Osage Roost
All Hunting => The Ol' Skinnin' Shack => Topic started by: Fl Panhandler on April 28, 2011, 09:44:43 PM
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This last weekend I killed a gobbler that turned out to be a jake. He gobbled on the roost several times and took his sweet time coming in. When he did decide to commit he came in in full strut. I clucked at him to get him to break strut and he gobbled. When he did I layed him out. I got up and walked to him and checked out his spurs. He had 3/8" bumps. I was bummed. His wing tips were worn off from strutting. This is the first time I have killed a jake. He acted like a full grown bird. He only had a 5 1/2" curly beard, like a corkscrew. I didn't get a real good look at him through the foliage, but when he stepped out in full strut and gobbled I guess i figured he was ready to die. My question is; Why was he allowed to act like a dominate bird, gobbling and strutting and the like? Do y'all think he was able to breed at that age? He didn't have a full fan but I could't tell untill I examined it very closely. That osage aluminum Kaiser call I guess was too irresistable. :)
Rick
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Turkey_4_2011_008.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Turkey_4_2011_009.JPG)
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I thought that jakes going into strut only happened in MO! Sometimes it is hard to tell. I think we put so much pressure on ourselves and then you make a gut decision and when they are gobbling and strutting, not much more you can do.
While in Kansas, I think one of firedup's bunch did the same thing. He said the bird was strutting and gobbling the whole way and he slammed it...
His fan doesn't show much jake in it at all either and I wouldn't have been able to tell and he'd been dead meat with me too!
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That is still a kill and good eating! Those things happen!
Mike
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I have seen jakes gobbling more this year than ever before. When they have a full fan I think they meet the definition of a gobbler in most states. Congrats on #4.
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I probably would have shot him too bro!...When they act like that, sometimes its hard to tell the difference...Congrats!
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Congrats! *up*
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Congrats. if their old enough to gobble their old enough to die.
Jon
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seen my share of strutting and good gobbeling jakes. Got me one now I have already sat on two times---he moves around and doesnt mind making ya think he is a mature bird.Ya hear him on the roost---at take off for him---probablly wont be the only two time I will either---but his tail really shows it unlike yours .
That fan would be really hard to tell---especially in some folage .
Sounds like ya had a great hunt and dont fret it----he acted the part and I am sure you had a great time getting your heart rate to mach 3 !!!!
Congrats
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Congrats Rick ! That is a fine turkey . He is what I refer to as a "Super Jake" . He was an early hatched bird and is a few weeks ahead of other turkeys born last year . He has enough hormones to make him act like a big bird and even try to breed . I have killed two super jakes accidentally because I listened to them gobbling and was convinced that it was a mature bird I was hearing and as soon as I could see their heads I shot them . I learned an important lesson to always wait til I can judge the beard before I pull the trigger . I passed up an 18 yd shot at a turkey on this years opening day because I couldn't see its beard . Even though I had listened to him gobble for 30 minutes as I worked in on him . Might have been a 5 yr old for all I know , but I wasn't taking the chance on him . That is still a great turkey and a great hunt , congrats again !
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Way to go!!!!!
God Bless,
Mark
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Congrats on your great season !!! ... *cheers*
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SINNER!...... Just kidding ROTFLMBO
Congrats on #4!
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Good job.
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SINNER!...... Just kidding ROTFLMBO
Congrats on #4!
ROTFLMBO ROTFLMBO
I whacked a jake just like yours a few years back in MD. He came in dropping in and out of strut through the underbrush, and his fan appeared full and I could easily see his beard. Wasn't until I had a hold of him I realized he was a jake.
It happens, but like Mike said -- extra tender!
*up*
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Congrats!!! *up*
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Congrats on your dominate super jake.....
It was a fun hunt and that's what matters most.... RkLu
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Rick....good job, you did what most folks would do, but you told the story...You the man...and congrats.. RkLu