Is a Bearded Hen Rare?

[Justin Spies]

I have very little experience with Turkey, but I shot a bearded hen in Kansas this passed weekend and couple guys are telling me they are pretty rare and I should put her on a fan mount also.

[panhandlehunter]

I don't think they are that rare. I don't like to shoot turkeys I've seen several.

[Jaybo31]

I don't think they are really rare but it's a low percentage of hens that have them.

[MQ32Shooter]

Not what I would call rare. I've got a group of about 20 hens on my place and I've seen at least 1 in that group. Have seen others over the years on my place.

[AntlerCollector]

I've seen a few. I wouldn't say rare, but still cool.

[Justin Spies]

Pics

[SwampRabbit]

I thought I read somewhere that about 10% of hens have beards. That kinda goes with what I have seen the last couple of years. I'd say about 1 in every 10 hens had a beard. Last hunt I had a group of 8 hens and when they eventually trotted off, I noticed one had a beard.

I wouldn't call that rare, but regardless, I'd probably still mount the fan because you have story to go with it.

How long was her beard?

[Justin Spies]

I thought I read somewhere that about 10% of hens have beards. That kinda goes with what I have seen the last couple of years. I'd say about 1 in every 10 hens had a beard. Last hunt I had a group of 8 hens and when they eventually trotted off, I noticed one had a beard.

I wouldn't call that rare, but regardless, I'd probably still mount the fan because you have story to go with it.

How long was her beard?

5-6" Id say

[N.DaWoods]

Not very rare. We see them almost every year. I had two at same time in a group of 9 hens at a feeder last fall. But, who cares...congrats on a great kill. If you want to get a mount do it, if not carry on.

[Justin Spies]

It was cold! Snow and 55 mph winds

[Dry Bones]

Agreeing with all the above, not super common, but does happen. My dad shot one last weekend. A group of about a dozen hens came in and at least 4 of them had beards. Before this season, all I had ever known was the little Jake beard on the hens, this season we have a few that would go 6"+. One thing I did find amusing, one performed a very good strut sequence. Even drummed and and spit.
If the fan will remember the story I would still do it. I am doing my dads hen with her 5" beard

[Quackerbox]

I haven't turkey hunted in 4 years and only 4 times in my life till this past weekend. Ive seen 3 and 2 of those was this past week

[Smart]

I used to think they were until I got on my lease in Christoval. We have them everywhere. Humper killed one with a 5-6" beard a few years back. I pass on them all the time because I'm more of a spurs guy but I have threatened to shoot them for the novelty of it. It is nothing for us to have a group of 10 birds in and have 2-3 bearded hens.

My grandmother, who was a turkey hunting fiend, thought more of a bearded hen than a regular ol gobbler as far as a trophy. She would have gone nuts at our place in Christoval..

[meltingfeather]

No.
15% of Rio hens in Texas according to TPWD.

[Passthrough]

No....not rare. See them all the time