I have been hunting turkeys for two years and have taken 2 birds each year. All have been long beards and range from 18 lbs. to 22 lbs. The second bird I shot my first year had two beards and was a big bird!! I have been lucky and fortunate to shoot birds but like an earlier post stated, it's not about killing the birds, it's about being in the woods and watching the birds in their natural habitat. The last day of hunting last year I sat in the woods the whole day and watched 4 good sized jakes go right past me and I didn't even think of shooting. Just watching them taught me so much about their behaviors. I also know that this year those birds will be 2 year olds and I will be definitely looking forward to seeing them in a strut in 2005.