Turkey life

[High plains drifter]

Long live the turkey.How long do turkey live? On another note, is shooting 30 year old shells a bad idea? Maybe 40 years old.

[Crghss]

I don't see a problem shooting old shells. What are you shooting them at?

[Tail Feathers]

I wouldn't shoot them at turkey because of the higher potential for a misfire.  But they are probably fine if they were properly stores.  I want to be as sure as possible of my shell when shooting at a Tom.
Seems like I read turkeys can live up to about 8-9 years but rarely make it past 4 or 5 years in the wild. 

[Turkeyman]

I googled it and came up with this:

"The maximum recorded lifespan for a turkey in captivity is twelve years and four months. For turkeys living in the wild, the maximum is less than ten years, but the average life expectancy of a male turkey is just over 2 years and just over 3 years for females."

But these are averages...we all know that we've killed birds that are four, five and beyond or such.

[honker22]

First bird I ever killed was in 1996 and he was an original transplant bird that was banded.  He was released in 1989... assuming he was a jake when transplanted, then he was 8 years old.  He had 1 1/4 and 1 1/8 spurs FYI

[High plains drifter]

I don't see a problem shooting old shells. What are you shooting them at?

I shot 2 old federal loads at a big old bird from around 40 yards.I thought I made a good shot. He sort of flopped over, then flew off. Looking back in hind sight,  I think those 40 year old shells were a bad choice. Thanks for the comments.

[High plains drifter]

First bird I ever killed was in 1996 and he was an original transplant bird that was banded.  He was released in 1989... assuming he was a jake when transplanted, then he was 8 years old.  He had 1 1/4 and 1 1/8 spurs FYI

That's interesting. I always wondered if a turkey could live more than 5 years.These raccoons kill a lot of turkeys. I called one in the other day, as well as a skunk. I guess I should have shot the coon.There are so many dangerous things out there,  plus the weather.

[bbcoach]

GUESSIMATION is all this is.  It kills me to see someone kill a bird on a TV show and they say this is a blank year old bird.  Unless the bird has been banded, as Honker said, it is ALL speculation.

[honker22]

GUESSIMATION is all this is.  It kills me to see someone kill a bird on a TV show and they say this is a blank year old bird.  Unless the bird has been banded, as Honker said, it is ALL speculation.

I majored in wildlife biology and was taught, 3/4'=2 years, 1-1 1/8"= 3 years, 1 1/4 = 4 years+... and there is absolutely no way to age a bird past that based on spurs.  Of course, this can't be applied to birds that live in rocky terrain.