How many turkeys to take

[Dr Crane]

Found a flock on private land, counted 30 crossing the road on their way back to roost. To the best of my knowledge they are not hunted. Went scouting with my 14 yr old hunting girl Sunday and counted 8 jakes and 2 toms along with 6 hens going across a field that we can hunt in. Just sitting in the truck at the entrance to the field 4 jakes came within range, I guess these are what you'd call non-pressured turkeys! Anyway, My buddy and I would like our kids to get their first turkeys but seeing as how all for of us need permits to hunt, our total bag limit is 12 turkeys. We definitely want to get the kids out for the two junior hunting days. Hate to sound overly optimistic, but how many male birds can be harvested from a flock of 30 assuming half of them are males? Also, are they going to get wise once we start blasting them?

 

[SCcdp]

They are going to get wise know that. Turkey's aren't as bird brained as a lot of folks would have you to believe. I'd kill the two gobblers and let the children kill a jake a piece and leave them be. In theory it only takes one male turkey of reproductive age to breed every hen in that flock, but that poor ole boy would have to put in some serious work. I personally don't kill jakes or allow them to be killed on the land that I hunt unless it is someone's(i.e. woman or child) first turkey.

 

[bobelk99]

I think SC offers a sound solution.

 

[Scorch]

Let the kids shoot theirs first. Then see if you can score. You will be surprised at how fast a turkey wises up to the fact he is being hunted.

 

[bamaranger]

+1

They'll wise up, and shut up fast.

As an example, for many years, my home county spring gobbler season opened 2 wks before the adjoining county. Some years I hunted both. By week 2 of home county, hearing a gobbling bird was a RARE thing. Birds in the open would often run from calls. Flush wildly from vehicles and the sight of man at distances approaching 1/4 mile or more. Run from same at dx's approaching 1/2 mile.

Visit the neighbor county on their opener......10-12 birds gobbling from the roost, birds running to call, etc. Birds live just miles apart. The difference was hunting pressure.

Although I would not choose to kill a jake, I've had WAY to many turkeys that I should have killed, get away.....to pass on a jake if the season was going bad or the pickings slim. In some states though, jakes are not legal. (MS for example) .

Congrats on your find. Get everybody a bird,(if yuo can) thank the landowner verbally, w/ a small gift later, maybe a ham or something at Thanksgiving, and guard your friendship and spot like gold.

 

[bamaranger]

Oh yeah.........

May I be so cursed.............

 

[Dr Crane]

She got two!

All went as planned, 5 jakes one tom came in, called them within 20' of the blind, couldn't get clean shot (houses beyond), tom disappears int woods behind us and the jakes keep trying to impress a hen that showed up. Again no good shots ( my truck beyond!). Kept calling then tom comes back into field 20 yds out, one shot he's down, now the jakes come running over to see what all the fuss is about, the girl takes another shot just as two jakes line up head to head, wings one of them... he finally gets dispatched when he does a Kamikaze run at the blind. Tom was 22 lbs 11" beard 1" spurs, forgot to weigh jake, he had 4 1/4" beard no spurs. had some for dinner tonight! My buddy showed up without his kid who was too lazy to get out of bed! Ya snooze ya lose! Will take everyone's advice let the other kid have a chance next Sat for the second junior hunting day then leave them alone. I've got two toms walking through my own back yard and I've got an archery permit so I'm all set, awfully proud of my 14 yr old though! Forgot to add the gun was her Christmas present, Mossberg 500 Bantam Turkey 20 ga!

 

[treg]

Take the kids first and let them have fun. Once they get bored kill (and eat) all of them you can. There will be just as many or more next year.

Good luck.

 

[hoghunting]

Congratulations to you and your daughter, Dr. That'll teach the other kid to sleep in. You probably have more turkeys than that one flock as there are usually singles and doubles that don't congregate in a big flock. Keep scouting.