once again, I am showing my short beard.

You can shoot either sex with or without a beard during fall season, but bag limits go by county and some don't have a fall limit. Spring turkey season must be bearded birds only and a small percentage of hens will have a beard.
 
As mentioned, you can shoot bearded hens.

But, if you are hunting in an area without a huge number of birds, you need to think carefully about it, because when you pull that trigger you are having the potential of taking out a half dozen or so birds for the following year.

I have had several opportunities over the years, but the thought has never crossed my mind.
 
I myself couldn't/wouldn't do it. They are rare, but not extremely rare. I usually see one somewhere each spring.
 
Well glad I read the thread before I posted, I was going to post a picture showing my "long beard." HAHAHAHAHA :()
 
PalsPal said:
As mentioned, you can shoot bearded hens.

But, if you are hunting in an area without a huge number of birds, you need to think carefully about it, because when you pull that trigger you are having the potential of taking out a half dozen or so birds for the following year.

I have had several opportunities over the years, but the thought has never crossed my mind.
Click to expand...

Interesting thought :sick: would like to see the size of the gobbler that would try to mate a hen with a beard :D Let her go, no good without spurs for the Longbeard challange ;)
 
hcdeerman said:
IMHO.... a bearded female is no trophy. Neither human nor turkey. hahaha
Click to expand...

I agree especially on the latter :D

I don't understand the killing of hens anytime and even more so in the spring. I was raised to believe hens were sacred and do not view a bearded hen as a trophy in anyway.
 
to each his own, personally agree with Setterman though. Hens don't have much meat and the beard is usually pretty thin and rough looking....I like a big ol tom with a paint brush!

Just have have been much into shooting hens but again to each his own.
 
Well, next "short beard" question. Is it easy to identify a Tom in the woods?I see them in the fields with their plumage in full spread. I know that's a Tom. Are they as easy to identify in the woods doing their natural thing though?

Be easy on me. I'm a REAL first timer. Never killed a deer or a turkey. This season will be my first time ever in the turkey woods.
 
yes however if you can't visibly see the beard and you are in a darker set of woods it can be challenging from the untrained eye. Early on you need to be 100% correct and make sure all parts of the body are visible before you decide to shoot.

Look for the head color and the body color if all possible. Head will be much more white/blue/red depending on his mood and the body will be much more black where a hen will be more brown and grey. Also look for the snood.
 
Setterman said:
hcdeerman said:
IMHO.... a bearded female is no trophy. Neither human nor turkey. hahaha
Click to expand...

I agree especially on the latter :D

I don't understand the killing of hens anytime and even more so in the spring. I was raised to believe hens were sacred and do not view a bearded hen as a trophy in anyway.
Click to expand...

x2
 
scn said:
Setterman said:
hcdeerman said:
IMHO.... a bearded female is no trophy. Neither human nor turkey. hahaha
Click to expand...

I agree especially on the latter :D

I don't understand the killing of hens anytime and even more so in the spring. I was raised to believe hens were sacred and do not view a bearded hen as a trophy in anyway.
Click to expand...

x2
Click to expand...

x3. No reason to ever kill a hen IMO, and the world's top turkey biologists agree.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top