well unfortunately my merriums is not a contest entry either.....I only killed one bird in Nebraska. 2 year old. 7/8 spurs...but he had a rotted beard. only 1" long. weighed 26lbs. his beard could not be seen from his feathers. I knew when I saw no beard he probably never grew one or either it was broken or rotted. It was bad weather the 4 days I was up there. I killed this bird the second morning and I wounded a bird the final afternoon which was a good bird. made me sad but it happens. anyway. I have finished my first ever slam