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JAKES Upcoming Events

West Volusia Limbhangers - January 28, 2012

Volusia County Skeet & Trap Club, 4031 Pioneer Trail, New Smyrna, FL 32168
386-837-5149

Galena River - January 29, 2012

Deer Creek Hunt Club, 18000 Basswood, Three Oaks, MI 49128
219-575-0754

Oxford Chapter - February 4, 2012

National Guard Armory, Oxford, MS 38655
662-801-9140

Big Thicket Chapter - February 4, 5, 2012

First Baptist Church, 350 Hwy. 96S. Silsbee, TX 77656
409-466-4475 or 409-386-6837

Franklin County Double Beards - February 4, 2012

Pine Forest Community Center, Pickton, TX 75471
903-563-4985

Bedfoed County Longbeards - February 11, 2012

476 Bottle Hollow Rd., Shelbyville, TN
931-205-4931

Hopkins County Longbeards - February 11, 2012

Sulphur Springs City Park, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-348-1641

Salt Creek Gobblers - February 11, 12, 2012

Juab County Indoor Arena, Nephi, UT
435-660-1312

Gateway Gobblers - February 12, 2012

Washington County Fair Park, 3000 Pleasant Valley Road, West Bend, WI 53095
262-677-2379 or 414-870-2422

Indiana State Chapter - Februrary 18-19, 2012

Indiana State Fair Grounds, Indianpolis, IN
502-298-7231

Tcheminahaut Spurs - February 24, 2012

Hamburg, AR
870-853-6077

Iowa State Chapter - February 24-26, 2012

Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines, IA
515-979-8033

Kaufman County Double Beards - February 25, 2012

Zajic Farms, Terrell, TX 75160
972-965-7768

Stones River Chapter - Spring 2012

Eagleville Pay Lake, Eagleville, TN
615-318-6000

Buffalo River Spurs - March 10, 2012

Blondy Church of God, Hohenwald, TN
931-628-0381

Blackland Prairie Jakes Event - March 10, 2012

Lake Whitney Dam, 5.5 miles SW of Whitney, TX
254-855-1175

Flint Hills Gobblers - March 24, 2012

Camp Alexander, 1783 Road P5, Emporia, KS 66801
620-437-2012

Minnesota State Chapter - March 30-31, 2012

Champlin Park High School, Champlin, MN
612-810-7704

Sycamore Ridge Strutters - March 31, 2012

Gander Mountain, 3602 S. US Hwy. 41, Terre Haute, IN 47802
765-730-6145

Bluff Country Long Spurs - March 31, 2012

Prairie du Chein, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
608-994-2778

Heartland Chapter - April 2012

David Dibsons Home, 319 Glenwood Drive, Glendale, KY 42740
270-769-8654

Dakota Strutters - April 2012

Three Rivers Park District Baker, Maple Plain, MN 55359
612-327-2617

Twin Lakes - April, 2012

Loucon Training & Retreat Center, 8044 Anneta Road, Leitchfield, KY 42754
270-230-0575

Glacial Drumlin Longbeards - April 7-8, 2012

Tom's Guns, 215 W. Main Street, Marshall, WI 53559
608-712-3993

Mehoopany Creek - April 07, 2012

Meshoppen Rod and Gun Club
570-639-2832

Arizona State Chapter - April 19-22, 2012

USFS Property, Flagstaff, Alphine & Christopher Creek, AZ
928-848-4549

River Ridge Longbeards - April 21, 2012

3205 Hebron Church Rd., Henryville, IN 47126
812-256-6881

Mon Valley Longbeards - April 21, 2012

Star Junction Fish and Game Club, Star Junction, PA 15473
724-929-3335

Covered Bridge Chapter - April 12, 2012

52 Mitchell Hill Road, Gorham, ME 04038
207-239-1391

Turkeyville Tom's - April 21, 2012

Cornwell's Turkeyville USA, Marshall, MI
269-841-2242

Flat River - April 27, 28, 2012

Bertha Brock Park, Ionia, MI 48846
616-902-8792

Turkeyville Tom's - April 27-29, 2012

Fort Custer Training Center, 2501 26th St., Augusta, MI 49012
269-731-6570

Northern Bay Strutters & Spurs - May 12, 2012

Hunters & Trappers Clu8b, Pinconning, MI
989-450-3795

Bakersfield Chapter - May 12, 2012

Tejon Ranch, 4436 Lebec Road, Lebec, CA 93243
661-333-3395

Van Buren Longbeards - May 12, 2012

Van Buren Sportsmen Club, Bangor, MI
616-546-0504

Minnesota State Chapter - May 21-22, 2012

Statewide
612-810-7704

Juniata Gobblers - June 2, 2012

Bedford Sportsman's Club, Bedford, PA 15522
814-652-5601

45th Parallel Gobblers - June 02, 2012

Johnson Property, Gaylord, MI
989-732-2451

Botetourt Longbeards - June 2, 2012

Buchanan Town Park, Carnival Grounds, Buchanan, VA 24066
540-339-0622

Moraine - June 2, 2012

Butler City Hunting and Fishing Club, East Butler, PA 16029
724-496-1849

Flatlanders - June 8, 2012

1641 N. Alger Rd., Alma, MI 48801
989-463-5136

Sherman's Valley Strutters - June 09, 2012

Ickesburg Sportsman's Club, Ickesburg, PA 17037
717-649-0190

Puchyan Longbeards - June 09, 2012

Berlin Conservation Club, Berlin, WI 54923
920-748-4902

Flatlanders - June 9, 2012

1641 N. Alger Rd., Alma, MI
989-463-5136

State Line Strutters - June 16, 2012

Delmar VFW, Delmar, MD 21875
202-847-4833

Mason Dixon - June 16, 2012

Jefferson Sportsman's Assoc., Codorus, PA
717-225-5842

Trigg County Long Spurs - June 16, 2012

635 Cerulean Road, Cadiz, KY 42038
270-522-8351

Stearns County Thunderin' Toms - June 16, 2012

Albany Sportsman's Club, Albany, MN
320-398-2801

Lake Marburg - June 16, 2012

Jefferson Sportsman's Assoc. Codorus, PA 17311
717-225-5842

North Kent Longbeards - June 23, 2012

Rockford Springs Community Church, 5815 14 Mile Rd., Rockford, MI 49341
616-291-3701

Tussey Mountain Strutters - June 23, 2012

Henrietta Sportsman's Club, Martinsburg, PA 16662
814-766-3769

Ten Mile Valley - June 23, 2012

McDonald Sportsmen Association, Midway, PA 15060
724-223-2764

Honey Hole Longbeards - June 23, 2012

Whitetail Shooting Preserve, 118 Boulevard Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
570-760-5962

Foothill Spurs - July 21, 2012

Camp Coffman, Kossuth, PA
814-473-3575

Ogemaw Hills - July 28, 2012

Lost Arrow, 1749 Bowmanville Rd., Gladwin, MI 48624
989-345-1955

Ogemaw Hills - July 28, 2012

Lost Arrow Resort, 1749 Bowmanville Road, Gleadwin, MI 48624
989-345-1955

Eaton County Strutting Toms - July 28, 2012

Bellvue Conservation Club, Bellvue, MI 49021
517-649-2346

Flint River - August 4, 2012

Williams Gun Sight & Outfitters, Davison, MI 48423
810-636-3122

Cascade Thunderin' Toms - August 4, 2012

Coachman's Club, New Castle, PA 16101
724-758-2099

Shiawassee River Strutters - August 11-12, 2012

13750 W. Baldwin Rd., Chesaning, MI
989-845-2616

SW MI Longbeards - August 11, 2012

D&R Sports Center, 8178 W Main, Kalamazoo, MI
269-649-0384

Laurel Highlands / Local #1 - August 11, 2012

Greensburg Sportsman's Club, Greensburg, PA 15601
724-887-4279

SW MI Longbeards - August 11, 2012

D&R Sports Center, 8178 W Main, Kalamazoo, MI
269-649-0384

Western PA Regional - August 12, 2012

Lawrence Co. Sportsman's Assoc., Wampum, PA
724-946-2350

Thornapple Valley - August 18, 2012

Barry County Conservation Club, Hastings, MI 49056
269-795-6073

Allegheny Valley - August 19, 2012

Bull Creek Sportsman's Club, Tarentum, PA 15084
724-265-0903

Long Spurs of Sunrise River - August 25, 2012

Chisago Lake Sportsman's Club, Chisago City, MN 55013
651-248-1104

Turkeyville Tom's - August 25, 2012

Cornwell's Turkeyville, USA, 18935 15 1/2 Mile Rd., Marshall, MI 49068
269-968-0066

Capital City Strutters & East Metro Full Fans - August 25, 2012

Dakota County Gun Club, Rosemount, MN
651-459-5772

Muskegon River Bottoms - September 8, 2012

Muskegon County Fairgrounds, Muskegon, MI
231-578-8154

Shelley Nickell - September 22, 2012

Livingston County Fairgrounds, Smithland, KY 42081
270-388-9406

Western KY Gobblers - September 22, 2012

4341 Empire Road, Crofton, KY 42217
270-885-2943

Turkeyville Tom's - October 19-21, 2012

Fort Custer Training Center, Augusta, MI 49012
269-731-6570


Click here to find JAKES events in your area

JAKES Take Aim

Find out more about the JAKES Take Aim program.

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JAKES Online Poll

What grade are you in?

I'm in elementary school.

I'm in middle school.

I'm in high school.

I'm in college.

Other



View results


Shoot or Don't Shoot?

Take this 10-question picture quiz and see if you're ready to be a safe turkey hunter.

Mastering the art of ethical wild turkey hunting takes many skills, and one of the most important to know when to shoot and when to ease off the trigger. Judging distance accurately is critical to knowing if a bird is in range. But even if a gobbler is within 30 yards, it doesn't necessarily mean you should take the shot. Why not? You'll see. Keep track of your answers, and we'll let you know at the end of our quiz how you did.

Photo 1

View Answer

Shoot! We thought we'd give you an easy one to start. This adult gobbler is well within shotgun range, standing still, and you can clearly see his beard. When you take this shot, remember to aim for the base of the bird's neck, and squeeze the trigger, don't jerk it.

Photo 2

View Answer

Don't Shoot! Pull the trigger here and you would kill a jake (a legal, year-old tom), but you would also hit the building behind the turkeys with some of your shotgun pellets. Also, can you see a beard on either one of these birds?


Photo 3

View Answer

Don't Shoot! Even though this shot is tempting, these two gobblers are way too close together. Shoot one, and you'll likely kill both, which is illegal in most states. Let the birds separate a few yards before pulling the trigger on one or the other.

Photo 4

View Answer

Don't Shoot! A gobbler can't see you when he has the back of his fanned tail turned in your direction, but neither can you see his head and neck, so you don't know where to aim. Let him turn around before taking this shot.


Photo 5

View Answer

Shoot! This gobbler is walking slowly left to right, but still close enough to offer a great shot. If you can get him to stop before pulling the trigger by calling to him, so much the better. But if not, go for it!

Photo 6

View Answer

Don't Shoot! If you pulled the trigger here, you just shot a hen. During fall turkey-hunting seasons hens are legal, but not in the spring. If you knew this turkey was a hen when you first saw it, you answered this question correctly.


Photo 7

View Answer

Don't Shoot! This turkey gobbler is well out of range, more than twice the distance you should be shooting. He's also in strut, with his head pulled down into his shoulders. A turkey with his head up is a much better target.

Photo 8

View Answer

Don't shoot! In most states, it's illegal to shoot a wild turkey in a tree, plus this bird is a hen.


Photo 9

View Answer

Shoot! It's okay to shoot a gobbler through very light brush, just make sure you can clearly see the entire bird, and especially his beard and head.

Photo 10

View Answer

Shoot! It doesn't get any better than this. This turkey gobbler is at close range, walking toward you with his head up, and you can clearly see his beard. Aim at the bottom of the red of his neck, and try not to get too excited!

How did you do?

8 to 10 correct: Well done! Consider yourself a longbeard. You're ready to go turkey hunting.
5 to 7 correct: Pretty good. Consider yourself a jake. You're ready to go turkey hunting, but need to study a little more first. Spending time in the field watching live turkeys and viewing turkey-hunting videos at home will help.
1 to 4 correct: Not so hot. Consider yourself a bearded hen. You need to take a Hunter Education course before going turkey hunting.

Something to remember…

Notice that in our turkey hunting picture quiz we had more "Don't Shoot" correct answers than "Shoot." That's because in actual turkey hunting situations you don't shoot far more often than you actually pull the trigger. For instance, you might go an entire turkey hunting season and only shoot once or twice, if at all. So if you're just starting out, don't be discouraged. Even the best turkey hunters come home empty-handed more days than not. Keep at it, and you'll eventually get your bird. Just remember to hunt safely and have fun.