In Missouri, a bearded hen is a legal spring bird. I've passed a couple because I knew they were hens. I wasn't going to shoot a potential brood rearing turkey just because it's legal. But that's just me. You might have shot her and I'm 100% ok with that. Thoughts?
Agree with you completely mobow. I don't shoot them in the spring but if someone else does it's A OK with me.
Good point, we have a fall season and i wouldnt hesitate to take a hen out of the population then. I REALLY wish Ohio would raise its fall bag limits. Taking 2-3 hens out per hunter would be a great thing IMO. Is there a downside to a closer (3-1...2-1) hen/gobbler ratio?
My county averages around 100 gobblers take every spring. We shouldnt have any issues with turkey population.
I have shot one in the past and will again if given the opportunity. But I do understand why someone wouldn't as well.
The main one I hunt is at 548 gobblers as of now :D. I'd just much rather have as many hens around as possible, because that's gonna end up with more gobblers around. I don't really think about them the same as deer in regards to the male:female ratios. I think the more turkeys you have around the better.
Guys in PA, MO, OH, KY are seriously worried about Turkey populations? They are getting as thick as flies guys. I enjoy it from a hunting standpoint, but it certainly won't hurt to take a few out. And I don't get the whole spring/fall. Shooting a hen is shooting a hen, either way you are eliminating her and her future nests. Doesn't matter if the eggs are already laying on the ground or not. I would smoke a bearded hen, I've still yet to see one to this day, 10 years into this turkey gig.
Trev my part of the state has had some bad hatches the last couple years.. This one was looking up with it being warm and dry but we've got a couple decent storms and a cold front earlier this week. Caleb it's 931 square miles.
Out of Curiosity I checked my hunting county for this years stats. 428 sq miles of land in Butler County, and as of this moment 545 birds checked in (double that for actual numbers but we wont go there) with over a week of season left. It is probably in the upper 1/5 of the counties of KY for harvests, but some counties blow Butler out of the water. Hart Co is 412 sq mi and sitting on 615 checked birds to date.
I would shoot one late in our 5 day spring season. First day? Nope. Fall, no problem taking out a hen and having a nice meal.
I had a hen coming in to my setup end of last week... Honest to God, she had a nine-inch beard if it was a single inch. If she'd made it to the front of my blind, we'd a been having us some deep-fried wild turkey that night! :D
Don'o I shot a bearded Hen about 10 years ago with a 8 1/4" beard. It was actually an accident I was set up on the edge of some thick weeds looking out into an opening. I had one Gobbling directly behind me about 20 yards away. I was pinned and couldnt move. Then it happened I noticed movement to my left, seen beard dangling through the weeds, swung and shot. I was supprised when I walked up to a 12 lb bird with beard Ethics won over, she got checked in and my season was over. I have had another one in on my set three times this season. She got a pass every time. Im just more interested in the Gobblers but would congratualate anyone taking a legal bird We have plenty here and I dont think taking out a bearded Hen would matter much.
Bearded hens are not uncommon in my area. Maybe that is why I have never considered shooting one. More years than not I pass on the opportunity and will continue to do so. I just have no interest in burning a tag on a hen. That being said, I am happy for anyone that considers a bearded hen to be a unique trophy and scores.
