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tut
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:28 am Posts: 1181 Location: Hamilton, va
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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.
_________________ "Turkey's have no curiosity"
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Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:15 pm |
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playin' hookey
Longbeard
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:47 pm Posts: 285 Location: Halifax County
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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.
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Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:53 pm |
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skimerhorn
King of Spring
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:28 pm Posts: 526 Location: Beaverdam va
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Re: Jake or Gobbler?
I think its close enough to call a longbeard
_________________ "Hunting is fun"-Jim Shockey
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Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:55 pm |
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beardbuster84
King of Spring
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:48 pm Posts: 790 Location: Westmoreland co. Va
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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.
_________________ "If the good Lord is willing and the creeks don't rise." Hank Williams
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Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:36 pm |
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Beard Collecter
Longbeard
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:54 pm Posts: 172
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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.
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Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:20 am |
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turkey_slayer
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:10 am Posts: 405
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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
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Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:55 am |
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tut
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:28 am Posts: 1181 Location: Hamilton, va
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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.
_________________ "Turkey's have no curiosity"
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:36 am |
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Gobblevt
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:36 am Posts: 1063 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Catlett, VA
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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!
_________________ It's not who you are, it's what you do that defines you.
GO HOKIES!
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:34 am |
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vagrousehunter
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 12:41 pm Posts: 813 Location: WV Eastern Panhandle
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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.
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:00 am |
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Vic
King of Spring
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:40 am Posts: 2706 Location: Baltimore, MD
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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
_________________ Vic
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:06 am |
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WVBOY
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:33 pm Posts: 3038 Location: Powhatan, VA
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Re: Jake or Gobbler?
I think he is a Jake if you look at the wing patch.. here is an example I found..
_________________ RB
Take me Home Country Roads.
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:02 am |
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turkey_slayer
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:10 am Posts: 405
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Re: Jake or Gobbler?
^^^ yep. Wing patches never lie
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:26 am |
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Bird Dog
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 4:50 pm Posts: 2650 Location: central Va
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Re: Jake or Gobbler?
I'll need a taste test to be sure.
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:48 am |
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skimerhorn
King of Spring
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:28 pm Posts: 526 Location: Beaverdam va
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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.. That's good to know, I've always just judged by the fan.
_________________ "Hunting is fun"-Jim Shockey
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:59 am |
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hawglips
King of Spring
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:13 pm Posts: 393 Location: Garner, NC
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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: adult juvenile juvenile
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Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:01 pm |
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