Jake vs. Tom

[gdahl2]

Joel,

Read your story about the hunt with Todd and his dad and also heard it from Todd first hand yesterday when he got back. Great story!! Sounds like the birds kept you busy!!!

4-days until it's finally my turn, which brings up a question for everyone.

What is everyone's thoughts of taking a Jake vs. Tom on my first outing?

A part of me doesn't care at all if I get a bird and am more excited about taking in the whole experience. The other part of me says I only have 1 1/2 days to hunt my season and if a Jake does present itself, do I take a shot not knowing if I will have another chance???

Thoughts?

[wooly1]

Take the shot presented by the first legal bearded turkey. It may be your one and only shot.

I know from first hand experience jakes taste just as good as toms, just smaller in size.

Most seasons you can only count on one decent chance for a shot. The its up to you to deliver.

My .02

[OUTDOORNUT]

Last spring I passed on three different Jakes......was the only one in the group of 4 that didn't bring a bird home! I can sit and tell myself that the nature of the hunt and the calling sucess was great and all, but my smoker was empty in the end! If you live in an area where you can scout the birds daily and have a couple Toms picked out, maybe hold off. If your driving a couple hundred miles to hunt for a short time with land access restraints.....shot your first legal bird. A Jake tastes BETTER than a big old Tom anyway!

[monstermoose78]

what is a big score for turkeys? They score my turkey and it was 56 but i dont knnow how they came up with that number. Can someone help me out? I am in minnesota and know that breads tend to be a little shorter seeing they brake off during the winter is what they told me.

[buckpredator]

Like already said before if you have a group of toms patterned out then you might want to wait. It is no guarantee, I've twice passed on opening day jakes cause I thought I had the toms patterned and ended up with nothing in the end of the season.

[gdahl2]

Thanks for the feedback. If the opportunity presents itself, it sounds like I may have to go for it

[Hotspotter]

I'd be taking the first legal bird as well. That's not alot of time to hunt.

That last hunt, the stars aligned and birds were around every bend. However, I've had hunts where 4 out of the 5 days, it's like there wasn't a bird in the county. No gobbling, not even off the roost. Weather can mess you up too!

There's no shame in taking a jake, that's for sure; esp. if it's your first bird! I wouldn't think twice.

Joel