The jakes are ready . . .

[jblackburn]

Good luck with your season!

you too!

[Mfowl]

Hey JBlackburn, is that a bearded hen closest to the 3 strutting jakes in your top picture?

[jblackburn]

Hey JBlackburn, is that a bearded hen closest to the 3 strutting jakes in your top picture?

Crap!  I didn't even notice that!  I looked at a couple other pictures from that set, and it sure is!  On another cam I had a different bearded hen with a 2 or 3 inch beard, but this one look more like 6 or 7 inches!

[Mfowl]

That's pretty cool! I have yet to actually see a bearded hen while out in the woods. I don't think I'd put my tag on one but it would be interesting to see one. Good luck bunting this year, looks like you got a good spot lined up!

[jblackburn]

I'd like to kill on with a nice beard, I think it would be a cool mount.  After one, I would let them all walk. But, there are a couple nice longbeards down there, so I'm not really sure if I would or not.  Maybe I can meet her next fall!

[JKEEN33]

First Tom I killed came in with a hen. I dropped him and she stood there and looked like she was lost. I kept looking at her because I new she was a hen, but she had a good 6" beard on her. I was new and had no idea what she was. I did some reading after that and figured it out. Since then I have seen two others and have let them walk.

A couple years back I was running around with Campmeat from this site doing some deer hunting. A flock ran across the road and there was a white Tom in the flock. That's the one I wish I had the chance to get a shot at. I will probably never see another.

[turkeydancer]

Coloration can be genetics, but can also be affected by the diet and change as the diet changes .... not necessarily anything to do with cross breeding (which does happen).

As far as hens, approx 10% actually have beards ... which would make them fair game in the spring.