Got a question

[Volgobbler]

Killed a tom Sunday that appeared to be old. Had 8 inch brard that was mostly gray. He looked  old and had no spurs at all. Guess they had been worn off?  Anyone else kill one with no spurs?

[Dr Juice]

Is that one of those transgender gobblers? 

Just kidding - my guess it is an uncommon oddity. Congrats.

[LaLongbeard]

Killed one last year without any trace of spurs not worn off ..never had any as far as I could see.He had a full fan and decent beard ?I'm hoping I got him before he passed the no spur gene.

[dejake]

Volgobbler; how did he "appear" to be old?

[renegade19]

Killed one last year without any trace of spurs not worn off ..never had any as far as I could see.He had a full fan and decent beard ?I'm hoping I got him before he passed the no spur gene.

Saw two mature birds just like this taken off of the same ridge.  Nice beards and not a hint of a spur on either bird.

[SteelerFan]

NOT worn down. Genetics

Spurs

All wild turkeys are born with small buttons on their lower legs. While hens keep their buttons for life, spurs grow throughout a tom's life. A jake has round spurs less than ½-inch long. A 2-year-old tom typically has thick spurs that measure 7/8 of an inch to one inch. A gobbler that lives 3 years or longer grows curved, sharp hooks that may tape 1 7/8 inches (2-inch hooks are as good as it gets). Due to weird genetics, the odd tom has no spurs or 2 spurs on one leg. Eastern and Osceola gobblers typically have the longest, sharpest spurs. Western turkeys have shorter, thicker spurs.

http://www.turkeyhunting.com/pages/turkey-hunting/info/turkey-anatomy-and-traits

[HawkeyeGobbler]

A biologist could tell you better than me but seems there are a lot of genetic variables at play here. I shot one turkey that had a legit paint brush as a beard and his longest spur was 7/8" and the other was 5/8. The one I shot the following season had 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 spurs and had a VERY spindly 7.5" beard...

[Volgobbler]

His beard was gray. His feet looked old and shriveled. Feathers looked old. He may not have been old but he appeared that way to me and other guys who saw him