So I live in the mid-west (WI) and have hunted a number of states from down south and out west and just wonder what you consider a "Heavy" bird in your area? Birds around here seem to average 22-23 lbs. My heaviest bird was a 3rd season (early May) bird that went 28lbs 6oz. Mostly around here they are considered "Big" at 25-26lbs.
MK M GOBL
"Big Bird" 28.6
I have had 2 other birds that topped the 28# mark and one of these was a double that weighed in at 28lbs 4oz / 1 1/8" spurs / 11 3/4" beard and #2 was 26lbs 2oz / 1 1/8" spur (the other was busted up) / 10 5/8" beard. YUP!!!
MK M GOBL
And this guy was a mid/late may 4th season bird that tipped the scales at 27lbs 5oz, wish I would have taken him during 1st season with a bunch of "Turkey Jello" fat/breast sponge on him.
MK M GOBL
Anything topping 20 is a heavy bird around Al/Ga is a big one. I've seen a lot of 22-24 lb birds around here that in reality is 18-20 lbs. some are legit, but just as many or more have a fudge factor involved
20 pounds here as well. I've killed really nice birds that didn't go 18 #'s, but were the studs in the area.
Same here, 18-20# is a nice big bird here around home. I've killed a few heavier, but not very many.
Those are some slammers there, congrats. :drool:
Bob
Those are some big birds. Congratulations on them. Here in the Ga piedmont the biggest I have seen registered at the local hardware store contest was 24 lb. There are a lot in the twenty to twenty-two lb range. My largest was and early season bird that went 21lb. I got on a lease down in the swamps below the fall line that the four birds I shot there over two seasons only weighed 12-14 lb. All the birds had 10 to 11 1/2" beards and spurs over 1".
Jeff
Mature birds here average 16 to 18 pounds. My largest went 23 pounds even. I have killed three others that were 20 pounds or over. I weigh all my birds and it takes a big gobbler to go 20 pounds! The gobbler in my avatar was 21 pounds.
I mainly hunt north-central WI, and I would consider a 25 lb bird to be big. Have got several in the 22-23 lb range, but have yet to break the 25 lb mark. I know of one guy that got a 27 pounder in western WI, and my buddy got one at 30 lbs in the southwestern part a couple of years ago...unfortunately for him, he was still pretty new at turkey hunting and didn't realize what he had and got the bird cut up before he could have it officially weighed. Probably would have made the record books with that one with the beard length and spurs thrown in as well. That's the breaks I guess.
Quote from: WisTurk on January 27, 2016, 03:57:07 PM
I mainly hunt north-central WI, and I would consider a 25 lb bird to be big. Have got several in the 22-23 lb range, but have yet to break the 25 lb mark. I know of one guy that got a 27 pounder in western WI, and my buddy got one at 30 lbs in the southwestern part a couple of years ago...unfortunately for him, he was still pretty new at turkey hunting and didn't realize what he had and got the bird cut up before he could have it officially weighed. Probably would have made the record books with that one with the beard length and spurs thrown in as well. That's the breaks I guess.
I live in Southwestern WI Driftless Area!
20 in VA is a good one, some do go over but most that you hear about are just a guess.
Here in Iowa we have pretty big birds. The vast majority of the birds I've killed here in Iowa have been over 20, a lot like 21 -23. I would consider 25 and up to be getting real big. I have killed about 4 at the 25 and up mark with the biggest being a giant 30.5 lb bird on opening day of first season back in 2007.
17-19 pounds is average around here. Anything over that is considered a heavy bird. My personal best is 23 lbs. I killed him about ten years ago. Don't know if I will ever top that if I just hunt around here. Crappy picture but here he is.
22-23 is a big one here. 18-19 is average.
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Quote from: MK M GOBL on January 27, 2016, 04:04:27 PM
Quote from: WisTurk on January 27, 2016, 03:57:07 PM
I mainly hunt north-central WI, and I would consider a 25 lb bird to be big. Have got several in the 22-23 lb range, but have yet to break the 25 lb mark. I know of one guy that got a 27 pounder in western WI, and my buddy got one at 30 lbs in the southwestern part a couple of years ago...unfortunately for him, he was still pretty new at turkey hunting and didn't realize what he had and got the bird cut up before he could have it officially weighed. Probably would have made the record books with that one with the beard length and spurs thrown in as well. That's the breaks I guess.
I live in Southwestern WI Driftless Area!
Lafayette County is where he goes. Quite a few birds down there.
Quote from: buzzardroost on January 27, 2016, 07:00:43 PM
22-23 is a big one here. 18-19 is average.
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same here.
were i live in ky,ours average 18-2o pound is usually what you kill,my heaviest weighed 24 pound,and ive had a couple hit 23.i did personally see one killed about ten miles from my house that weighed 26,he was a bigun.i would not have believed it though if i had not seen it weighed.you hear of 28 pounders all the time which is people who dont actually weigh them and guess.there is one i have tried to kill the last couple of years that i know is one of these giants,but he has more smarts than size and thats alot.im hoping he is still around this spring so he can kick my butt some more.
Quote from: guesswho on January 27, 2016, 02:40:20 PM
Anything topping 20 is a heavy bird around Al/Ga is a big one. I've seen a lot of 22-24 lb birds around here that in reality is 18-20 lbs. some are legit, but just as many or more have a fudge factor involved
Exactly! This has been my experience
Not trying to change the subject or high jack the thread but I don't care what the bird weighs or how long the Spurs are or how long the beard is. If it gobbles and drums and makes my heart jump out of my chest then that's all I care about.
South ms
biggest 22 lbs average probably 18 20
21 or more is heavy around my parts of Okliehoma. My biggest home turf bird is 23 lbs 12 oz. Several years back when I was a skinny pup.
Where I'm at, the norm for a 3 year old bird is 18-20 lbs. Over 21, I consider heavy.
Quote from: Happy on January 27, 2016, 06:45:37 PM
17-19 pounds is average around here. Anything over that is considered a heavy bird. My personal best is 23 lbs. I killed him about ten years ago. Don't know if I will ever top that if I just hunt around here. Crappy picture but here he is.
Nice bird Happy. :icon_thumright:
Bob
Quote from: jwhunter on January 27, 2016, 10:11:53 PM
Quote from: guesswho on January 27, 2016, 02:40:20 PM
Anything topping 20 is a heavy bird around Al/Ga is a big one. I've seen a lot of 22-24 lb birds around here that in reality is 18-20 lbs. some are legit, but just as many or more have a fudge factor involved
Exactly! This has been my experience
Not trying to change the subject or high jack the thread but I don't care what the bird weighs or how long the Spurs are or how long the beard is. If it gobbles and drums and makes my heart jump out of my chest then that's all I care about.
Absolutely... Some of my fondest turkey hunting memories don't involve "big" birds.
Bob
Quote from: jepcho on January 27, 2016, 06:20:33 PM
Here in Iowa we have pretty big birds. The vast majority of the birds I've killed here in Iowa have been over 20, a lot like 21 -23. I would consider 25 and up to be getting real big.
I'm also in Iowa and would agree with this. I've not seen a bird over 25lbs but I know they are here. Heck any more I'm just happy to see a tom. On a different note I did see a flock of two doozen about a week ago with a tom strutting in the snow. :)
Quote
Absolutely... Some of my fondest turkey hunting memories don't involve "big" birds.
Bob
I will agree with you there 100%, everything that makes the memories happens before the trigger gets pulled!
lol, I do like seeing a set of Hooks on a bird when I (we) pick him up :) but like picking any of them up.
MK M GOBL
Quote from: jepcho on January 27, 2016, 06:20:33 PM
Here in Iowa we have pretty big birds. The vast majority of the birds I've killed here in Iowa have been over 20, a lot like 21 -23. I would consider 25 and up to be getting real big. I have killed about 4 at the 25 and up mark with the biggest being a giant 30.5 lb bird on opening day of first season back in 2007.
Agreed. 25lbs and up is considered big, and those are usually taken early in the season when they're still carrying a lot of fat.
I hunt Western PA and my biggest was 23 pounds. It rained that morning so I don't know how true that number is. Usually 18-21 pounds.
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/reflex264/turkey%20hunting/28-4.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/reflex264/media/turkey%20hunting/28-4.jpg.html)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/reflex264/turkey%20hunting/t3-1.jpg) (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/reflex264/media/turkey%20hunting/t3-1.jpg.html)
In the 1980s there was a bird killed in Lincoln Co (here) that weighed 30lbs
Thanks old school. Looks like the Midwest boys rule the roost when it comes to weight. Nice birds guys!
Over 20 is a big bird here. Although one of the biggest ever killed was in my home county. 34 pounds I think it was. Was the record holder for many years.
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Seems like a lot of birds here run from 20-23 pounds,my biggest is 29.5 killed last day of the season this spring.
I have wondered what he would have gone opening day.
Cant really tell but he has three beards a 10'',6'' and 4''.
Doubt I will ever get a chance at another one like this,but you never know.
I am located in NW Indiana.
Greg
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww173/redjoness/IMG_20150509_062303_401.jpg) (http://s717.photobucket.com/user/redjoness/media/IMG_20150509_062303_401.jpg.html)
20 is a big bird here. 18 is average. Biggest bird I ever killed was in Bama and it was 21 lbs:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160129/e618b3e790e4a8ff33249b85bdcc5cf1.jpg)
Sent from the Strut Zone
Our average bird in my area of NY will go around 20. I have killed several that have gone 22 and change. My overall heaviest was taken in KY last spring. He went 24 and my wife killed one the following day that went 24.5...
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/WNYBowhunter/zDSCN0093.jpg) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/WNYBowhunter/media/zDSCN0093.jpg.html)
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/WNYBowhunter/zDSCN0226.jpg) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/WNYBowhunter/media/zDSCN0226.jpg.html)
Quote from: redjones on January 28, 2016, 09:05:36 PM
Seems like a lot of birds here run from 20-23 pounds,my biggest is 29.5 killed last day of the season this spring.
I have wondered what he would have gone opening day.
Cant really tell but he has three beards a 10'',6'' and 4''.
Doubt I will ever get a chance at another one like this,but you never know.
I am located in NW Indiana.
Greg
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww173/redjoness/IMG_20150509_062303_401.jpg) (http://s717.photobucket.com/user/redjoness/media/IMG_20150509_062303_401.jpg.html)
monster bird!be hard to top that one again.
Yes sir that's a porker. In my hometown in west TN most average around 16 to 18 pounds. Me and my hunting partener have both killed one that weighed 23 though. That's pretty large here.
In my area of central Louisiana 18# is about average and anything over 20# is considered a big bird. The heaviest I've taken was 22# 5 oz.
Here in N.J. a twenty five pounder is huge. I've heard of bigger ones but they're rare. A nice average is 17-18 lbs.
It's weird I know, but I kill 24 or 25 pound birds every spring that somehow lose 6 or 7 pounds by the time I get them back to camp and put them on a scale. A guy can really work the weight off of one carrying them out.
...Really, our Merriams gobblers here in NM will typically weigh 18 to 19 pounds, with a few running a little heavier or lighter. The heaviest I have killed weighed 22 lbs. 7 oz. and I'm not sure I can remember weighing any others that were heavier than that.
We have also weighed a good number of Rios from TX and OK and they averaged about the same.
People seem to think that Gould's are somehow much bigger than that, but we have also weighed probably 30-40 Goulds gobblers and they, too, have averaged about the same weight, perhaps just slightly more on the average than the others.
Winters came take their toll up in the north east and the average bird weight can swing 2-3lbs just on how severe or mild the winter was. In NY a 20lb bird is solid and 22 is big in my mind but a lot of guys are killing mostly 17-18lb birds I just got a few properties that hold good birds because of solid winter food. I've won a few hundred dollars in a big bird contest a few years back with 23.5lb bird the same year my wife killed a 24.5lb bird but wasn't entered in the contest, that bird was a stud and looked noticeably larger than average strutting across that field. (Best hunt to date)
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Most birds average 18 to 20 here in Se Ohio.
My heaviest birds have been taken in Ky. Biggest was 24.
They don't require you to weigh your bird for tagging in Ohio now. Most people I know use the guess method. Those use to be 20lb birds are now 24. Lol
One thing I've noticed is heavier birds are usually taken around horses and Cattle, getting grain from their crap I suppose.
A older fellow told me years ago, where there is cattle you can bet there is turkeys. Lotta truth to that.
I'd say 17-18 lbs. is normal here in South MS with a heavy one being 20+ lbs.
It seems a central Florida public land bird will average 17-18 pounds, My heaviest was 21 and change. It was the heaviest killed on that WMA in several years and for several years after. I've only killed 3 or so over 20#. The private land hunters in the same general area kill 20# birds more regularly.
I've killed a couple here in VA in the 22-23 lb range, my biggest and best being the 23 lb one. He was a stud and now hangs on my wall. Have seen some push 25 lbs. but that is after an excellent mast crop in the fall. 18-21 is our typical average here in my part of VA (SW), you get out in the tidewater area of the state and it goes up because of all the agriculture they have.
For my area NC most will run 18-20 lbs I've killed several over 20 but not by much by far most mine are in 19lb range. Only killed one in NC bigger than 22 it was a freak 26.14 lbs 11 3/4 inch beard and hooks that were just tinge under 2 inches, Can't say I called him in wouldn't come to calls so I just patterned his hens he was following and killed him off a Mtn on a logging road. I think turkey weights are one of the most exaggerated things I've seen. Everyone wants their bird to be over 20 but hey a 18 Tom is not a bad thing
Quote from: trkehunr93 on February 02, 2016, 09:48:11 AM
I've killed a couple here in VA in the 22-23 lb range, my biggest and best being the 23 lb one. He was a stud and now hangs on my wall. Have seen some push 25 lbs. but that is after an excellent mast crop in the fall. 18-21 is our typical average here in my part of VA (SW), you get out in the tidewater area of the state and it goes up because of all the agriculture they have.
I'm from SW Va seen about same as what your saying but its one of prettiest places to kill one no matter what the weight
anything over 20lbs in east tn is a big bird.
Overall I would consider a 21 lb. tom to be a "heavy" tom.
This is what I've seen as "average" in upstate SC during my 30 years of turkey killing:
Woods birds (Nat. Forest and no agriculture):
17-18 lbs. on poor mast crop years.
19-20 lbs. on good mast crop years.
Field birds:
Usually average 18-21 lbs.
Heaviest woods bird I've killed here was 24 lbs. and have killed a few at 22lbs. Tended to be big boned and built like horses carrying the weight overall. I don't recall which bird it was in the picture below but I can tell you this, I sure remember the 2 mile walk out to the truck. We all laid down and rested a few times on that walk out.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/hattT05/P4020027_zpsa98e9595.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/hattT05/0402130941_zps86ad8c4c.jpg)
My Son killed a 25 lb. tom here two seasons ago that obviously must have been spending time on some neighbors bird feeder. That bird had a double handful of yellow fat around his craw and breast.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/hattT05/P5010121_zpsb37105f0.jpg)
21+ is a big bird in central va
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Awesome smile on that young mans face! Way to go Dad for taking your children hunting.Nice hooks on that bird too. :icon_thumright:
I'm from mid-Michigan and i went many years not being able to get one that was over 20#, then one year I managed a 21#. Then 2 years ago...a 28.1#! So from my experience, id say big in my area is anything 22#+.
Killed one here in SE NC that went 24lbs. I would say my average over 20 years has been 16 to 18lbs. That bird was a fat 3 year old with a 11.5 beard and 15" spurs. He was a well fed bird that come off the edge of a Carolina Bay.
Southern WV is where I live. Some guys around here say they kill them every year 25 to 28#. But my dad and myself along with my uncle kill a lot of gobblers, and most of what we kill around here are 18 to 22# and once in a blue moon we will kill a 23 # to 25#gobbler. But the avg. is 18-21 lbs. in Southern WV and Western VA
:OGturkeyhead:
I would say 25# is a big bird here in NE KS, have taken quite a few that size with the biggest a hair under 28#. Where I hunt Rios in western KS, the biggest has been 22#, with most averaging 18-20#.
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In my corner of west-central PA, longbeards average 18-20 lbs provided winter was not overly hard.
In my 36 seasons I have shot one 24 pounder and one 23 pounder. So anything over 20 is a hoss.
Depends on the hard mast that fall and the area.. No acorns and mature birds will be 15-18. Good mast and 18-20. Killed a few over 23. Never heard of a 24lber ever being killed in my area. One area we killed a pile of birds out of and never got one to go 19lbs. Bout all the birds I've killed in east Tennessee are in the 21lb range.
State record was killed a few miles from my house and it was 23.75 I believe
Northern Indiana where I live a big bird is 25 lbs or so. My biggest before last year was 25.5 that I got a few years back. Last season I blew that away with a huge gobbler that went 28.0 even and had a 12 inch beard. An average bird is 20-22lbs here.
In the past 30 years in central Missouri I see most birds averaging 21-24 pounds. Heavy birds I have killed or seen weighed are 25-28 pounds in my area.
My best bird here in VA was 24lbs. I've seen a bunch of 21-23lb birds killed in the area we hunt. This past season had some of the biggest weights due to the large amount of acorns and crop fields we have around us. Opening day we doubled with a 23 1/2lb bird and a 23 1/4lb bird. My dad killed his biggest at 24.7lbs this past spring also. A friend killed one next to the last day that still weighed 23lbs.
I've killed more gobblers over 20 pounds than under 20 in the central piedmont area of N.C.. My best gobbler (so far) weighed 24 pounds and was killed on Opening Day of '07. It won the heaviest gobbler in the local sports shop's big gobbler contest that Spring.
Jim
For the MO Ozarks big is 25#'s+. 3yo goes about 20-22# most of the time unless it was a rough winter or late in the season.
Last year I saw the biggest of my life alive and legging it. I guessed him at about 30#. Looked damn near like an ostrich. He was WAY bigger than any tom I've ever saw. Spotted him next to a fence while driving at work and measured it latter. With a high head walk, not alert though, top of his head was 40".
Last year I saw bigger birds killed than ever before, and killed my 2 biggest as well, with one going over 24 pounds.
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I hunt in Washington and Idaho. I'd say a heavy bird is anything over 20 lbs. The typical longbeard is 17-18 lbs. The biggest I have personally seen was 22 lbs, but I know they get bigger. However, when I hear guys saying they're consistently killing 22-24 lb birds in these two states I have a hard time believing that.
In North Carolina and South Carolina the normal weights are 18-19 lbs.
This past April 4 2016 my daughter took the largest gobbler I have seen. She took it in North Carolina. It weighted 24 lbs. 4 oz. on a set Berkley Fish Scales.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/image3652.jpg)
My heaviest bird was last spring, 28 lbs. Beard was 10" spurs were 1"L & 1-1/8R. I've shot longer beards & spurs, but this one was the heaviest. Tried to attach a pic but the file is too large.