OOOPs Goofed anyone else do this?

[RutNBuck]

i will start by sayin i started turkey hunting before any of the northern ky counties opened we would head to LBL Ft Knox etc.. so i have had my share of wonderful hunts but this was a first in a long LONG time
opening weekend i shot a really nice long beard and yesterday i was hunting in hopes to fill my other tag..

the day was beautiful i had 4 jakes come in and do a whoop butt on my hen decoy at my first set up it was a very good show to watch...so after they left i headed to another spot and as another forum member called me i said wait i got to go i saw 2 long beards one strutter and one head up with about a 10 " beard i was looking at his head all red/white/blue and when he gave me a perfect shot i dropped the hammer and heard floppin i was excited UNTIL i walked up and saw that i some how had shot a jake..
(which isnt a bad thing just i always go for long beards) some how in the mix a few jakes had joined the others and when i saw a gobbler head appear BOOM he will be great table fair but bugs me that i took a next year long beard out.. would any of you feel the same way or just be happy that you hammer a legal bird??

[kentuckyshooter]

The way the birds are here not talkin and all that is be happy to just take a jake!!! Thats bad theres nothing wrong with popping a jake every once in a while good going...

[matewsq2]

that tells me that you couldn't tell if it had a visable beard at time of hammer drop!!!

[Iceman35]

That jake only had a 50% chance of making it to next year anyway. Enjoy your bird.

[MrHank]

It would hurt my feelings if I did the same thing. But there is no shame in taking a legal bird. With turkeys it would not be hard too make this mistake, he will eat good though.

[CHL]

I'm sure you were pretty let down being that you were expecting a 10" beard and 1.25" spurs. However, I'm sure it's happened before and will happen many times beyond this one. Enjoy the fried turkey strips!

[Strutter]

Don't worry about it. I have strict orders when I go out to shoot the first legal bird that gets in range. My wife and kids love to eat wild turkey and I have no problems bustin a jake on the first day or the last. If it's a long beard, all the better cause he will have more meat. Enjoy the bird and be grateful you had the opportunity to take one.

Rob

[turk2di]

Be happy & don't apologize! Congrats on a fine bird!

[mudhole crossing]

that tells me that you couldn't tell if it had a visable beard at time of hammer drop!!!
technically, u dont have to see a beard to harvest it. but, if he was lokking for 2+ yr old, yeah. 2 turkeys with visible beards, or 2 male turkeys:)

[bowhunter269]

Congrats! You shot a legal bird.
And I will confess, I filled my 2nd tag the same way yesterday........that red head popped over the rise and I let him have it.........
When I went to ensure he wasn't leaving, I looked for spurs before picking him up and he didn't have any..............I then realized I shot a jake.
Disappointing, but as someone said the deep fried turkey strips are awesome!!

[B.M. Barrelcooker]

the skillet don't mind.

[nooge]

The way my season has gone so far, a jake would be awesome!!! I have been bamboosilled every time out (4) this year. Be happy because there are several of us out there that haven't scored one yet!!

[singlebarrel]

that tells me that you couldn't tell if it had a visable beard at time of hammer drop!!!

BAG LIMITS
• A hunter shall take no more than two (2) birds during the spring season; those two birds shall be male turkeys or turkeys with visible beards.
• No more than one (1) bird may be taken per day.
• Turkeys taken by youth during the Youth-Only Season count toward the spring turkey bag limit.

If you know its a male turkey, shoot! Most folks can tell the difference.:cool:

[wkyoutdoorsman]

Congrats on filling both tags! I would have been a little upset myself considering the circumstances. But like others on here have said, it happens to the best of us. It will make for some good table fare. Congrats and be proud!

[Xi Bowhunter]

I wouldn't be upset at all. I would take at least one jake a year if the opprutunity arises.

[RutNBuck]

thanks guys myself like most hunters perfer a big old long beard but as mentioned they all eat very well... and to be honest going with others and calling and watchn their excitment is a thrill within its own..

i am noticing according to the telecheck thingy that most of my buddies that usually tag out by now havent even got a first so im guessin these are some tough time are tough turkeys...

[huntmadd]

It happens to the best of us buddy so I will not rag on you to hard.Hope you and Jake had a grate season.

[RutNBuck]

thx brian you having much luck this season?
hope your season is going well seems to be pretty tuff in these parts

[NonTyp]

RNB I wouldn't sweat shooting a jake! I like to shoot longbeards as much as anyone but I was going to shoot a jake this morning. I told myself the first bird that sticks his head up is dead. And true to my word I done so, just so happened he was a longbeard! I didn't know it till I walked up to him!:)

[RutNBuck]

Congrats non TYP
enjoy your feast and glory

[BRADM]

be grateful you had the opportunity to take one.

Yeah really. :rolleyes: I've yet to even kill ONE yet. :(

[huntmadd]

Clay we are doing ok down here I am tagged out with two long beards and called in another in for a friend.

[4onaside]

The only thing bad about your deal is that this killing a jake thing has progressed to the point that experienced hunters feel like they have to have the blessings of other hunters in order to harvest a legal turkey.:)
My goodness man, hunt for yourself, and quit worrying about what anybody else thinks about YOUR hunt. I killed a longbeard on April 8 and a jake day before yesterday. There were four jakes together, and it took me an hour to get them within range. A great hunt? You bet! Our limit is four, and our season ends Sunday week. Will I kill another jake if the opportunity presents itself? Watch me!:D

[WalnutCreekDoc]

spurs and beards don't eat to well.

[BIRD DOWN]

I did the same thing on my second tag but the jake was a whole lot better tender turkey out of the oven then the longbeard the day before :D

[yankeegonesouthern]

Yeah really. :rolleyes: I've yet to even kill ONE yet. :(
Same here, I am hoping not to get "scunked" this year. I think it is a worse feeling to pull the hammer and "no bird is there!". That has been my problem.