Wife's First Turkey--Oldest Turkey Ever?

[turkeyfeathers]

One thing I do know is it won't get any older. 3+ yr old but outside that like other's have said almost impossible to tell.  Did you cut off the feet and count the rings?  True trophy for her regardless.  Memories forever.  Congrats to you both. Hoping to get a bird under gun for my daughter tomorrow for her first. Youth hunt this weekend.

PS Nice job on the rock on her finger  That could have bought a many a Benelli Super Black Eagles

[gatrapper]

I have mentioned that to her before....not a good move on my part. Haha

[Gooserbat]

Old enough he needs killed.  Congrats.

[Ozarks Hillbilly]

Old enough for her to pull the trigger and as old as he'll ever be. Congrats to Her.

[birddogdoc]

Dandy!  Nice work

[mikejd]

Great bird. Congrats.

[chcltlabz]

Having shot banded turkeys before and seeing a few, I'd bet he's a good bit older than 4.  The banded eastern I killed had pretty normal 1 1/4 spurs and was 5 years old.  He didn't have the chunky bases to the spurs that this one does.

[kyturkeyhunter4]

Congratulations! 

[CDNduckslayer]

Congrats to your wife on a stud of a bird!!!!!

[TRG3]

Congratulations! I didn't realize that Tammy Faye made camo make-up.

[guesswho]

4+   No telling really.

[Marc]

How'd ya get the little lady to wear poo face makeup?     Facemasks work pretty good...

Congrats to her on a nice, but not the oldest ever, bird.

Probably a mud mask...  I wear one every night to try to keep my youthful good lucks (apparently it is beginning to fail)...  Just keep it on when I go turkey hunting...

OP: very nice bird...  Pictures make it look like it might have a bit of "red phase" to it....  No idea how old it is...  Old enough to have a long beard and spurs, without having them broken off...  I would guess 3-4 years as everyone else has...

[Ontario_caller]

Biologists age dead birds with a bone in the ear canal , I believe it's called an otalice . It grows rings like a tree that can be counted when cut and put under a microscope. The DNR in your area may be interested in sampling it if your really interested.

[Gold Spur]

Congrats, what a awesome bird... 

[Cottonmouth]

The more I look at it, the more I think he's over 5. Look at those old split toenails and the spurs look ancient. I bet a Goodyear tire will eat more tender than that bird.