When you are out turkey hunting, before you take the shot – look for the beard to be sure!
There are several reasons why turkey hunting is one of the more accident-prone of the field sports: Everyone out there is camouflaged from head to toe; we’re all making sounds like the birds we’re hunting; and we all know a gobbler’s head is red, white, and blue.
Those same reasons should make turkey hunters extra cautious, but not every hunter remembers all the safety rules when he’s dead certain that’s a gobbler over by that big oak.
In spring, any male or bearded turkey is a legal target, but some hunters don’t give enough thought to distinguishing a tom from a jake, hen, or non-target until it’s time to shoot. You’ll have a safer hunt if you brush up on basic turkey identification and keep the beard rule foremost in mind.
Tom, jake, or hen? A male turkey is larger than a hen, but the sexes can also be differentiated by feather color, head color, leg spurs, and the presence of a beard.
The body feathers on males, regardless of their age, have black tips and a shiny, iridescent sheen. A hen’s body feathers have buff tips and a dull, dusky finish. From a distance, males look big, shiny, and black, while hens look smaller, drab, and brown.
Turkeys do not molt all their tail feathers in the first year of life. A juvenile bird’s central tail feathers are longer than its outer tail feathers. When a jake, or juvenile male, displays his fan, the central tail feathers stick up an inch or two above the rest of the fan.
A hen’s head is typically dull gray or blue in color. Males’ heads can appear bright blue, red, or white, depending on their level of excitement. In spring, a male’s head is generally bright red. When he’s in full strut, the top of his head turns white. When a strutting male walks toward you, his head looks like a softball against his fanned-out tail.
Adult males, or gobblers, also have fleshy wattles and caruncles on their head and neck and a snood on their beak. These fill with blood and turn bright red when the bird is excited, and the snood hangs down several inches below the beak.
Males have spurs on the backs of their legs that grow longer and more pointed each year. Spur length is a reliable method for aging toms. A jake, or yearling male, has spurs less than a half-inch long. A 2-year-old male has spurs one-half to 1-inch long. Toms older than age 3 have spurs at least an inch long. Toms kick at each other with their spurs when fighting.
Males also have beards, which consist of a group of coarse bristles growing out of the skin of their breast. Jakes usually have beards shorter than 5 inches. A 2-year-old tom’s beard is usually at least 8 or 9 inches long. Beard length is not a good indicator of age, as the tips of the bristles wear and break from contact with the ground or tree limbs.
From 1 to 5 percent of hens also have beards, but these are usually short and wispy. Bearded hens have all the other characteristics of normal hens. A bearded hen is a legal target, but most hunters pass them up in favor of a tom.
All turkeys cluck, yelp, and purr, but toms and jakes are the only turkeys that will gobble. A mature tom’s gobble lasts several seconds and has a lusty rattle. A jake’s gobble attempts are often hesitant and comical. Jakes may yelp-gobble or break off a gobble after two or three syllables. They sound like adolescent boys trying out a new voice, which is just what they’re doing.
Keep a mental checklist of these sex characteristics, and you should have no trouble telling a hen from a tom or a jake. As a bird walks into range, ask yourself: black or brown body? Red or gray head?
When a turkey gets close enough to shoot, before you push off the safety, look for the beard. It’s a rare tom that has lost its beard to a fight or freezing weather. That extra second or two you take to identify your target with absolute certainty just might spell the difference between a successful hunt and a tragic mistake.
For turkey hunters, being able to distinguish a young jake turkey from a mature tom is an essential skill While many states allow hunting jakes, regulations vary on the minimum age and sex of turkeys that can be harvested Accurately identifying jakes in the field ensures hunters stay within legal limits. This guide covers the key physical features, behaviors, and other differences that set jake turkeys apart.
What is a Jake Turkey?
A jake is a young male wild turkey that is under 2 years old. Jake turkeys are sexually immature juveniles that were hatched the spring prior. The term “jake” refers specifically to first-year male turkeys, while yearlings are juvenile males in their second spring. After their second spring, male turkeys are considered mature adults and referred to as toms or gobblers.
During the spring mating season, jakes are just developing their mating behaviors and vocalizations. By summer jakes form small bachelor flocks away from mature birds. Identifying jakes amongst a group of turkeys ensures hunters don’t mistake them for adult gobblers.
Distinguishing Physical Features of Jakes
Several physical attributes can be used to positively identify a jake in the field:
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Short beard – A jake’s beard is typically less than 6 inches long, compared to 7+ inches on mature toms. The beard may be thinner and lighter in color as well.
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Small spur size – Look for short, rounded spurs less than 1 inch on the jake’s legs. Mature tom spurs are 1-2+ inches and dagger-shaped.
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Narrow tail fan – The tail fan appears narrow and less filled out with uneven lengths of feathers.
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Tan head color – A jake’s head often remains tan, while a tom’s head turns red, blue or white.
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No prominent breast sponge – Unlike mature toms, jakes lack an enlarged featherless breast area.
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Smaller overall size – A jake’s smaller body, head, and footprint can help identify it.
Behavioral Differences of Jake Turkeys
Mature toms and jakes behave differently, especially during mating season:
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Minimal strutting – Jakes may do some short strutting displays, but lack the exaggerated behavior of adult toms.
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Fewer and shorter gobbles – The jake’s higher-pitched “peeping” gobble sounds weaker and trails off.
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Lack of aggression – Jakes are submissive and avoid confrontations with dominant toms.
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Wary nature – Jakes are shy and flee easily compared to mature gobblers.
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Small flocks – Jakes form loose bachelor groups away from hens after the spring hunt.
Tips for Identifying Jakes in the Field
When you spot a flock of turkeys, follow these tips to determine if a jake is present:
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Get a clear view of key physical features like beard, spurs, and tail. Take optics like binoculars.
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Listen for juvenile peeping gobbles rather than the full, resonant gobbles of mature toms.
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Note any interactions within the flock to see if a bird is being submissive or chased off.
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Look for smaller, tan-headed individuals loosely trailing the main group, often the jakes.
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Observe flock movements. Jakes are quicker to alarm putt and flee from threats.
Why Accurate Jake Identification Matters
Identifying jakes allows hunters to fully comply with hunting regulations. It also promotes ethical practices, as jakes offer less challenge compared to wary older gobblers. Taking the time to properly ID birds in the field makes you a more knowledgeable, responsible turkey hunter.
With this guide’s help identifying key jake characteristics, you will sharpen your skills and be far better equipped to confidently tell young jake turkeys apart from mature toms. Now get out in the spring woods and start putting your jake ID abilities to the test!
More Resources for Identifying Jake Turkeys:
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NWTF Guide to Identifying Jakes – Photos and details on jake characteristics
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Field & Stream Tips – Behavioral and vocalization differences of jakes
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Outdoor Life Jake ID Guide – Spur, beard, and tail fan differences
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Turkey Hunting 101 – Gobble sound and strutting behavior contrasts
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Grand View Outdoors – Tips for confirming jake ID before shooting
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Primos Hunting Calls Video – Instructional jake vs tom ID comparison
Turkey Identification – Turkey Hunting for Beginners
FAQ
What’s the difference between a Jake and a Gobbler?
How to tell the difference between male and female turkeys?
Does a Jake turn into a Tom?
Does a Jake have spurs?