High numbers of jakes harvested?

[pathfindr92]

I just looked at the harvest totals on the TWRA webpage. I was amazed to see such a high percentage of jakes in the harvest for my area (Northeast TN - Washington, Unicoi, Sullivan, Carter, Greene counties) Nearly half of the birds killed opening weekend in Unicoi and Washington Counties were jakes. Is this the result of a bad recruitment the past couple of years, and fewer mature gobblers, or hunters just anxious to get a bird, or something else?

Your thoughts, gentlemen?

 

[pathfindr92]

FYI, here are % of jakes in the harvest for opening weekend, and then for the season up to Mar 31. Bearded hens were omitted from calculations.

County: Opening weekend/Season total
Carter: 19%/26%
Greene: 24%/27%
Unicoi: 45%/41%
Sullivan: 35%/42%
Washington: 37%/37%

Statewide: 17%/18%