12'' beards

[jhoward11]

Been hunting birds for 20 years, and have only seen 3. One I shot 3 years ago. 25lbs/1.5" spurs, in a place I never would have expected there to be a big old Tom. Full mount eastern. I'll try to send pics.

[makestomstremble]

I have never killed one with a 12" beard. Really just a handful over 10 1/2" or 11". I do have a Rio with 1 1/2" spurs on my wall at home. I remember some kids shot one on a ranch that I think would have went 2", it was a long time ago and they did not measure, the bird appeared small, maybe 13 or 14 lbs. I bet he was 7 or 8 years old.

[Marc]

My understanding is that Rio's have the longest legs, and would think they also have the longest beards?

Measuring that "wild hair" on the beard, I would have a couple of 12 inches.  Measuring the "meat" of the beard, I would have none.  My longest and thickest was just under 12, but a couple wild hairs when straightened out were over 13...  Personally I do not count those individual long hairs, especially if they are curled and need to be straightened.

Were I competing for some sort of monetary prize...  You bet I would count them, if that were in the rules.....

[eggshell]

In all honesty I have not measured a beard in many years, but when I did I never got a 12" beard. I don't even keep the beard or spurs anymore. I keep the meat and everything else gets thrown in the back field for the foxes and coyotes. I just came to the point they didn't matter to me anymore. I like the hunt and we like eating the meat, really don't give a hoot about the bragging rights. I admit it's fun sometimes to compare birds to others, but I have no use for trophies. Our NWTF chapter had a "big bird contest" for years. I was lucky enough to win a couple trophies and I marinated them for 20 years and they never did get tender. I threw them out with all the beards spurs and tails. I keep a picture with the date and basic stats for my album and that is all.

[HookedonHooks]

The general area around the MO/KS/IA border produces in my opinion the biggest turkeys in the country, and in turn also provides the biggest opportunity for these "elusive 12 in. bearded gobblers" We have killed more than a handful of birds that have two-three strands of beard that well exceed 12" often close to 13". I wouldn't think this would all too uncommon or necessarily fully count though.

My buddies first ever bird I called up for him two years back had a 14.5 inch rope, not just a few strands either, it was a full paintbrush. It was easily one of the biggest and prettiest birds I'd ever seen. I told him it truly was a specimen to mount and it was taken on public to boot.

I've seen maybe five 1.5 inch spurred gobblers in what my family and friends have killed, but more then a dozen 12 inch+ bearded gobblers for sure. It's just a product of where we hunt, but is definitely interesting to hear others perspectives on it.

[budtripp]

The longest beard I can remember killing Had a couple strands just shy of 12 in. I believe they were around 11 15/16 for one and 11 7/8 for the other strand. That's as close as I've come. Same birds longest spur measured 1 7/16 so I've yet to break the 1.5" mark too lol. Come to think of it my two heaviest have weighed 24.5 lbs. So I ain't broke the 25 lb mark either. Story of my life, always coming up just a tad short