How do you age a turkey?

[Muskie456]

I always thought weight played a pretty big role but maybe not. Just like people there are big turkeys and little turkeys. Is it thier spurs? Are longer spurs from old birds that don't fight? or are short spurs an indication that it is an old bird because he has been in a lot of fights. Beard length must be in the equation. The longer the beard the older the bird. That being said the state record bird about 10 years back was held by someone I hunt with. That bird was estimated at 2 y.o. weighed 19 lbs and had a really long beard. Any insight?

[fivebucks]

Spurs tell the age. I don't know how to age a big by looking at one but I know longer spurs are older birds.

[DonBo]

A jake (one year old) will have very short, very dull spurs, more bumps than anything.

A two year old bird will have spurs from 1/2" to 1" long, but very dull.

A three year old will have spurs from 3/4" to 1 1/4" and they will be pretty sharp.

A four year old bird will usually have spurs over 1 1/4" long and they will be very sharp and have a pretty good curve to them, a true "limb hanger".

Birds older than this are rare. The older they get, the longer and sharper the spurs, also the curve gets more pronounced.

These are generalities, there are no hard and fast rules. Spurs can be broken or worn down. Every bird is an individual. Weight and beard length have very little to do with ageing a bird.

Hope this helps.