Just noticed that TPWD added bearded hens for the spring season on Rio's anyway. Wonder why?

Thanks for the info.
I wish they would cut the limit from 4 to 2 IMO

Guess I should have went straight to the source. Thanks Kyotee

Wierd reasoning . . "dont think it will hurt anything so will allow it". Sounds like a way to make the game wardens life easier. No more tickets and arguments when a hunter cant tell the difference between a bearded hen and a gobbler.

Bearded hens are usually the matriarch hen of the group. She is the bird with the most nesting and polt rearing experience and keeps the younger hens out of trouble.

. . . what could possibly be wrong with killing them? Kill em all.

Here in California bearded hens are legal to take in the spring as well but counts as one of your 3 gobblers or jakes. I took one in the fall a couple of years ago and it is considered to be a real trophy by some Turkey Hunters because of the uniqueness of the bird. You just don't see bearded hens all over the place. They are fairly rare although I usually see 2-3 in the flock of 150 or so that I hunt regularly.

not much on shootin the egg layers. if she has 20 something poults and 10 survive, then maybe half will be jakes. in a few years say 2 or 3 of those reach maturity then you've got your nice gobblers for that season or so. killing a hen may not kill your turkey population off, but its definitely not going to help it. also what fun is it shootin a bearded hen when you could shoot a big ol tom when he comes in thunderin and struttin..... thats the good stuff right there.

The problem we have out here in California is we are being run over by Turkeys in some areas. They are having no problem breeding out here and the population has skyrocketed in my area. The local flock in the fall has grown from 25-50 2 years ago to around 250-300 now with only me hunting them. They will run your kids right out of the yard in the spring. We don't have the drought issue to deal with right now and the Turkey flocks are very healthy. They are moving into towns and walk up and down the street regularly stopping traffic all the time in parts of Sacramento. They have moved into the Valley recently in all areas and are not just in the hills now. The hens are better eating by the way.

sounds like you guys are fortunate in california. maybe nwtf could trap them and spread the love to some other areas.....

That is funny since all of these birds come from Texas to begin with so I did want to thank all of you native Texans for the broodstock whenever or however long ago that was. Come on out and we will introduce you to the most exciting Turkey Hunting. Pellet Gun Turkey Hunting. Check out my hunts on youtube under "Pellet Gun Turkey Hunting Television" with 2 new episodes to be posted soon.