Whats your opinion

[Gordie]

Yesterday I told my son Joey that he could make the decision on what he shoots for a turkey by that I mean I Tom or a jake if the chance would arise.

He had asked me what I thought was good and I replied that I guess I want to only shoot mature Toms and that jakes need to be left to grow into mature birds but it was up to him to make that decision and that I would not be dissapointed in any way in what ever he shot.

I feel that if you wouldnt shoot it on the first day I wouldnt shoot it on the last day. BTW I have let a few jakes walk by my decoy and say just walk in front of me in a year or two.

[Nightcrawler]

I passed on two Jakes in S.D.,but it was two miles to the pickup. It would have been easier to carry a long beard two miles. not saying that i would not shoot a Jake.

[Borch]

It all depends on the goal of the hunter. For instance last spring my son only had one morning to hunt due to school and work. His goal was to have a good hunt and any legal bird that came by was going on the dinner table. After a couple of close calls with big toms a jake ended up going home with us. Other years where he had more time to hunt he passed on several jakes.

Some of us are willing to eat a tag sandwich, (not very tasty by the way) and others prefer turkey regardless of the length of the beard.

Nothing wrong with either menu choice in my world.

[DonBo]

Borch hit it dead on IMO. There's no shame in takeing a jake. If the shooter is fine with it, so am I. BTW, I've shot more than one in my life and I've never second guessed my choice. I've also passed more than one, and I've occasionally cursed that decision as I've had that tag soup.

[goblueM]

i usually start out going for a mature bird, but i will definitely not hesitate to shoot a jake. turkey is tasty!!

i am totally fine with any decision the hunter makes, it is all about the experience first, then the delicious meal (hopefully with some onions and morels found out walkin the woods!)

[trolloni]

i am an opportunist not picky, besides those jakes will fit in the deep fryer better and way more tender when done!Iwould try and get a mature bird if i had only one tag,here in Illinois we can get three spring tags and we have 5 seasons,plenty of oportunity .but then sometimes questions arise on subjects like this, why do we hunt?to shoot the biggest? outdo the other guy?i go for the stomach factor first, get some tasty game!then if you have more tags play around go for mr.big try a muzzeloader, or a bow ! calling in a turkey has a certain effect on you its called addiction caught it 24 years ago and every time out its like the first hunt!theres somethin special about listening to the woods wakin up ,especially when the gobblers are rockin!

[Hoyt4]

What ever your choice is I'm fine with.Our hunting party says pass on a Jake it's bad luck.Most years it seems to be the truth.I have harvested many birds and still will shoot a Jake.I'm not looking for record books but to enjoy my hunt.I just do not like people that say oh you should of let that Jake walk or fork horn buck.It's all about that hunter and their choice.Borch gave one example of his son's school work taking up time.Other people could be family,work or other reasons and might be limited on time or just feel good about taking that bird or deer.No one should say it was wrong.

[Gordie]

Great points guys and I hope I didnt come across as it was wrong to shoot a jake I feel pretty much like you guys do and what ever decision is mad is fine with me. I have let jakes walk by on the first day of the season cause I thought why burn up my tag this early in the game but I didnt have anothe roppertunity for it to happen again.

So I just thought about it and if I wouldnt shoot it on the first day I wont on the last day but in fact I havent had the oppertunity to find that out.

I'm totally fine with what ever anyone wants to shoot. Its there call.

[Dave S]

I look at it as a Jake taken is a Tom left to breed more hens. It's just my preference, but I'd rather leave a mature bird to pass on the genetics. As others said, there's no shame in taking a Jake.

Every place I've hunted, there's far more Jakes than Toms anyhow.

[sticknstring]

Nothing wrong with shooting a jake! I've shot my share... they eat and shoot just as good as any tom would.

[Musky Buck]

JK but it sounds like antler point restrictions. I mean a stub beard vs a long beard.