Can you shoot a Gobbler without a beard?

[cbond3318]

WAC 232-28-342 reads like this:

(b) SPRING SEASON

(i) LEGAL BIRD: Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.

Male turkeys!!!! AND!!! turkeys with visible beards!!

You don't have to yell at the guy.

[BOWHUNTER45]

WAC 232-28-342 reads like this:

(b) SPRING SEASON

(i) LEGAL BIRD: Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.

Male turkeys!!!! AND!!! turkeys with visible beards!!

You don't have to yell at the guy.

Just want to make sure he Heard 

[bigtex]

WAC 232-28-342 reads like this:

(b) SPRING SEASON

(i) LEGAL BIRD: Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.

Male turkeys!!!! AND!!! turkeys with visible beards!!

Why can't they post this in the Turkey Regs. Then no confusion. 

Regulations are a rephrasing of actual laws, and in some cases (such as this) the regulations can be more confusing, incomplete, and possibly even wrong.

You don't get cited for violating what is in the published regulations per se: you would only be cited for violating an RCW or WAC.

If in doubt, check the actual laws.

[PA BEN]

Up at 3 am this morning, I looked right at the regs. and for the life of me I missed gobblers. :bash:I feel better now after a nap, I think I better get back at.

[Quackwhacker]

I killed a tom with about a quarter inch beard. They taste just as good as the ones with 10 inch beards.

[lokidog]

WAC 232-28-342 reads like this:

(b) SPRING SEASON

(i) LEGAL BIRD: Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.

Male turkeys!!!! AND!!! turkeys with visible beards!!

You don't have to yell at the guy.

Apparently this does need to be yelled since it was clear within the first ten posts that a turkey that gobbles, beard or no beard, is a legal bird.   

 we tell them they need to see the bird strutting,

FYI - I always carry binos while turkey hunting!

I've seen a hen fan her tail and strut in front of a decoy of mine, at ten yards it was pretty easy to see she was a hen.   I'd be careful about shooting a bird only seen strutting and not actually seen gobbling though. 

[bearpaw]

I've never seen a wild hen strut but if you have then I stand corrected and would suggest hunters make sure by other means.

[lokidog]

I've never seen a wild hen strut but if you have then I stand corrected and would suggest hunters make sure by other means.

It was the craziest thing, I think she was trying to show some dominance thing.  I looked and looked for a beard thinking she might go both ways, but never did see one.   

[The Gobble-stopper]

Male turkeys and turkeys with beards. I talked to a wildlife agent. And also called and talked to those that set the rules at WDFW and they both said male turkeys with or without beards are legal. And they are out there. Also in reference to birds gobbling. Hens will do a mock gobble to ward away toms when they are not ready to mate. Sounds like a poor jake gobble. I have witnessed it many times. So dont shoot birds because they gobble... Just sayin

Dont shoot birds that gobble?  Aren't they gobblers?  Gobblers=Legal

The dictionarys definition of a gobbler is a "male" turkey that makes a gobble sound. No mention of a female of a female that gobbles, being a gobbler. Besides  a person would have a lot of talking to do, to convince a warden that the female you shot, with no beard, gobbled. Plus page 5 of the game pamphlet lists gobbler as a tom only, and has female turkeys as hens, no mention of turkey language.

[BOWHUNTER45]

BearPaw ..we have seen hens strutting numerous times  I have a video somewhere where the hen was strutting while the gobbler was trying to get on top of her ..Not sure why but she had her tail up and wings down and finally they mated ! Amazing the things we see out there while chasing turkeys !

[bearpaw]

BearPaw ..we have seen hens strutting numerous times  I have a video somewhere where the hen was strutting while the gobbler was trying to get on top of her ..Not sure why but she had her tail up and wings down and finally they mated ! Amazing the things we see out there while chasing turkeys !

I've never seen a hen actually strut, I have seen them fluffing and stretching wings often, but I changed my post, I certainly don't want anyone making a mistake. THANKS 

[PA BEN]

I've seen hens do it in the fall. They don't stay in it very long and it's when they are fighting seeing whos the boss. Full fanned out and somewhat puffed up.   

[Tom Tamer]

WAC 232-28-342 reads like this:

(b) SPRING SEASON

(i) LEGAL BIRD: Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.

Male turkeys!!!! AND!!! turkeys with visible beards!!

Not that hard to figure out.

[RadSav]

I killed a tom with about a quarter inch beard. They taste just as good as the ones with 10 inch beards.

Or taste just as bad as the ones with 10 inch beards!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I do not know but this on cracks me up  You sure would think something as simple as ANY TURKEY WITH A VISIBLE BEARD would have in all covered    its all good ...need something for everyone to talk about ...lmao