Question for experienced turkey hunters

[dbaio1]

Is this a good goobler ? While we have focused on turkey habitat and food sources for them for the past 20+ years none of us are turkey hunters. Our population is very healthy now. Just curious about this bird, looks like a long beard and got me to thinking I really don't know what makes a trophy turkey. Thanks for any input.

[ATX Tyler]

Looks like a great bird to me!

[GroceryGetter]

That would be a 1 second decision for me to drop that sucker. Wild turkey meat is an unsung hero if you ask me.

[bigdaddy590]

Any turkey is a trophy. Mature gobblers 2+ are extra special trophies!

[mikemorvan]

In the second pic, the left side wing droop displacement is a little weak. I’ll come cull him and save the expense of wasting an expensive turkey load on him . Just let me know… 😎😂😎

[Killer]

It’s a mature bird because his tail feathers are all even. A Jake would have the top four feathers in the fan higher than the rest. Good turkeys are measured by weight, spur length, and beard length. He looks good to me.

[dbaio1]

It’s a mature bird because his tail feathers are all even. A Jake would have the top four feathers in the fan higher than the rest. Good turkeys are measured by weight, spur length, and beard length. He looks good to me.

Thanks. We see a lot of jakes and hens in large groups. Beards this long are not seen as much and never more than one maybe two if its a big group 14-20 birds in the fall.

[dbaio1]

In the second pic, the left side wing droop displacement is a little weak. I’ll come cull him and save the expense of wasting an expensive turkey load on him . Just let me know… 😎😂😎

Didn't know about wing droop.

[Bisch]

Didn't know about wing droop.

Idk for sure, but I think he’s pulling your leg with the wing droop talk!!!!

Bisch

[mikemorvan]

‘Wing Droop’ is a total fabrication, fake news, by me. Please disregard. That is a very nice tom Turkey. Good luck and congrats on building up your turkey population. 👍

[dbaio1]

‘Wing Droop’ is a total fabrication, fake news, by me. Please disregard. That is a very nice tom Turkey. Good luck and congrats on building up your turkey population. 👍

LOL ok 👍

[dbaio1]

Idk for sure, but I think he’s pulling your leg with the wing droop talk!!!!

Bisch

I see that, had no idea today is the first time I ever read anything on judging turkey. We got in with local Wild Turkey Group and allowed a few projects on the property and took over from there. Did the same for quail but that hasn't worked out.

[Smart]

Any mature gobbler is a great bird.... Anything over 2yo and a full tail fan is a mature bird.

If you want trophy measurements to separate great and outstanding, folks usually start with a 10" beard and 1.25" spurs. To me, spurs are #1. Longer beards can be common but a bird has to get some age on him before he starts having the long spurs. In '23 I had two very mature gobblers sizing up my jake decoy. One had incredible spurs that could be seen with the naked eye at 15 yards with a 9" thinner beard. His buddy's beard was over 10" and thicker with shorter spurs. The big spurs turkey was also the most dominant around the jake decoy with the fightin'. The spurs turkey got the arrow.

All that being said, if I have a mature gobbler fighting with my decoys and I don't have choices, he's getting an arrow.

[dbaio1]

Any mature gobbler is a great bird.... Anything over 2yo and a full tail fan is a mature bird.

If you want trophy measurements to separate great and outstanding, folks usually start with a 10" beard and 1.25" spurs. To me, spurs are #1. Longer beards can be common but a bird has to get some age on him before he starts having the long spurs. In '23 I had two very mature gobblers sizing up my jake decoy. One had incredible spurs that could be seen with the naked eye at 15 yards with a 9" thinner beard. His buddy's beard was over 10" and thicker with shorter spurs. The big spurs turkey was also the most dominant around the jake decoy with the fightin'. The spurs turkey got the arrow.

All that being said, if I have a mature gobbler fighting with my decoys and I don't have choices, he's getting an arrow.

Good info, thanks Jason. That beard might break 8" but not sure. My cousin has been at the farm all week and said that goobler has been with small group of 6 big hens and chasing off others down the hill in the yard.

[retrieverman]

Dang nice bird!!!