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Post by larryhagmansliver on Feb 14, 2007 16:56:21 GMT -5
For years now I have read about hunters caring how long the spurs and beard are. I am not as seasoned as some of you at turkey hunting (8 years in) but am just wondering why? What is the big deal about these two things. I guess one has to judge an animal somehow, but I just can't figure out what these two objects bring to the table. Do most of you keep the beard and spurs? Is there a pope and young equivalent book I'm missing? To me the weight of the bird and the tail are the most impressive parts, but quite honestly any bird will do if it comes marching to my call. Perhaps I haven't shot enough yet to feel I need to raise the bar. Maybe someone could give me a little history lesson. Should I start passing up birds because the beard is only 5 inches and not 9? I usually don't let them get close enough to measure the spurs so how would I know if they are long enough?
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Post by buster on Feb 14, 2007 18:12:11 GMT -5
For the exact same reason a lot of guys are so into racks (2 & 4 legged kind!). Longer spurs (25 mm and longer) are indicators of age, in this case 3 or 4 year old birds. Many times older birds are more challenging when they have survived several hunting seasons and have been worked by a hunter and not killed. Sometimes they come right in and put on a show like a 2-year old bird. Beard length is not really a reliable indicator of age, other than distinguishing a jake from a mature bird (2YO or older). TYPICALLY, they rarely get much longer than 11 or 12 inches due to being broke off by various reasons. Some guys put a lot of emphasis on the bird's weight. Weight is a measurement of mostly bragging rights in my opinion, maybe bird health.
In most cases, unless you get the bird right in your lap and in a bare field or VERY short grass, you won't know how long his hooks are until you run out and pick him up.
Most guys I know keep their beards and spurs. I have all of mine and consider them as special as the pics I take of each bird and journal entry I enter of each hunt.
Passing particular birds is a matter of opinion. Most guys pass on jakes, some shoot the first bird that responds. I don't shoot jakes. The more jakes you have around, the better your chances of having more longbeards around the following spring! But, to each their own I suppose.
As far as scoring the NWTF has thier own scoring method and record book for all subspecies of wild turkey.
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Post by woodmaster on Feb 14, 2007 21:45:50 GMT -5
Longer spurs means an older bird. Anything 1 1/4 inch or bigger is what I consider a trophy.
Beards don't mean much to me. Usually they break off due to the weather or disease.
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Post by hunter7x on Feb 15, 2007 8:39:55 GMT -5
I like the memories and the stories that come back when I look at the beards on top of my gun cabinet. I plan on making a spur necklace with the spurs I'm collecting. For me with Turkey Hunting it's different than those lowly rack hunters ! LOL Ok I like a big rack as much as the next guy, but Turkey hunting is very different for me than deer hunting as far as the trophy aspect of it.
I have killed enough Turkeys now that yes I will pass up the Jakes and hope for a mature long beard.
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Post by dec on Feb 15, 2007 11:00:22 GMT -5
For me the trophy aspect of turkey hunting is entirely different then deer hunting. To me, any long beard is a trophy. Actually, any turkey is a trophy for that matter. But like the post above, I've killed a bunch of turkeys. I've never killed a jake and have no desire to, but have nothing against it if someone does. I've got to admit though, if a jake came in while I was bow hunting turkeys, I'd put an arrow in him, simply because I want to kill a spring turkey with my bow in the BADDEST way.  For me, the hunt/harvest of a long beard is the trophy. Sure I like the stats, long spurs are cool, a long thick rope is cool, a heavy bird is cool, a complete fan is cool. I have one bird in the record books. But unlike a mature buck, it is kind of hard to key in on one specific trophy tom. In all the birds I've ever killed, I've never said "I'll kill that one because I can see he has longer hooks." To be honest, I've never seen the hooks on a turkey that I've hunted until I've rolled him. The ONLY time, I chose one turkey over another was simply because I had two strutters come in together, side by side, one had a PERFECT fan, the other had a couple tail feathers missing. I knew the fan was going on the wall, so I rolled the bird with the perfect fan. Just so happened that that bird had the triple beard and the dagger hooks (neither of which I knew until he was dead). Just so happens that is my Book bird as well.  |
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Post by Ahawkeye on Feb 17, 2007 2:49:13 GMT -5
I am definatly a rack hunter when it comes to deer but as far as turkeys, I would like to think I'd pass on the jakes, I would take a bearded hen, and any long beard. If I get bored of hunting with a gun I'll try a bow then a stick or a rock! I find a lot more "trophey" in the hunt than I do the bird. I can't wait to have kids so I can take them hunting, pulling the trigger is fun but calling in a bird for a first timer is awsome!
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Post by hoosiertaxidermist on Feb 20, 2007 13:24:32 GMT -5
Calling in a bird anytime is awsome. When you hear that "spittin' and drummin'" somewhere behind you as the old boss sneaks in quietly you know that you have gone against the natural way of things and called the bird to you instead of the hen doing the 'go to'.
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Post by papohead on Feb 20, 2007 15:05:25 GMT -5
`Ok, here goes, when I first started out turkey hunting I was 36 yrs. old and that was 21 yrs. ago. I had one call and itg was the Jet Lynch box. I killed every gobbler with that, and then as turkey hunting got more and more advanced with gagets, and stuff. I was addicted to the junk and went broke almost buying calls ( all kinds ), video's, shells, guns, sights, decoys, blinds, bows, arrows, broadheads, and packs, etc. Before all of the advanced stuff I had patience and one call and killed two big birds each season. So I thought I was good and that is all it takes to mess your mind up. So I was only going to kill the dominant bird and no two year old, and wait for big spurs and beards, and perfect fans. Well, you know what that can do to your success and not to speak of your mental capacity. It will send your hunting into a funk, and lack of confidence. I can remember seeing 2 yrs olds in front of me and letting them go and then not killing a bird all turkey season. Man is that stupid. No sizzling strips of savoring white turkey meat just melting in my mouth. So last year I told myself Jake, two year old I am going to eat. That is just what I did and had fun again and already my mind is starting to clear up. My wife says I am nice again, and the dog even come near me again. So all of you that get to thinking your too good, just because some dumb luck or dumb turkey's came right in. What goes around will come around and you just may have a drought.
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Post by Mark T on Feb 20, 2007 19:51:03 GMT -5
Anything but a jake for me is a trophy!!! JMO but I shot a jake my first year and every since I want them to make it till next season atleast!!! I do keep the beards and spurs though!! Mark T
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Post by quackingtim on Feb 20, 2007 23:38:19 GMT -5
I keep the spurs, beards, and the fan. I will get pictures of some of the ways I have them on the wall.
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Post by parrothead on Feb 21, 2007 8:24:48 GMT -5
No Jakes for me. Typically since there are so many birds where I hunt in Jefferson/Switzerland Co. I dont shoot any toms unless the beard is a 10 inches or bigger.
I cut all my feet off at the joint and dry them and either put them on the book shelf with the beard laying in the middle of them or ties fishing line around the 2 feet and tie the beard in the middle so it can be hung on the wall and lay flat.
THe past few years I have been skinning them out and puting Borax on the skin to dry.
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Post by jemorris on Feb 22, 2007 10:53:34 GMT -5
To me the trophy is in what the hunter takes from the hunt.I got to double with my son three years ago it was our first turkey hunt together.Niether bird was the biggest,had the longest beard or spurs of other birds we had harvested.Just two adult Toms.But the memories of that hunt will last a life time,the hand shakes,the high fives,the hugs I will never forget.That is my trophy.
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Post by Woody Williams on Feb 22, 2007 10:58:03 GMT -5
To me the trophy is in what the hunter takes from the hunt.I got to double with my son three years ago it was our first turkey hunt together.Niether bird was the biggest,had the longest beard or spurs of other birds we had harvested.Just two adult Toms.But the memories of that hunt will last a life time,the hand shakes,the high fives,the hugs I will never forget.That is my trophy. |
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Post by pbr on Feb 22, 2007 12:51:55 GMT -5
To me the trophy is in what the hunter takes from the hunt.I got to double with my son three years ago it was our first turkey hunt together.Niether bird was the biggest,had the longest beard or spurs of other birds we had harvested.Just two adult Toms.But the memories of that hunt will last a life time,the hand shakes,the high fives,the hugs I will never forget.That is my trophy. You hit that nail sqaurely on the head. The "trophy" IS THE HUNT. |
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Post by quackingtim on Feb 23, 2007 3:04:12 GMT -5
Well said. Easy to forget that at times.
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Post by shoote47265 on Feb 23, 2007 16:27:54 GMT -5
I was scrolling through this forum and someone may have already said this, but... The NWTF scores the bird on its weight, length of spurs, and length of beard. I don't really consider weight to be a measurement for gauging the "trophy" aspect of a bird. Easterns are the only real heavyweights of the turkey world. With all the other subspecies, a twenty pound bird is saying something in a lot of places that have less nutrition. All subspecies can carry big spurs, so I guess that is what I use to determine the "trophy" status. To me its really how I killed it, that makes it a trophy to me, whether its with my mom, dad or a friend. They are all great in my book!
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