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Jake or Gobbler?
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Author:  tut [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Jake or Gobbler?

After not seeing or hearing anything for weeks on the farm I hunt in Shenandoah Co. I overslept today and wasn't there to listen for gobbles at dawn. Decided to still go and check a couple of trail cams I have scattered around. Up until today I have had nada on the cams except for an occasional deer and yote. Anyway, got to the farm at about 830 stayed for an hour and left. Got back home and found a couple of pictures of hens on one trail cam that was taken last Monday (during the snow storm). Looks like today they had some male companionship as well. My question is whether this is a Jake or a Gobbler. Can't see the beard and the resolution is so so. Fan looks pretty full, but was wondering what other folks felt. Guess I need to go back next Saturday at dawn and listen and bring binoculars.

PS. Farmer has winter wheat planted and its just starting to turn green. Hoping the birds might like that as a food source.

Image

Author:  playin' hookey [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

Looks like a mature fan but if not it doesn't matter -- with all those hens there will be a longbeard around even if that's not him.

Author:  skimerhorn [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

I think its close enough to call a longbeard

Author:  beardbuster84 [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

I called a bird up a few years back for a buddy of mine that had inch an a quarter spurs but didn't have a beard I never would have figured it but I guess stranger things have happened.

Author:  Beard Collecter [ Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

My guess is that wheat field will be a gold mine. Saw my first strutters in a wheat field a couple days ago with about 20 hens.

Author:  turkey_slayer [ Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

It's a Jake. Look at the wing patch. More like a super Jake. Fan is nearly full and wing patch is nearly full

Author:  tut [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

Thanks all. Wasn't sure. I killed what I thought was a gobbler two years ago at my cousins that also threw me for a loop. Had a totally full fan and about a 4" beard, but the beard at the end had beard rot (looked like someone had put a torch to it). That bird had nubs for spurs and that was what threw me for the loop because everything else tracked like a gobbler. Guess he might have been one of those "super jakes" as well.

PS. I was watching HS Strut DVD last night and the host killed a gobbler with a full fan and 10" beard that had only nubs. Guess one never knows what strange combo's are out there.

Author:  Gobblevt [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

tut wrote:
Thanks all. Wasn't sure. I killed what I thought was a gobbler two years ago at my cousins that also threw me for a loop. Had a totally full fan and about a 4" beard, but the beard at the end had beard rot (looked like someone had put a torch to it). That bird had nubs for spurs and that was what threw me for the loop because everything else tracked like a gobbler. Guess he might have been one of those "super jakes" as well.

PS. I was watching HS Strut DVD last night and the host killed a gobbler with a full fan and 10" beard that had only nubs. Guess one never knows what strange combo's are out there.



Tut, I killed an older gobbler bout 10 years ago with a 11-1/2 " beard , no spurs, and a uneven tail fan. Looked like a jake except for beard and weight ...weighed 23 lbs! I've seen a lot of genetic abnormalities over the years . My buddy killed one in kg county while back had no beard. Not even a sign of one. Had 11/4 spurs!

Author:  vagrousehunter [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

Tut, remember the one that I killed in SC several years ago ? Full fan, 10" beard and nubs for spurs that were on the side of his leg.

Author:  Vic [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

To me it doesn't matter that much. If he acts like a tom game on.
Good luck either way.

Vic

Author:  WVBOY [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

I think he is a Jake if you look at the wing patch.. here is an example I found..

Image

Author:  turkey_slayer [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

^^^ yep. Wing patches never lie

Author:  Bird Dog [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

I'll need a taste test to be sure.

Author:  skimerhorn [ Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

WVBOY wrote:
I think he is a Jake if you look at the wing patch.. here is an example I found..

Image

That's good to know, I've always just judged by the fan.

Author:  hawglips [ Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jake or Gobbler?

skimerhorn wrote:
That's good to know, I've always just judged by the fan.


The secondary coverts (speculum) is a good field mark to determine whether juvenile or adult. It's easier to tell usually when the wing is folded. They get their adult feathers the 2nd spring/summer.

Here's a couple examples of standing birds:

Image
adult

Image
juvenile

Image
juvenile

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