I posted on the drumming thread about the dump truck turkey I killed this year.
He seemed to be the boss bird as he did all the gobbling. When I killed him all the feathers were worn off on his breast... I assume from breeding so many hens?
He had nice hooks and beard. Is it safe to say he was the boss bird?
I've never been sure the missing feathers were from breeding or they just rubbed off on the limb while the bird is roosted. As for being the boss bird, it's quite possible...but only as an individual bird. I've seen gangs of jakes charge in on such birds and beat the crap out of them. Of course, after that, they don't gobble much.
I killed a boss bird last wed. and it still had all it feathers. It has a 12 inch beard with 1 1/4 spurs and 23 pounds. he was a good 3 year old if not 4. His legs were almost white..His spurs had a big hook to a fine point. His wing feathers were wore out from strutting ...