NWTF "scoring"

[Kaleb978]

This is not a hate thread, I am just curious. How many of you go through the process of scoring your bird and submitting the score to NWTF?

[Notsoyoungturk]

I do not

[joey46]

No.

[eggshell]

I have never submitted a bird and no plans to

[ruination]

Silly money grab for records that no one really cares about but yourself.

[Kaleb978]

This is mostly what I expected. I am a member along with several of my friends and we have never heard of anyone submitting a score.

[Dougas]

I have killed some that would score pretty high and never had them officially scored.

[bpsmag1026]

I never have

[GobbleNut]

Over the decades, I have scored a lot of turkeys with the Dave Harbour scoring system (the NWTF took over the records from Harbour a few years after he started it). I have admittedly submitted one gobbler to the records decades ago...only to recognize the turkey itself.

Although I think the scoring system is seriously flawed and, as such. has limited value in comparing wild turkeys, it does provide a "barometer" for hunters to evaluate a gobbler's "standing", if you will, to other gobblers a hunter may have harvested and/or in comparing the relative "trophy characteristics" of a gobbler from a given area or region.

At this point in time, I agree that the NWTF uses the record book for turkeys as a money grab. Unless things have changed, any hunter can submit a gobbler, regardless of its size, to the record book as long as the submission is accompanied by the "fee" for doing so. (Most game-animal scoring systems have some sort of minimum score to be eligible for inclusion...not so with this one as far as I know...you shoot a jake and want it put in the record book, send in your money...   

Having said all of the above, the Harbour scoring system, to my knowledge, is the only one in use for scoring (and comparing) wild turkeys. I don't think enough people care enough about scoring turkeys to come up with something better, so we are "stuck" with this one. ...But if someone wants to get in the record book, more power to them...go for it (just make sure you submit the proper dollars for it)...     

[cannonball]

The only time I have scored a turkey is for the team contest here on the forum. I haven't submitted anything to the NWTF and don't plan on doing so in the future

[Lcmacd 58]

Never have

[joey46]

See post #8 -  I'm a hoarder by choice so this was easy to find.  I submitted an Osceola to FWC back in 2008 for an Outstanding Gobbler Certificate.  This bird deserved it but, as usual, was a right time, right place kill. 

[GobbleNut]

See post #8 -  I'm a hoarder by choice so this was easy to find.  I submitted an Osceola to FWC back in 2008 for an Outstanding Gobbler Certificate.  This bird deserved it but, as usual, was a right time, right place kill. 

I think we are showing our age, Joey.  I've got the same book...and in about the same condition.    I assume Col. Dave put the inscription on the page?  That would be pretty cool. 

I've got this one, as well. I think this included the first edition of the records when the bookkeeping was taken over by the NWTF, as I recall.

[joey46]

I'm sure he did.  It says to hurry up and make a submission as the first record book would be out in 1982.  Still enjoy the chapter on his contact with a very young Harold Knight in LBL.  Time flies.  Good memories.

[Kaleb978]

Interesting thoughts. Thank you to all who answered.