turkey hunting

[Jnicholes]

Hello, everyone!

So, on November 30 of this year, I got a turkey. Where I am at in Idaho, the season is September 15-December 31. Now, I am not going to lie, this was a HUGE tom. I am just trying to figure out if this turkey was bigger than normal or it was just average size. I saved the fan and beard for a trophy and they are being disinfected right now in Borax soap.

The beard was 9 inches long and the fan was 26 inches from feather tip to feather tip. My question is, is this normal size for a tom? I am asking because all the turkeys I shot in my life have been smaller than this, and this was the biggest one.

Well, I got one turkey tag left for this year, and when I got this one, I saw a second one the EXACT same size. I am saving this tag for a dinner with Japanese Exchange Students, though.

Anyway, please answer my question. I will post a picture when I get a chance.

Happy hunting and fishing!

Jared
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[hooknhunter]

Pretty sure I kilt one once that had a fan the spanned 30 plus inches, as I recall. I could be wrong. 9 inch beard and 28 inch fan spreads is definitely a NICE tom, but I would necessarily call it HUGE. Weight would be a really good indicator of size. Heaviest I've been associated with was about 21 or 22 pounds.
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[Jnicholes]

Hello!

Thank you so much for getting back! I've only been hunting for a year now, that's why I was asking. I just got the picture. Took a while to upload it for some weird reason. I think I attached it correctly, I am not sure. Anyway, thanks so much for the Info! It sounds like your bird was big also! Thanks!

Jared
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[hooknhunter]

Nice bird. Get you a spring scale that goes up to 50 lbs. Weight your bird and use this formula.

Beard length + (10 x (spur length of one side + spur length of other side)) + (2 x beard length) = bird score. Score of 60 is considered a great bird IMHO. As I recall our best birds have all been in the high 50's. 58 was best to date, I think.......
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[Jnicholes]

Hello!

OOPS! I cannot weigh it. I kinda ate it with my family. It was DELICIOUS! Anyway, now I know for next time. I still got one tag left this year, so if I get one, (which will probably be in a few weeks when I have exchange students from Japan,) I will DEFINITELY weigh it and use the formula! Thanks!

Jared
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