Is there any way to tell how old a turkey is?

[magicman54494]

I'm a rookie at this turkey hunting stuff. spur length, beard length help determine age. Is there any exact science to aging a turkey?

[MN/Kyle]

Not really. Spurs will get broke off and dulled, beards break off etc.

A jake will not have a full fan, like a mature gobbler will. They will have longer feathers in the middle of the fan while a mature bird will have a full fan.

If the beard and spurs are there, a mature bird will have along, full, thickbeard and good long spurs. Here isa chart...


less than one year old: Beard= 3-5" Spurs= less than 1/2"
1-2 years old: Beard Length=3-5" Spurs= 3/4-1"
2-3 years old: Beard= 7-9" Spurs= 1-1 1/4"
3+ years old: Beard= >9" Spurs=Greater than 1 1/4"

Spurs are the most accurate measure of turkey age

[DTC]

If you can harvest a bird with a full fan and with inch or better spurs you have got a trophy. I hunt easterns and almost every 2 yr old around has a 10 inch beard but I have found that when you start hunting rios and merriams those 10 inch beards disapper really quick.

[Germ]

Magic if your bowhunting them, shoot the first one that comes in, LOL I need about 3 more birds before I start getting picky.

I go by beard and Fan. 3.5 bird

[JoeRE]

The above chart is about how I judge it. One thing I can add is the most dominate gobblers have their wingtips rubbed down the most because they do the most strutting...as a general rule.

[MN/Kyle]

ORIGINAL: JoeRE

The above chart is about how I judge it. One thing I can add is the most dominate gobblers have their wingtips rubbed down the most because they do the most strutting...as a general rule.

Very good point, Joe!

[nodog]

QTM

[BowHuntingFool]

ORIGINAL: nodog

QTM

Now that is funny, I see a whole new slew of threads in the near future......

[magicman54494]

[quote]ORIGINAL: Germ

Magic if your bowhunting them, shoot the first one that comes in, LOL


Don't worry, I'm not going to hold out! The first legal bird that shows up is going to have an arrow flying at him.

I asked because I am reading a lot on threads about old mature turkeys and how old they are. I was just curious how they were determining age.

[Germ]

[quote]ORIGINAL: magicman54494

ORIGINAL: Germ

Magic if your bowhunting them, shoot the first one that comes in, LOL


Don't worry, I'm not going to hold out! The first legal bird that shows up is going to have an arrow flying at him.

I asked because I am reading a lot on threads about old mature turkeys and how old they are. I was just curious how they were determining age.

That is what I like to hear[8D]