I remember a few years ago when a bearded hen came into gun range while I was spring turkey hunting. She mingled around my turkey decoys for approximately 10 minutes or so. During this time , I couldn't help but think that I could shoot this hen as the regulations state
"bearded turkey". I let her pass as I assumed she had a nest nearby and I wouldn't have felt good about it regardless. I wish the DEC would re-write the regulations , as it is very easy to distinguish a jake,gobbler and a bearded hen in the spring.