weird one

[darn2ten]

My guess is a early born jake. Beard length has absolutely nothing to do with age. However 11"+ is definitely unusual for a jake, but not impossible. I've killed multiple 2 yr olds with 10+" beards and older birds with shorter beards. Turkeys are not like deer. Something I have observed over the years, most older birds like 4+ will usually weight less than most 2 yr olds. Why, well I'm not real sure, but I have a theory. I believe older boss birds burn more energy during the spring strutting and profiling than younger birds do so they lose weight. Same as any gobbler killed early in the season will weight more than if you kill them at the end.

[LaLongbeard]

Lovett Williams wrote that the most accurate age est. was spur length you said yours had jake nubs its a jake.

Long spurs indicate an older bird.  Short spurs don't necessarily mean a young bird.  Some gobblers never have more than a bump.   I think a lot of birds get aged at two years old because of short rounded spurs when in reality their older.    After looking at your birds beard zoomed in I'd guess he is at least a three year old.  But it's just that, a guess.

A three year old with a Jake tail fan ? Read the book Lovett Williams was the expert he also wrote about aging using beards and the amber color of the tips on two year olds verses the black warm off tips of the 3 year old and up.

[mdtkyhntr]

I think you just shot a well endowed jake. Nothing wrong with that.

[jblackburn]

Not sure "what" you killed other than a fine longboard.  I'd have killed it, too.

[mwr]

If that beard is 11 1/4", he sure has a little neck and head???

[strum]

check his wallet for some I.D. 

[JakeT]

I passed on one just like that this weekend. Had me puzzled also. Jake fan but long beard. He was hanging out with a bigger tom with a full fan. Both gobbling there heads off.

[bluegill68]

Friends,

Thanks for all the replies, I am happy with him and would probably do it all over again. The family approved of the results out of the fryer.

Sean

[tomstopper]

Friends,

Thanks for all the replies, I am happy with him and would probably do it all over again. The family approved of the results out of the fryer.

Sean

Then that's all that matters.... Congrats...