Anyone killed a Tom with 1 1/2 in spurs?

[hunter_mike]

Two that were about 1.25" or so but not 1.5"

My friend shot one two years ago that were the longest spurs i've ever seen. I will try to find the pic.

[Edcyclopedia]

Nope.
However I shot a bearded hen - somewhat rare...
1 1/2"

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bearded hen with 1 1/2 spurs????

Beard was 1 1/2" silly

[BigHunt]

Interesting results.

9-8

[JoeRE]

Interesting results. I have not, nor has anyone I know shot a bird with spurs that long - all together that is probably out of 100+ Toms.

The bird with the longest spurs I have shot was from this year, 1-3/8 and they were slightly chipped off, would have been close to 1-1/2 if razor sharp but not quite I think.

[JoeRE]

I will post this link on this thread too - seems to be good info in this article. http://wildturkeyzone.com/articles/aging4.htm

Basically it supports what I had previously thought - there is variability in spur length between subspecies of turkeys and also between individual birds but there are some guidelines. My rule of thumb in the past has been (on Easterns in the midwest):

blunt spurs less than an inch - 2 year old (obviously a jake has the shortest nubs)
sharp spurs 1" to 1-1/4" - 3 year old
1-1/4"+ = 4 year old or older

A 1-1/2" spur probably means 5+ years old, a really awesome trophy!

[BigHunt]

Interesting results.

9-8

I data is starting to show how rare a old tom is.

OK 9-10 it would be different story if it was 1-10 but it's not ..it's neck and neck

[oldrank]

Its some what inaccurate data.. if a person has killed 50 turkeys n one had 1.5" spurs they still get a yes vote. If I count all the turkeys ive seen killed, called in for others or killed myself.. ill estimate at 35 turkeys... one had 1.5" spurs.

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[BigHunt]

agreed this is just a small inconclusive study

[Stanley]

agreed this is just a small inconclusive study

Plus you must take into consideration just 9 birds with 1 1/2 in spurs compared to hundreds upon hundreds that are under that. For instance I personally know of no hunter that has killed one but know many hunters that have killed hundreds of birds under the 1 1/2 in. Very interesting for sure.

Small studies provide some valuable information. Much better than no study and just opinions.

[BassBoysLLP]

Yes. Only one. Actually made a poor initial shot and ended up running him down 200 yards barefoot. I haven't seen anything close since.

I've seen a few, but I've only killed one. Stats are lackluster aside from the spur length.

24 lbs, 6 ounce
9 inch beard
1 5/8 inch spurs
WI
Period A, 2009
Zone 5

[hunter_mike]

Lol!!

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[BigHunt]

[oldrank]

Agreed.. it is good study to start thinking about things. Opened my eyes for sure. Now I wanna kill a 1.5 incher !!

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[backstraps]

I have only killed 2 birds over 1.50"

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[bowmike]

not for me. Have only been at it for 3 years. Shot 3 birds. 3/4" are the longest I have.

Full fan = dead bird for me. Would not intentionally shoot a jake unless the hunt was that good. THis year had a long beard come strutting in with 3 other birds. He strutted behind a tree, and I had the scope on the other side. Bird struts out, BOOM,

Jake cut the long beard off and got the ax.