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

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?

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

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;)

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Very good point, Joe!

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

QTM:D

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

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

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

[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.

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

[quote]ORIGINAL: magicman54494

That is what I like to hear[8D]

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

Curious MM, what is a legal bird, where you hunt?

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

Any male turkey that struts will have it's tips rubbed down.

Weight plays into it as well, but spur length is the main way. That's not always accurate, but generally speaking that's the way to tell. A 1 year old bird NORMALLY won't have 1 1/2" spurs, where as a 3 year old bird would.

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

Let them go so they can grow.[8D] QTM.

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

You cannot eat the beard:D, but the spur are great for finger foods;)

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

I should add, LOCATION plays a very important roll;)

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

I hear they are bigger in the SE and NE;)

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

Got it all wrong. NC or bust man. QTM Rules.:D

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

I thought that would fall under "SE"...

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

quote " one bearded or male turkey per tag issued"

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

What happens if you shoot the turkey and he flys over your neighbors fence who wont let ..........ah.... nevermind...............;)

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

Testing the telomere length in their DNA. :)

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

Then I will jump the fence, retrieve my bird, and steal his trail markers and tree stands! :D

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

I age turkeys by the wear on their teeth! ;)

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

:D:D:D:D:D:Deven tho you shot him over bait with a ........dare I say it.........crossbow?:D

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

Only if your holding the spotlight Tony:D

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

I am definitely not a trophy Turkey hunter[8D]I have been lucky and killed a couple over 26# in weight, and a couple with beards in excess of 12". Last years MO bird had spurs a hair over 1 1/2" I really think this was the oldest bird I've killed.

Gotta Love them MO Turkeys!;)

Dan

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

Spurs are the best judge

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

Magic...good to see you...not sure man...When the beard is hangin long I let it fly....when the bird is on the ground you will usually end up with 8-12 inches of beard....spurs from 1 - 1/4 inch, and 20 - 27 pounds???

You'll know when you got a jake in front of you and you'll know when the bird is pushing 12 inches...its in the blood....

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

Just ask him.

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

Nah!! That won't work!

Turkeys Lie!!;)

Dan

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

Get rid of more hens!!!!!

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

I usually have them fill out a survey!
Leave the white ones alone, especially if there running around on the presidential lawn

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

I thought you aged them by the Button that pops up when they are done cooking??

I could be wrong, but that's what a "heard" on an internet board!

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

Isn't it possible for a mature turkey to have little to no beard? Curious.

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

You gotta be able to get real close, and be real quiet and still. Then, if you ask him nicely, he might tell you.;)

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

Yes it is. A buddy just killed a Merriam Gobbler that barely had a beard, but it was a nice size Gobbler 20+# and had 1 1/4" spurs. Nice spurs for a Merriam no doubt. I'll guarantee you that gobbler had some age on him.

Dan

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

I know of at least one mature gobbler that doesn't have a beard. I missed him but my broadhead clipped off his beard. Left him with a little stub sticking out that looked just like thetuft on a jake.

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

AP..now thats cool. Way to practice "Catch and Release".. I wouldn't tell anyone you missed!

I do that with my back yard 3d buck. I say I'm horn hunting and just shoot of the horns..lol

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

Spurs are the best way to age a turkey. I've shot 25-6+ year old toms with beards less than 5" long. The only thing a long beard will tell you is that it's not a jake.

When you get a bird with 1.5"+ hooks - take him to the taxidermist, b/c you've got a world classtom in your hands.

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

While this bird was not the biggest (weight wise) bird I've ever killed, nor did it have the longest beard (I've killed a couple with 12"+ beards) He was definitely a Limb Hanger and I think he was the oldest Turkey I have killed. How old??

I'm not sure. By the time I asked him he wasn't talking;)

Dan