Would you shoot a bearded hen ?

[Water Rat]

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.

[TeeBugg]

never seen one in the woods before. i guess it would be a gametime decision if i did. more than likely if i knew it was a hen...id pass on it.

[Water Rat]

It was really strange looking . Dull looking plumage , tiny body , blueish gray head but had about a 6" beard.

[jesse.james]

Kinda like the bearded lady.

[Cabin Fever]

I've had a couple different ones at camp. Nope, wouldn't shoot one. They get a pass.

[sits in trees]

I let one walk last season.

[Cabin Fever]

Remember the saying, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." Well, "You can put a beard on a hen, but it's still a hen!"    

[Two Track]

Hmm.  It is bearded, but a hen.  Maybe if desperate at the end of the season.

 

It is similar to whether or not you shoot an antlered doe - they are not common, but do exist.

[verminater71]

I would shoot it in a heartbeat, odds are if it has a beard the hormones are screwed up probably never lay an egg

 

I would have a full body mount done add it to the game room

[G-Man]

Absoutly! I even target hens in the fall on purpose. One less hen to compete with...

[WNY Bowhunter]

In the fall...yes.  In the spring...no.  Unless, it was the last morning of season, the gobbler I had roosted pulled a no show and it was about start raining.  Such was the chase on 5/31/09 when I killed a bearded hen that had screwed me over several times that season.  It was a matter of payback really.  Plus, she was kicking the crap out of my decoy so I had to take her out...

 

[landtracdeerhunter]

I would shoot it in a heartbeat, odds are if it has a beard the hormones are screwed up probably never lay an egg

 

I would have a full body mount done add it to the game room

 

I don't really think anyone can truly answer the egg laying part.

[Fantail]

Only in the Fall.

[WNY Bowhunter]

I would shoot it in a heartbeat, odds are if it has a beard the hormones are screwed up probably never lay an egg

 

I would have a full body mount done add it to the game room

 

That's an old wives tale.  Bearded hens can/do lay eggs just like any other hen turkey.  The one that I shot in back in '09 was defintely nesting...she had 4-5 eggs in her that were in different stages of development.  I would never shoot another one during the spring season.

Edited May 7, 2013 by WNY Bowhunter

[Water Rat]

In the fall...yes.  In the spring...no.  Unless, it was the last morning of season, the gobbler I had roosted pulled a no show and it was about start raining.  Such was the chase on 5/31/09 when I killed a bearded hen that had screwed me over several times that season.  It was a matter of payback really.  Plus, she was kicking the crap out of my decoy so I had to take her out...

 

Are you sure that's a hen in the photo ? I only ask because the bearded hen I saw didn't have the red,white and blue head.

[Pygmy]

Are you sure that's a hen in the photo ? I only ask because the bearded hen I saw didn't have the red,white and blue head.

The breast feathers have buff tips, which is a sure indicator of a hen..

 

A jake's breast feathers would have black tips..

 

A hen's head can flush bright colors when she is excited also...Years ago I shot an adult hen for a jake in the fall because of her red head...

 

 

[Lawdwaz]

I wouldn't shoot one.  Had one pass by me 20 years ago and never even thought about it.

 

But......I have no ill feelings towards anyone that does kill one. 

[wooly]

No bearded hens for me........ if I see one with a mustache it's getting popped!

[WNY Bowhunter]

Are you sure that's a hen in the photo ? I only ask because the bearded hen I saw didn't have the red,white and blue head.

 

Most of the red that you see on that hen's head can be attributed to 2.25 ounces of hevi-shot @ 25 yds.  As Pygmy stated, gobblers have black barred breast feathers and a  hens are just dull brown. Plus, she only weighed about 10 lbs and had eggs inside of her.

[Water Rat]

Thanks for the explanations. You guys were exactly right concerning the different color breast feathers.I didn't even notice them in the photo. I didn't realize a hens head could flush colors when excited...thanks for the info. Learn something new every day !

[Uncle Nicky]

Probably not, I've never seen one in the woods. If it was the last weekend of the season, it was hot, and I was disgruntled I'd consider it.

[Water Rat]

Most of the red that you see on that hen's head can be attributed to 2.25 ounces of hevi-shot @ 25 yds.  As Pygmy stated, gobblers have black barred breast feathers and a  hens are just dull brown. Plus, she only weighed about 10 lbs and had eggs inside of her.

I was just wondering if the bearded hen you shot had any spurs ?

[WNY Bowhunter]

Just the little button-like scales that all hens have.

 

Here's another bearded hen that I shot back in the fall of 2005.  I've never seen a hen with so much red in her head...

 

 

Another bearded hen on trailcam...

 

 

 

[Water Rat]

Damn that's strange....never knew this about hens before.

Don't tell me you saw her strutting !!!!!!!!

[WNY Bowhunter]

Hens can strut and gobble.  I called up a hen in the spring about 10 years back that gobbled several times.  A good friend of mine from work had a hen in PA this year that came in strutting and gobbling her head off.  He's got it on video...