TOO shoot or not TOO shoot?
A bearded hen is a legal game bird in Ohio.
What are your thoughts on knocking one down?
A bearded hen is a legal game bird in Ohio.
What are your thoughts on knocking one down?
Bearded hens are legal in OH. Your thoughts?
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cspot
Member
I have seen them but never pulled the trigger on one. No issue though if someone else does. Given the right day and time, I might myself.
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
I’ve never shot one but have seen plenty here in NJ (not legal to shoot here)...but if I had the chance at a bearded hen in Ohio that had a really good beard, I think I would...would also consider mounting it and putting it next to a full strut Tom I’ve got in the man cave.
I shot one once. Gutted it and found an egg in it. Much smaller size bird than a tom or a jake. Not nearly as much breast meat. I wasn't real impressed with the bird. I would not shoot one again.
tracker 6
Junior Member
Pretty much what I was thinking seeing that photo above, a dual mount with both birds, bearded would be something.
Same exact scenario here. Was hunting with a buddy and we doubled-up. He shot the longbeard, then the bearded hen stuck around a bit too long afterward. I probably should have gotten her mounted. Beard was almost 9-inches on her and her fan was absolutely flawless. But, like you said, she had an egg and I really didn't get much meat off of her. I likely won't ever shoot another one.
It's perfectly legal. So I think it just boils down to individual personal preference. If you hunt a property that is loaded with birds, whack and stack those bearded hens all you want. Hell, you can shoot them in the fall in most counties anyway. But if you're in an area where the population is struggling or is slow to take off, you're only shooting yourself in the foot by killing hens.
Spencie
Senior Member
If one comes past my kid, game on. If one comes past me.... then i gotta think
SheddingLightTravis
Member
I took a crack at one last year with my recurve. Not a very long beard on her. But just wanted to because I had the recurve out for the first time. Swing and a miss. I immediately regretted it because there was a Tom that had came in silent behind her and was making his way to my decoys and I didn’t see him. Unless the beard is pretty long I’d probably pass one using my gun. But that’s just me.
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I shot one a few years back. Like the others said, I too found an egg. Feeling savage, I fixed the egg for breakfast. The shell was not even fully hardened. Without a doubt it was the freshest egg I’ve ever eaten. My bride looked at me differently for a time. Mason videotaped two or three together on the same farm last spring. I won’t shoot another.
Do bearded hens produced bearded hens? Being feather stupid, I don't know how it works. Outside looking in tells me to kill those freaks.
Mickey Merrie
Junior Member
Pretty common here in Penna. Never thought to shoot one though. Legal is legal. Probably the biggest gobbler I ever saw was in full strut in front of me in to under 20 yards and not even a hint of a beard...
Mickey Merrie
Junior Member
I've heard gobblers gobble in the fall when I was archery hunting too! Watched 2 Tom's one fall beat the crap out of each other for over a half hour one fall scouting deer. they would peck each others heads, wrap necks, jump up and spur each other till you were sure one was dead then rest for about 10 seconds and go at it again. My buddy and I heard the commotion long before we got close enough to watch. There were half a dozen Jake's swarming around them going crazy too every time they mixed it up! After about 40 minutes of this we went down to collect the loser for a nice turkey dinner and we got to within 10 yards of em before they all flew off! Heck I was more wore out from watching them then they seemed to be fighting. MMA cage fights have nothing on wild turkeys I tell you!
Do they? What is the science behind these gender neutral freaks of nature? Is it a sign of maturity? What is it that makes a hen grow a beard? #silverlabsmatterBearded hens matter Dave.
After that post, I'm so glad this stupid bird didn't become our national bird... Could you imagine what today's world would do about bearded hens?!
Mickey Merrie
Junior Member
It's a beard not a pecker! Do you know the difference between an old Polish woman and an old Italian woman? The color of their mustache!