I'm sitting here watching YouTube chomping at the bit to get back in the woods and chase longbeards. I'm seeing a lot of hunters measuring their birds from beak to tail. When did that become a thing? Ever since I started to turkey hunt I measure the spurs, beard,and then get the weight
I think there's some logic behind it? Maybe Kyle Ott will chime in he's extremely knowledgeable!!!
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The only ones I've seen doing this the THP crew. They call em longbirds.
I saw that THP did it but I have seen some others doing it too. Not sure if they started to pick it from them, most likely they did.
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
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Quote from: Upfold99 on March 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
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That makes sense.
Quote from: Moore on March 30, 2024, 02:13:53 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
That makes sense.
Definitely what happened. I think the whole THP thing started with a little group of friends that decided to film their hunts and all the silliness that goes with that (the "longbird" thing),...and put it on YouTube. I doubt they ever thought that they would end up with the viewership and following that they have...nor all of the repercussions in the world of turkey hunting that have transpired because of it.
Longbird ??
Really ??
::) :goofball: :help:
I think it was meant as a joke poking fun at scoring turkeys.
I hope so anyway.
No more ridiculous than adding up a bunch of stats to come up with a "trophy" score.
My take on it was to get away from the "trophy" hunting side of things. Instead of bragging about the normal measurements they were proud to have killed a mature gobbler. At least that was my take on it and I did respect that if that's what it was. However I can't watch much thp just don't care for it.
Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 30, 2024, 10:59:34 PM
I think it was meant as a joke poking fun at scoring turkeys.
I hope so anyway.
No more ridiculous than adding up a bunch of stats to come up with a "trophy" score.
Quote from: BBR12 on March 31, 2024, 08:31:31 AM
My take on it was to get away from the "trophy" hunting side of things. Instead of bragging about the normal measurements they were proud to have killed a mature gobbler. At least that was my take on it and I did respect that if that's what it was. However I can't watch much thp just don't care for it.
Thinking more about it, this may well be the case. I agree, as well, that the concept of scoring turkeys (and especially by the three parameters used) is flawed and unnecessary. However, I do like the concept of recognizing unique animals on THEIR merit, not the hunter that is fortunate enough to bag one of them.
We humans are just competitive by nature. Millions of us go nuts over professional and college sports and are willing to pay genetically-gifted athletes millions of dollars so we can vicariously compete with each other from the sidelines. Unfortunately, hunting, in all its forms, is no different for way too many folks.
Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 30, 2024, 10:59:34 PM
I think it was meant as a joke poking fun at scoring turkeys.
I hope so anyway.
No more ridiculous than adding up a bunch of stats to come up with a "trophy" score.
"No more ridiculous than adding up a bunch of stats to come up with a "trophy" score."
No kidding......from the same guys that only shoot 4 yr olds....smirk....and 1 1/4" spurs they can see from 200 yards away, those get a pass.....
Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 30, 2024, 10:59:34 PM
I think it was meant as a joke poking fun at scoring turkeys.
I hope so anyway.
No more ridiculous than adding up a bunch of stats to come up with a "trophy" score.
It was Zach's answer to everyone always asking about beards and spurs. Ment as a let's be too serious about this, in inch more of beard or an extra 1/4in of spur means nothing to the quality of the hunt had with friends.
But since 50% of the viewers have killed 3 animals they get a lot of people copying absolutely everything they do regardless of if it was ment in gest.
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Never heard of it.
Quote from: GobbleNut on March 31, 2024, 09:17:36 AM
Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 30, 2024, 10:59:34 PM
I think it was meant as a joke poking fun at scoring turkeys.
I hope so anyway.
No more ridiculous than adding up a bunch of stats to come up with a "trophy" score.
Quote from: BBR12 on March 31, 2024, 08:31:31 AM
My take on it was to get away from the "trophy" hunting side of things. Instead of bragging about the normal measurements they were proud to have killed a mature gobbler. At least that was my take on it and I did respect that if that's what it was. However I can't watch much thp just don't care for it.
Thinking more about it, this may well be the case. I agree, as well, that the concept of scoring turkeys (and especially by the three parameters used) is flawed and unnecessary. However, I do like the concept of recognizing unique animals on THEIR merit, not the hunter that is fortunate enough to bag one of them.
We humans are just competitive by nature. Millions of us go nuts over professional and college sports and are willing to pay genetically-gifted athletes millions of dollars so we can vicariously compete with each other from the sidelines. Unfortunately, hunting, in all its forms, is no different for way too many folks.
I agree also. I have measured spurs and beards but not everyone I kill. I do try to get a weight on most. That strictly for my information. I don't show and tell nor brag, that's something that I have never done.
As far as scoring a turkey, well I have never done that. I have killed different ones over the years that I know were big birds but a score never meant anything to me on a turkey. Wouldn't know how without asking someone or reading up on it. If that gives an individual some sort of satisfaction doing it by all means get after it. Thats a personal choice and we all have one. We don't always understand each other's way of thinking. It's just not for me.
Seen some youtuber's and other facebook posts about measuring the snood too, LOL
MK M GOBL
I also measure the tail fan of from tip to tip across the bottom feathers.
Most gobbler are in the 28-29" range. Heavier birds and generally longer spurs and full black beards (no amber tips) get into the 30-31" range. The widest tail I've ever measured was 32"
I have no idea if there is any meaning behind it, but a 31-32" fan looks massive compared to a 28" fan.
Quote from: MK M GOBL on March 31, 2024, 10:26:17 AM
Seen some youtuber's and other facebook posts about measuring the snood too, LOL
MK M GOBL
Hens will choose a mate base on snood length, the longer the snood the better the chance a gobbler has to mate.
Other gobblers also have been shown in studies to shy away from gobblers with long snoods.
It pays to be snoody after all, so maybe there is some merit to it.
Never heard of that before...I think ill just keep measuring the beard&spurs like most and thats if i remember ????....
Seems like everything has to get commercialized or technical...
Simplicity seems to be the best way when hunting anything for me..
I hate all the naming deer& this or that..Foolish names like thunder chicken,etc...No wonder i like hunting with myself or just my son and leave it like that!
I like spurs, I measure one's that are longer then average, weigh one or two a year that feel heavy.
I always like the guys who claim they have been seeing a giant tom, I have shot a few giant ones over the years, had no idea until I picked them up!
The only thing I've ever measured is beard, spurs and weight...and not necessarily all of those. As far as total length beak to tail who cares?
Quote from: GobbleNut on March 30, 2024, 04:33:13 PM
Quote from: Moore on March 30, 2024, 02:13:53 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
That makes sense.
Definitely what happened. I think the whole THP thing started with a little group of friends that decided to film their hunts and all the silliness that goes with that (the "longbird" thing),...and put it on YouTube. I doubt they ever thought that they would end up with the viewership and following that they have...nor all of the repercussions in the world of turkey hunting that have transpired because of it.
Yes
The Hunting Public (THP) started it as a joke of scoring birds.
I actually think that
THP puts out some of the best quality turkey hunting videos made. They have also unwittingly created an unsustainable amount of increased hunting pressure on public areas and states they hunt.
They make this style of hunting look far easier and more accessible than it actually is. The idea was to show that the challenges of hunting on public ground and how successful it can be... Now everyone that watches wants to give it a try, and enough do, that the increase in hunting pressure in some areas has ruined many hunting areas (apparently).
Do they have the right to continue making videos and the business that goes with that? Should they ethically stop making these videos? I do not have the answers to this...
After reading your guys comments, it makes that it was made as a joke when I measure a bird it is for myself.and that's about it. I be honest I had to get a measurements of when I was able to get a merriam, and will with do it with my first rio and Osceola. I think for me I like to know how much a bird weighs more than anything. I'm thankful for every bird I am able to harvest. This post was not attend to bash on the tph.
The only scoring/measuring system that has any merit is Nunnery's method .
I've got no idea why anyone measures the length of a turkey. Just like I don't why it is so important to announce the length of a new baby. ::)
Fullchoke
The hunting public did that to make fun of the spur and beard measuring guys. To show that it's irrelevant how big those spurs and beards are in reality.
I think some of this measuring came from State agencies that required in person checking of turkeys. Most recorded weight and if it was an adult or juvenile (by beard length and tail feathers). This was an indicator of flock health and reproduction. Then the NWTF made it a thing
Quote from: GobbleNut on March 30, 2024, 04:33:13 PM
Quote from: Moore on March 30, 2024, 02:13:53 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
That makes sense.
Definitely what happened. I think the whole THP thing started with a little group of friends that decided to film their hunts and all the silliness that goes with that (the "longbird" thing),...and put it on YouTube. I doubt they ever thought that they would end up with the viewership and following that they have...nor all of the repercussions in the world of turkey hunting that have transpired because of it.
The THP was started intentionally, the group of friends all started working as interns for Bill Winke of Midwest Whitetail. They got tired of the seriousness and trophy measuring that the mainstream outdoor world had been since the early 2000's. The THP was founded as a jab at mainstream outdoor television, to show that with woodsmanship and some try, that anyone could have great hunting right out side their door, you didn't need expensive equipment, or sponsorship to kill big deer and have good turkey hunting. It's was very commendable. The name, The Hunting Public was to signify that they're hunting public land and they are the hunting public, like 99% of us without million dollar farms.
But, that doesn't pay the bills and the irony is, now they have sponsors and a cult following and hunting public land is the IN thing to do
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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 01, 2024, 09:17:13 AM
Quote from: GobbleNut on March 30, 2024, 04:33:13 PM
Quote from: Moore on March 30, 2024, 02:13:53 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
That makes sense.
The THP was started intentionally, the group of friends all started working as interns for Bill Winke of Midwest Whitetail. They got tired of the seriousness and trophy measuring that the mainstream outdoor world had been since the early 2000's. The THP was founded as a jab at mainstream outdoor television, to show that with woodsmanship and some try, that anyone could have great hunting right out side their door, you didn't need expensive equipment, or sponsorship to kill big deer and have good turkey hunting. It's was very commendable. The name, The Hunting Public was to signify that they're hunting public land and they are the hunting public, like 99% of us without million dollar farms.
But, that doesn't pay the bills and the irony is, now they have sponsors and a cult following and hunting public land is the IN thing to do
Thank You Sir. Was just going to post almost identical message.
I would add I recall them saying that spur and beard length is not always an accurate indicator of age. And I also took it as a poke at the "what'd he measure?"Crowd.
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Longbird? Now that's funny right there! LOL! I had to laugh when I read that!
Quote from: Marc on March 31, 2024, 12:54:50 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on March 30, 2024, 04:33:13 PM
Quote from: Moore on March 30, 2024, 02:13:53 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
That makes sense.
Definitely what happened. I think the whole THP thing started with a little group of friends that decided to film their hunts and all the silliness that goes with that (the "longbird" thing),...and put it on YouTube. I doubt they ever thought that they would end up with the viewership and following that they have...nor all of the repercussions in the world of turkey hunting that have transpired because of it.
Yes The Hunting Public (THP) started it as a joke of scoring birds.
I actually think that THP puts out some of the best quality turkey hunting videos made. They have also unwittingly created an unsustainable amount of increased hunting pressure on public areas and states they hunt.
They make this style of hunting look far easier and more accessible than it actually is. The idea was to show that the challenges of hunting on public ground and how successful it can be... Now everyone that watches wants to give it a try, and enough do, that the increase in hunting pressure in some areas has ruined many hunting areas (apparently).
Do they have the right to continue making videos and the business that goes with that? Should they ethically stop making these videos? I do not have the answers to this...
I met those guys, everyone complains about, in Nashville. My takeaway: they're really young guys having fun and trying to make money. The chicks were hanging out in the booth, I didn't want to leave.
Quote from: Zobo on April 01, 2024, 05:49:21 PM
Quote from: Marc on March 31, 2024, 12:54:50 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on March 30, 2024, 04:33:13 PM
Quote from: Moore on March 30, 2024, 02:13:53 PM
Quote from: Upfold99 on March 30, 2024, 02:11:16 PM
I think that was a game amongst friends on THP several years ago. The long bird challenge. They had shirts depicting this for sale. As far as I know, it means nothing. People are most likely copying their actions. As Seen On Social Media!
That makes sense.
Definitely what happened. I think the whole THP thing started with a little group of friends that decided to film their hunts and all the silliness that goes with that (the "longbird" thing),...and put it on YouTube. I doubt they ever thought that they would end up with the viewership and following that they have...nor all of the repercussions in the world of turkey hunting that have transpired because of it.
Yes The Hunting Public (THP) started it as a joke of scoring birds.
I actually think that THP puts out some of the best quality turkey hunting videos made. They have also unwittingly created an unsustainable amount of increased hunting pressure on public areas and states they hunt.
They make this style of hunting look far easier and more accessible than it actually is. The idea was to show that the challenges of hunting on public ground and how successful it can be... Now everyone that watches wants to give it a try, and enough do, that the increase in hunting pressure in some areas has ruined many hunting areas (apparently).
Do they have the right to continue making videos and the business that goes with that? Should they ethically stop making these videos? I do not have the answers to this...
I met those guys, everyone complains about, in Nashville. My takeaway: they're really young guys having fun and trying to make money. The chicks were hanging out in the booth, I didn't want to leave.
I personally don't understand the hatred that most folks seem to have for these guys. Do I think they have impacted public land hunting and have caused an influx of hunters?. Yes. Do I think Knight and Hale, Primos, Mossy Oak, H.S. Strut, M.A.D., and Realtree did the same from the 90's until streaming became a thing. Yes. I see no difference except I don't have to pay to watch them. They put out very knowledgeable content and seem to truly care about the birds by teaming up with researchers, etc.
They're my age, or within a couple years, give or take, and I'd love to be doing what they're doing. They seem like a great group of guys, and while, I don't typically hunt with others, I'd love to share a camp with them.
It's not their fault, it's monkey see, monkey do in todays world it seems. That's personally why I feel I'm seeing a massive influx of OOS hunters on the public areas I've hunted for years. These guys showed how accessible public hunting is, and then Dave filed in with making chasing the super slam cool and there you have it. Given the position to do what I do for a living or chase turkeys for 3-4 months and make a living that way, it's not hard to see what myself or anyone else on here would choose.
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That me be one of the dumbest things I've seen, and that's saying something.