Spurs or beard?

[MOStrutter]

What do experienced turkey hunters really care for when a turkey is coming in?  Do you guys get excited about a long beard dragging the ground or long hooks showing through the grass.  I am in the spurs camp on this one.  I guess I bring a deer hunter's mentality to it. I want to outsmart an old, wise bird. Let me know what you all think.

[crenshawco]

I dont really look at either untill hes flopping

[CASH]

I want the hooks

[jblackburn]

Honestly, my biggest concern is a full fan (not a jake).  I have never focused on a bird's spurs or beard when getting ready to pull the trigger. 

That being said, I LOVE hooks!!  But, I also love a long paint brush beard!

I really just love turkey hunting!

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

SPURS

[buck_hunter21]

Usually when a bird is coming in all I can really see easily is the beard. Seeing the beard dragging while he is coming in is a beautiful sight, but if I had to pick one I would go with spurs. Love those hooks!!!!

[TauntoHawk]

Big sharp curved Hooks!!! Me and the guys have a plaque and a competition every year based off NWTF scoring so I want it all beard, spurs, and weight! but spurs are the most important category in scoring

Several times I have passed on 2yr old birds because I was in that spot hunting after a particular stud. Sometimes the big ol bird just made me look silly   other times I got him and was rewarded by large hooks or a double beard   either way I always had a great time and learn alot off each encounter.

Ive been blessed enough to have access to a good bit of private that I know there are plenty of birds on almost all of them. Find time to hunt is much harder than finding a bird to kill once I get out there

[Basser69]

Hooks!

[WildTigerTrout]

Usually when a bird is coming in all I can really see easily is the beard. Seeing the beard dragging while he is coming in is a beautiful sight, but if I had to pick one I would go with spurs. Love those hooks!!!!

+1. Nothing like seeing that long beard swinging on his way in but IMO the spurs are the real trophy.

[RS]

Once I see it's a gobbler I don't try to pay any attention to the beard or spurs.  I'm just concentrating on trying to kill him.  But, once he's down the things I really like to see are some long spurs.  

[swamp_bird89]

Full fan and hes going down....good beard and spurs are just a bonus.

[stinkpickle]

I dont really look at either untill hes flopping

This^^^ (except for the fact that he has to have a visible beard to be legal, of course)  It's yet another reason I prefer turkey hunting to deer hunting.

[Longspur321]

All about the spurs man...beard is just a bonus.

[remmy1187]

Just want to be sure it is a Gobbler.  I put the beard and tail on the wall and the spurs go on my Gobbler MOJO necklace!!!

[redarrow]

I dont really look at either untill hes flopping

Same here. I have never shot a gobbler that I could see the spurs on until after he was dead. I look for a beard.