What does the strutstopper's birds have to offer the contest?

[timberjack86]

What I mean is whats the best charateristic your birds feature? I hunt some lowland in middle tn and the birds have good long spurs and good beards but dont wiegh alot. The bird I killed last year had a 11.5 inch beard 1 and 3/4 in spurs but wieght was only 19 ibs. I killed one in the mountains of tn and had a 10inch beard and1 inch spurs and wieght was 16 ibs. I know oceolas are known for long spurs. And easterns from the midwest can go 25-30 ibs. Its all about beards and spurs for me

[Trevor2]

East tn and mostly hilly and mountainous country. Most birds here have some 10-11" beards with decent spurs but dont weigh a lot.

[bornagain64]

Osceolas have nice beards and long hooks. Sometimes they have they weight to go with it.

I am just happy with a two year old bird, that will answer my calls and walk into my setup.

[timberjack86]

Osceolas have nice beards and long hooks. Sometimes they have they weight to go with it.

I am just happy with a two year old bird, that will answer my calls and walk into my setup.

I agree with that part. I dont care if its a 2 year old or 4 yera old.

[keyser12ga]

Easterns here have decent beards, weight, spurs.  My last couple of birds have had around 10" beards, been around 20lb's, and spurs at or just over an inch.  With only being able to take one bird in Indiana and hunting alot of public land, I can't be too picky but will do the best I can.

[jarbo03]

Birds here in NE Kansas can have it all, beards, spurs and weight.  The average Tom I kill has been around 24 lbs, have taken a couple over 26.  Most beards around 10-11", 12.5" is my biggest, the weather during winter can determine how the beards are going to look.  Average spur has been around 1 1/8", 1.5" is my biggest and are not uncommon.  Where I hunt in SW Kansas, all Rios, the birds are much smaller, my biggest is 19 lbs., beards and spurs seem to be smaller also.  It is not uncommon for these birds to range 6-8 miles every day, very open country with little trees.  Only trees grow up out of the canyons and near springs.  My last bird there I was hiding knelt down behind a yucca bush, very intense.

[kyhareraiser]

well, after taking my first gobbler (a jake) but he walked right in front of my bead as he walked across the ridge at my setup as i was calling to another gobbler under the hill , and after that ,i started playing to get the bigun's 10 to 11 1/2 beards so far. no double beards yet but i'm after him .lol  far as spurs ,hav.nt reall taken long spurred ones yet,,nuthin' over 1 1/4 anyways (not complaining by no means ) .. i've kinda leardned to lay back and let the young ones do all the gobblin until big daddy gives a gobble and then they all go silent,then i know the one i am after

[gordongekko]

it depends...I don't kill too many huge birds, unless i do make my mexico trip...then three world record Gould's have been killed on that property....keep your fingers crossed......

Other than that, I hope to just put a good solid 2-3 year old on the board with 1" or longer hooks and a 9-11 beard