bearded hens and would you shoot?

[toddy]

In the last two years in my travels I am noticing an increase in bearded hens. Up until Saturday morning I had never actually encountered one while hunting. Come the end of the season when the tag soup seems a bit more realistic the debate in my head starts about if I would shoot one or not given the opportunity.

This hen with a beard feeds around my decoy for about 45 minutes on Saturday morning. Naturally I notice it when I'm about to shift cus my arse is sore so I'm forced to sit still longer haha.

So here I am, no more theorizing about what I would do, I have to make a decision. The bird went unharmed as this level of guilt overcame me. I know 15 years ago that turkey was dead as soon as a shot was presented.

What would others do?

[Fox]

Absolutely, no problem here with population and the babies are not running around yet. If they had a group of babies trailing them then no but I would not feel bad at all about it, just like a doe in the fall, no different if the population is stable.

[tom gobble]

In the area I hunt there is so many hens, that I wouldn't feel bad at all. Unless like fox said if it had babies with them then definitely no shot would be taken.

[huntitall]

I have buddies that have shot one this year and another buddy shot one last year. Both were their first birds, so it wasn't even a question for them. I asked if they would shoot one again, and they said no as they both want to hold out for Toms now. So.... i guess your allowed one before you feel guilty

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

For me if I get out 4x in the spring season if I am lucky. Legal birds get a tag in my world. Now if I had more hunting time I would pass..

[Fox]

I have buddies that have shot one this year and another buddy shot one last year. Both were their first birds, so it wasn't even a question for them. I asked if they would shoot one again, and they said no as they both want to hold out for Toms now. So.... i guess your allowed one before you feel guilty

I would only feel guilty if the hen was old and did not taste good.

I have never once felt guilty about a yearling, they are lighter to pull out of the bush and tender .

For the same reason Jakes are a very good option as well.

[Greenhorn]

I shot one before and found it it was only around 9-10 pounds. Not enough meat ,I will stick with toms.

[finsfurfeathers]

given the choice between an unpunched tag or legal bird in the bag well its a bird in the hand for sure. Easier said than done as fortunately haven't faced that dilemma yet. Would say though the one fall I bought a tag I ate it as the hens and poults that presented themselves weren't worth the shot for me and haven't bought a tag since.

[kokes]

I would rather burn my tag then shoot a bearded hen, I don't know something about it makes me feel like I'd be killing a nest of 10+ eggs as well as a hen I just couldn't do it. I will not knock anyone for shooting one at all, but for me I turkey hunt for the experience, for being in the woods and hearing those toms gobble, and I love the meat but lets face it im not going hungry if I don't fill my tag.
I passed a bearded hen on April 29th and as karma would have it shot a limbhanger tom on the 30th to punch my 2nd tag of the season...maybe the turkey gods rewarded me...

[dilly]

The only reason bearded hens are legal is because they can be confused for a jake or small tom. If one knows it's a hen, then they should pass IMO. There is a nest somewhere and you are taking out several birds for what? They yield very little meat and no trophy value...may as well go shoot a few robins.