No Jakes?

[singlemalt]

I am hunting in South Brant and being retired this year been out a few times each week. I have my first Tom for 2020 and being selective about the second. Also guiding a couple of friends. Its a good year for birds around here. Seeing and hearing them every day. However other than one little fellow who came by on opening day I have not seen a Jake this season. Every male bird I have seen is a big fellow.

Are others noticing the same? Maybe poor survival with the wet spring last year?

[finsfurfeathers]

Been seeing a decent amount of Jakes which bodes well for next year. Thing I noticed all but 2 had virtually no beard visible and appeared small. Figured most are second or very late hatch birds.

[Cheeta]

Ratio's seem even in my corner. Just as many hens as there are males (half jakes/half toms)

[singlemalt]

Well I started this thread at 4:00am this morning having coffee before I went out this morning. Of course the turkeys made me a liar. It was quiet at dawn but around 8:00 am a couple of hens came into the meadow trailing a big Tom and four Jakes. When I called aggressively three of the Jakes broke off and came right to me. The fourth Jake never left the Tom's side. All three were less than 15 yards at one point. They did look small and could not confirm a beard on any of them. I just shut up and sat still. After they had been gone about 20 minutes I called again because I could still see the Tom with the two hens and wouldn't you know it, the three Jakes came trotting right back. I let them go again, not really anxious for the season to be over with the weather forecast so good them next few days.

I guess everything is fine in the turkey world here after all.

[finsfurfeathers]

Well I started this thread at 4:00am this morning having coffee before I went out this morning. Of course the turkeys made me a liar. It was quiet at dawn but around 8:00 am a couple of hens came into the meadow trailing a big Tom and four Jakes. When I called aggressively three of the Jakes broke off and came right to me. The fourth Jake never left the Tom's side. All three were less than 15 yards at one point. They did look small and could not confirm a beard on any of them. I just shut up and sat still. After they had been gone about 20 minutes I called again because I could still see the Tom with the two hens and wouldn't you know it, the three Jakes came trotting right back. I let them go again, not really anxious for the season to be over with the weather forecast so good them next few days.

I guess everything is fine in the turkey world here after all.

Good too hear. After the first bird I got the plan for the next day was to pick off one of the 6 jakes that was running with him. Didn't expect to trip over another decent bird.
Might as well try some reverse psychology plan on taking a jake next day out I'd bet you'll get a big one too.

[smokin'stoegie]

I am hunting in South Brant and being retired this year been out a few times each week. I have my first Tom for 2020 and being selective about the second. Also guiding a couple of friends. Its a good year for birds around here. Seeing and hearing them every day. However other than one little fellow who came by on opening day I have not seen a Jake this season. Every male bird I have seen is a big fellow.

Are others noticing the same? Maybe poor survival with the wet spring last year?

I'm not too far from you and I will say I have not been seeing jakes either. Saw one and he was the size of your average hen.
I suppose each part of the province is different but we did have a very wet spring so it might be a factor.

[singlemalt]

Since I posted this I have seen the same three Jakes together about four times. Every time I saw them they would come right in to my calls or decoy, once to about 10 yards. I left them alone and pretty sure they have never seen me. I had a friend coming who has never killed a turkey and I have never been in on a double. I thought they would be perfect candidates. My buddy came on Wednesday and around 8:00 the three amigos came into our field right from where they always do.

I could not get them to come within a 150 yards??????? Turkeys do what turkeys do and often there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.

[410001661]

89B and I am seeing a decent number of jakes.