Having hunted both states for a while, Tennessee's flock is in much better shape than theirs. So I respect their decisions without conclusory blanket statements discounting them, because while landowners and organizations such as NWTF played a role in TN's turkey numbers, the TWRA has done a very good job and the state has the flock to show for it, in most places.

 

[Hunt 365]

And I thought the shooting jakes thread a while back got nasty...

 

[catman529]

Birds have gotten so thick in some areas that they want to reduce the flocks, not get rid of them.

What is the reason for reducing flocks? Crop damage? Nope. Car accidents? Nope. Starvation? Turkeys can survive on almost anything, so nope. What is so dangerous about too many turkeys? Enlighten us, Mr. Biologist.

you know I was going to say why, but I'm not going to argue with a brick wall any more


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