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Super Jakes?

TLRanger

TLRanger

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I have hunted turkeys for years now (not going to tell you how many) and occasionally I run into what everyone calls a "super jake". It's a young male bird that acts like an older bird. They gobble, strut, and just act like a two year old. I have killed a few over the years and they are usually alone and will respond to a call. By responding to a call I mean they will gobble but will not commit to coming in very well. They act very similar to a tom that has hens with him. The last one that I killed took four hours of calling and moving to get him in range. They normally have a 4 to 6 inch beard and 1/2 inch spurs and the uneven fan of a jake.

My question is: How old are these birds? Most people tell me that they are from a early hatched brood. I have never seen a really early hatched wild turkey brood. I think they may come from a very late hatch like in Sept or Oct although I have never noticed any poults that late in the year. That would make them 1.5 years old rather than 1 year old.

Anybody have any ideas or theories about these jakes?
 
Good question; don't know the answer but am certainly interested in the verdict. I always figured they were early-born too and never really thought about if they could late-born until you mentioned...certainly sounds plausible though.

Another thought is they're simply early bloomers who develop a booming voice before their siblings. I recall 4 jakes several springs ago that ran everywhere together; I assumed they were broodmates and nicknamed them The Brothers. Only one in the bunch had a full, throaty gobble while the rest still had that half coarse yelp/half gobble-obble-obble.
 
I shot one several years back.7 inch beard,full fan and nubs for spurs.The spring before was mild and he was hatched really early.It may happen next year if this spring stays like it is.
 
ClubHead said:
I shot one several years back.7 inch beard,full fan and nubs for spurs.
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Some here except mine was a 6 in beard. I have seen an early hatched group once. The very first year I hunted me and the veteran turkey hunter who was taking me, saw a hen the third week of season with poults in tow.
 
TLRanger said:
They normally have a 4 to 6 inch beard and 1/2 inch spurs and the uneven fan of a jake.

My question is: How old are these birds?
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My opinion is such a jake is more likely to have been late-born rather than early-born, and is actually closer to a 2-yr-old bird (as you're describing him). What am saying is the young Tom described may have been hatched "about" a year earlier than assumed, just born 1 to 3 months later than most birds hatched in that year. Being born later, he could have much less initial food sources, and grow slower (during his first few months of life).

Compare this to a very late-born male deer that has unusually small spikes in the Fall of his being closest to 1 1/2 yrs, then a year later having a very small rack in the Fall of his being closest to 2 1/2. This would similarly correspond to beard length on a male turkey in the Spring of his being closest to 1 yr (probably invisible), then at 2 yrs (probably a 4 to 6 inch beard).

I often see huge variances in the beard lengths of young Toms believed to be in the Spring, then the Fall that's closest to their being 1 year old. Many will have no visible beards when turkey season opens, often becoming barely visible 1/4 to 1/2" beards by the time turkey season ends. Others will have 1/2" to 1" beards in early April, maybe approaching 3" by May. I assume the differences are due to a combination of hatch date, food sources, and individual genetics.

But if I see a "jake-looking" Tom in April with only a 4" beard, I'd bet he's actually in his 2nd Spring, and will be 2 years old come late summer.
 
I agree with Wes. They are dang near 2 year olds. I have killed them on accident with full fans, and beards that were almost considered long, and most might consider 2 years old, however they were jakes.
 
I know what you mean Johnny. I dueled with one a LBL a couple of years agoe for two days. Got on him one day about noon and chased him until dark. Went back the next morning where I last heard him and finally got him at noon. Turned out to be a 17lb jake with a five inch beard.
 
TLRanger said:
I know what you mean Johnny. I dueled with one a LBL a couple of years agoe for two days. Got on him one day about noon and chased him until dark. Went back the next morning where I last heard him and finally got him at noon. Turned out to be a 17lb jake with a five inch beard.
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What am I missing? lol
Sounds like a super hunt to me. Had to work hard over a two day period to bag it. I've killed some longbeards that weighed less. IMO you got all that any of us could expect out of that bird. I'd be tickled to death any day!
 
4onaside said:
TLRanger said:
I know what you mean Johnny. I dueled with one a LBL a couple of years agoe for two days. Got on him one day about noon and chased him until dark. Went back the next morning where I last heard him and finally got him at noon. Turned out to be a 17lb jake with a five inch beard.
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What am I missing? lol
Sounds like a super hunt to me. Had to work hard over a two day period to bag it. I've killed some longbeards that weighed less. IMO you got all that any of us could expect out of that bird. I'd be tickled to death any day!
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They gobble like a ol gobbler, they strut like a ol gobbler, and they come in like a ol gobbler. Then I consider them game and shoot em in da face!!! Wanna act like a man Ill treat you like a man lol My outtake on it.
 
jonnylong said:
I guess in my rant I left out that I love SPURS! Thats what I hunt Turkeys for. He can have a 15" beard but 1/2" spurs and I'll be disappointed. I know you rarely ever see the spurs before you shoot but a Jake doesn't ever have them. He can weigh 9LBS with a 3" beard as long as he's got hooks I'm happy :grin: A Super Jake is the only Jake I will shot and thats just because I'm mad at him, LOL
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im a spur man too but don't say that here :D
 
I can tell the difference in a gobbler gobble and a jake gobble sometimes, when its short and kinda hesitant. But not always. Sometimes I defy anyone to tell the difference when one really comes down on it. lol
 

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