The spur is how you do it as JW has pointed out.
The beard can be used to distingusih a juvenile (Jake) from an adult. Generally a second season ("two year old) bird had a beard around 8 inches. Beyond that the beard doesn't help determind age. I've killed 4-5year old turkeys with skinny little beards and three year old birds with long thick beards.
Last edited by mouthcaller; 02-20-2010 at 04:30 AM.