Whats the best way to age a gobbler? I know the spurs and the beard are some deciding factors, but how does that break down in inches? Does spurs, a certain length,tell you the age of the bird?

I don't use beard at all but use spurs to age



The longer the spur is, the sharper it is with a good hook at the end is what I look for if I can.

JW

After 2 years.... Its really not possible... I've seen some friggin huge 3 year olds.... up to 2 years you can pretty much judge age by spurs/beard....

thank jw thats very informitive

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.

Even with spurs age is tough to judge. Harsh terrain does wear on pointed tips.

But what I have seen - a bump both sides for a spur measuring up to 7/8" inch more than likely a 2 yr old.

Spurs over an inch and sharp to a point 3 yrs and hooked and really sharp could be 4 yrs.

That is for Easterns from what I have witnessed.

JW

Actually, now that I think about it... who cares?

Once you pull that trigger, he aint gettin any older

In my area of PA, two year olds are usually about 3/4-7/8" and still blunt. A three year old is right about 1" or 1 1/8" and sharp. A four year old is a tad longer and starting to hook a bit...after that it's anyone's guess. Lovett E williams says that a beard grows about 5" a year, but after 10" on average the end starts to wear as they step on it alot when scratching and feeding, etc...also heard many old timers blame it on ice in the beard breaking the tip off, even hens pecking at it in a display of dominance...sorta trying to knock him down a couple rungs. My wife could relate to that! LOL Beard aging is basically useless beyond two years.

LOL a "45 year old turkey" is a smart, ol hook spurred gobbler for sure. I suspect there arae a few of them in my woods, that's why I can't get 'em!

I think that chart is a little short. I've always though a 4 yr old bird was getting close to 1/2 inches. Maybe not though I am no turkey biologist.