RE: The quest for 80.
 

If you go to NWTF.com they have a scoring calculator to figure your score.

http://www.nwtf.org/all_about_turkeys/turkey_score.html

RE: The quest for 80.
 

Thanks HomerJ, that scoring system is kinda cool, to me a 20lb bird with one inch spurs and a ten inch beard is a pretty darn good bird. If that is only a 60, an 80 is a real monster!

RE: The quest for 80.
 

As noted earlier - if you are lucky enough to get the drop on a true giant tom - you'd better kill him early - b/c he'll shed weight like an olympic wrestler during breeding.

Deeg - I think it's actually getting harder and harder to find "big" toms anywhere these days. With the rising popularity of turkey hunting, more toms are biting the bullet before they ever have the chance to blow out their 4th birthday candle.

I know from guiding and taking birds myself - my core areas are totally depleted of true limbhangers. Tons of 2 and 3 year olds, but the patriarchs are scarce. Don't get me wrong, a 60-class turkey is a true trophy to most people. But they're not what I'm looking for.

I actually believe that the really old toms are much smarter thanmost huntersgive them credit for. They're very aware of hunting pressure, and they know how to avoid it. They will vacate their harem and relocateif necessary. Self-preservation... They don't get to be 5+ years old by running to every hen they hear or gobbling their brains out all day.

Musselvalley - that is an absolute warhammer of a gobbler. Do you have any pics of it?

Gmil6184 - high scoring turkeys are all about spurs - giant ones. The x10 multiplier really applies maximum credit to the final score, as it should.

MO - Dude, to kill 2 70+ birds in a double - that's awesome! Wow. You Missouri guys truly do have the world's best eastern turkey hunting.

Mr. Longbeard - I don't think any of us have lost appreciation for turkey hunting... Just that we know what it takes to make a once-in-a-lifetime, record-book turkey. For some of us, that's the crowning achievement in turkey hunting. Everybody has different goals: some people want to be on tv, some want the slam, some just want to fill their tag, some want a bird that gobbles like his ass is on fire. I want an 80. That doesn't make me a bad guy or unappreciative. Just look at some of the guys responding on this thread - Deeg is one of the most accomplished turkey hunters on this site. Musselvalley has taken one of the highest scoring birds of all time.

I guess when you think about it - anyone can go out and "luck into" a monster tom... But when you do it consistently, there's a higher level of research, preparation, tactics and understanding going into it. With that, comes a distinct appreciation for what you're doing and the bird you're talking to.

By the way, great discussion so far guys. This is really getting me amped to get out and do some heavy scouting in the upcoming weeks.

RE: The quest for 80.
 

Just to be honest, I'll take a horny 2 yr. old anyday... :D





My best bird came from SC... 78.75 24 1/2 lbs. 1.5" spurs and 12 1/8" beard

RE: The quest for 80.
 

Let me know if you get one located! Id love to come show ya how to kill him!:D

RE: The quest for 80.
 

For those of you who want to score a bird you have killed... here is the easy way.

This is a link to the website a good friend of mine runs. He is a turkey travel agent so to speak. Just follow the link, enter the info and hit submit. Score will pop up. He even gives you a table of fraction to decimal conversions so you don't have to try and guess at it.


Ryan Tucker's Website/NWTF Score Calculator

RE: The quest for 80.
 

70 3/4 would be your score.

Kinda shows exactly how critical spurs are. Figure that your bird weighed 4 ounces more than mine, and had a longer beard by an inch..... but my best bird had matching 1 5/8" spurs and that gives it six more net points for only about 1/2" more spur per side. Thats where trophies are made... in the hooks.

RE: The quest for 80.
 

Looking at the NWTF records, an 80+ turkey was shot in the county right next to mine this past spring.

Goochland Co. VA, taken 4/20/07...... #1 turkey for the year too......

Weight:23.68# One beard only: 12.68" Matching 1.6250" spurs (thats 1 5/8")

Total score 81.5625


Also says that the No. 1 bird all time in the state had 8 total beards! Weighed in at 20 1/2#s and only had spurs that were 1 1/8" long! Total beard length was 59.37"! That will do it! Net score was 162.37.... taken in 1996.

RE: The quest for 80.
 

imho. I would rather run and gun ona gobblin 2-3 yr. old than to pattern a 4-5 yr. old monarch and sit and wait for him. Not saying they will not come to the call but the odds are way down there.

Good luck in your quest. Nothing like setting goals and then making them come true. Keep us posted.

RE: The quest for 80.
 

IMO 70 is way above average let alone 80.It would be like taking a 200" whitetail,a goal most will never accomplish.It's always good to set goals,but not always easy.Good luck on getting him.