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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 14, 2009 18:14:39 GMT -5
We've got at least one bearded hen on the ground we hunt. Would you kill her if you had the opportunity?   |
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Post by Decatur on Apr 14, 2009 18:30:45 GMT -5
Depends on my mood, how many gobbler's I've been encountering, and how many days I have to hunt.
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Post by huxbux on Apr 14, 2009 18:56:47 GMT -5
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Post by oggie on Apr 14, 2009 19:16:31 GMT -5
I had a bearded hen come into my set up 2 years ago. Didn't realize it until it was to late she walked around my decoys for 20 minutes and was walking away before I discovered she had a beard. Now I pay a lot more attention to the hens when they come in.
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Post by jajwrigh on Apr 14, 2009 19:29:25 GMT -5
I'd opt to give her a face full of #4s.... ;D
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Post by mullis56 on Apr 14, 2009 19:45:51 GMT -5
I had one in Texas 3 years ago that I let walk and then I decided I should have taken her......too late she was too far. I have let them walk here in Indiana
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Post by danf on Apr 14, 2009 20:06:33 GMT -5
Kinda like Decatur myself. Depends on several things, part of which is my guesstimate of the local bird population!
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Post by trapperdave on Apr 14, 2009 23:16:25 GMT -5
I'd take it.
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Post by dbd870 on Apr 15, 2009 3:21:19 GMT -5
If I have a choice at the time between a tom and her she walks, if she's the only target - BOOM.
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Post by hoosierhunter9 on Apr 15, 2009 6:36:21 GMT -5
Last year I decided to let her walk and probably will again this year.I told my son if he wants her to shoot her.
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Post by trapperdave on Apr 15, 2009 8:22:10 GMT -5
can bearded hens reproduce?
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Post by hunter7x on Apr 15, 2009 10:55:44 GMT -5
depends on where Im hunting more than anything. On my property I would let her walk only because population are low.
That second cam picture is awesome!!! Lots happening in that pic.
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Post by woodmaster on Apr 15, 2009 14:33:12 GMT -5
can bearded hens reproduce? Yes. A beard is a type of feather. Wild Turkey Oddities- Weird Beards By: Bob Eriksen: NWTF Regional Biologist The beard of a wild turkey gobbler is a secondary sexual characteristic that is used by other turkeys to determine the sex, age and condition of an individual turkey. Spurs, snoods, head color and plumage color are also used by wild turkeys to distinguish sex, condition and age and to evaluate competitors. Biologists and hunters use the same characteristics to judge wild turkeys. Though beards and spurs are generally male characteristics, about ten percent of adult hens have beards and a few even have spurs. Hen beards are usually thinner and shorter than gobbler beards. Hen beards can be up to eight inches or so in length and consist of fewer strands or bristles than beards on gobblers. Spurs on hens are usually no longer than a half inch and often occur only on one leg. Bearded hens and those with spurs generally produce normal broods.
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Post by firelt72 on Apr 15, 2009 14:35:50 GMT -5
It really would depend on what time of the season it was, but I would lean toward not shooting her. Saw 2 in a group last week driving down to my hunting area. Had a group of 6 hens w/ the beared one...very cool!
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Apr 15, 2009 18:59:46 GMT -5
I had one come in on my last year and I just couldn't get a shot. The next day or so, my brother-in-law shot her. The fan mount from her was good lookin too. I wouldn't hesitate to take a shot at one.
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Post by danf on Apr 15, 2009 18:59:51 GMT -5
I seem to remember someone saying if there are bearded hens around, chances are there are toms with multiple beards too.
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Post by buster on Apr 15, 2009 20:04:15 GMT -5
I have always passed on bearded hens. I'm after a longbeard, regardless what is legal to shoot. Same goes with jakes. I'm past the point of having to shoot something just because it is legal to shoot. If that (shooting stuff) is what I wanted to do, I'd wait until the squirrel or dove opener.
It might be different if I wanted to get one in a full body mount. Then I would intentionally target a bearded hen. Otherwise, its just another gal walking by!
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Post by woodmaster on Apr 16, 2009 6:45:10 GMT -5
I have always passed on bearded hens. I'm after a longbeard, regardless what is legal to shoot. Same goes with jakes. I'm past the point of having to shoot something just because it is legal to shoot. If that (shooting stuff) is what I wanted to do, I'd wait until the squirrel or dove opener. It might be different if I wanted to get one in a full body mount. Then I would intentionally target a bearded hen. Otherwise, its just another gal walking by!  |
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Post by larryhagmansliver on Apr 18, 2009 7:35:12 GMT -5
It's all in the mood at the time. I wouldn't know till I saw one.
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Post by powderfinger on Apr 18, 2009 13:02:12 GMT -5
Probably not...why shoot a 10 lb'er when you can shoot a 20 lb'er?
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