really cool turkeys??????????


Guest ILBIGBUCKS

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Guest ILBIGBUCKS

my dad shot one with a beard that was a little over 13". and I have shot a 25lber with 2 beards. I have also seen a bearded hen with a beard dragging the ground but i coulsnt get a shot.

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Re: really cool turkeys??????????

Pap shot one in Montana with 6 beards, most of the beards where very small, one was 7 the other 8 1/2. I shot one behind the house with 2 beards, 11 1/4 and 6 3/4. Brother in-law shot a bearded hen. Pap shot one in Montana that was completely white but for the beard. That's about as wierd as we ever got.

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Re: really cool turkeys??????????

I've had several bearded hens in front of me before and chose not to shoot them when and where it was legal. They used to be legal here but have been illegal for about the past 5 years now in this state.

No birds killed here with a beard longer than 13" unless you include double bearded birds. No extra spurs on birds either but one of my friends killed a mature gobbler that didn't have a single spur on him. It's rare but that happens too.

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Re: really cool turkeys??????????

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I wonder if there was every a fully mature gobbler that didnt have a beard?? that would suck lol

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I know a guy who shot one in Michigan a few years ago that had 1" hooks, yet had no beard. He said the bird strutted and came right in, so he shot him when he came out of strut. He said that there was evidence that it had had a beard at one time, but it was litterally all gone. He said he thought it was probably due to some kind of beard rot or something.

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Re: really cool turkeys??????????

[ QUOTE ]

I wonder if there was every a fully mature gobbler that didnt have a beard?? that would suck lol

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I guess I've done kinda the opposite. Twice I have killed mature gobblers with pretty thick, 10-11 inch beards but, absolutely no spurs whatsoever!

Here's one from last season. Obviously a mature bird, 19 lb. 11 oz. and a 10 3/4 inch beard but not even a bump where his spurs should have been.

[image]P1010007.jpg[/image]

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Re: really cool turkeys??????????

I've never killed a bearded hen but I had one within range several times one season. The Alabama regs are not clear on whether a bearded hen is legal so I didn't take the chance. Three years ago I killed a gobbler with double spurs on both legs...he was a DUDE! Other than that, the biggest bearded gobbler I've taken had a 11 1/2" beard.

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Re: really cool turkeys??????????

Got a hen a few years back that had an 8.5" beard. Got her the last year it was legal in MS. Don't want to make a habit of it. I Got a 5 bearded gobbler with my bow a few years ago. I am friends with a man who has taken one with double spurs. There are only a couple registered in MS.

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