I have seen a few in my life turkey hunting in the spring but never pulled the trigger on a bearded hen. I always ask myself every year if I will. I'm still not sure, so I'm asking you, would you? Why n why not. Thanks

Yes, because I haven't Turkey hunted much and it would be nice to say I have that under my belt. Probably wouldn't shoot anther one after that.

No. Hens lay eggs. Produce more turkeys. More turkeys = more targets for me!

If I knew for sure she wasn't sitting on a nest I wouldn't have a problem with it. That's my hang up.

We have a few that hang around our place. We declared them off limits. They are rare to see and we decided there was no need to make them more rare.
I read on this forum once that bearded hens make for more multi-bearded toms. I do not know if it is true on not, but we do see a three bearded tom every few years.

I always shoot the first legal birds I see. They all eat the same.

Been there, done that. Twice. I doubt one bird makes or breaks a population and bit of the ones I killed had 7+" beards. I thought it was cool. Now I just think they stink.

I'd shoot a hen hen in the spring of it was ok

I have. In a downpour after watching her in a field alone for 45 minutes. Called it a day and chased toms the next.

Shot one when I was in College but have let all the ones since then go. See a few every year on the place in Eastland County. A few years ago there were 3 of them in one flock in the fall. Fall turkeys get a pass from me since they are a lot more fun to call in during the Spring