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Heaviest Bird

I don't know the history of turkey restoration in TN but wonder if it's possible they stocked from different states with varying strains. Ya'll have huge turkeys compared to my little Hardeman county birds as they're generally not much bigger than 20lbs on digital scales. Most birds I kill don't weight much more the 16-18lbs...big spurred but skinny compared to other areas of the state.
 
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cowhunter71 said:
Judging Gobblers by weight is googan talk.;)
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I saw these at Walmart recently and thought of you. 😆
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My buddy killed one on our lease in Dickson County about 10 years ago that is the overall best bird I've ever seen: 25 pounds on a digital scale; 12 inch beard; full 1.5 inch spurs. I begged him to do a full body mount. He didn't do it and regrets it to this day.
 
My son and I both killed our biggest by weight on opening day of 2018. I don't remember exact, but his was a tad over 23 and mine was high 22. They were killed in two different set ups and the best turkey hunting morning I have ever experienced. Birds were gobbling everywhere. These were hill and hollow wood birds. Most are around 20 lbs plus or minus a pound.
 
I have shot a 23lb turkey that lived in some agricultural land in Missouri. I also shot an 11" beard 1-1/4" spurred gobbler last week of season that weighed 17lb 6oz. He had my longest beard, but was one of my lightest full grown gobblers. He also was missing a4 of his tail feathers. I believe he had a rough spring but it got a lot worse when he ran into me that morning.
 
cowhunter71 said:
Judging Gobblers by weight is googan talk.;)
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I agree, it's a weird stat people take. I've killed some beast birds with daggers that were tiny, and some obese 2 year olds.

it means absolutely nothing, except maybe the size of the pre season corn pile used to help kill him.

If someone starts their kill story with how much the bird weighed, I automatically assume converted deer Hunter not an old school turkey hunter.
 
Boll Weevil said:
I don't know the history of turkey restoration in TN but wonder if it's possible they stocked from different states with varying strains. Ya'll have huge turkeys compared to my little Hardeman county birds as they're generally not much bigger than 20lbs on digital scales. Most birds I kill don't weight much more the 16-18lbs...big spurred but skinny compared to other areas of the state.
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Ive always wondered about this as well. But on the same lands I've shot 24 pounders and tiny 1pounders. Most turkeys I kill weigh 18-20 pounds.

I would believe genetics, feed, and stress would have everything to do with a turkeys body weight.
 
Setterman said:
I agree, it's a weird stat people take. I've killed some beast birds with daggers that were tiny, and some obese 2 year olds.

it means absolutely nothing, except maybe the size of the pre season corn pile used to help kill him.

If someone starts their kill story with how much the bird weighed, I automatically assume converted deer Hunter not an old school turkey hunter.
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I'm a converted deer hunter but have only weighed 2 birds in my life. My first longbeard and the one in East TN. I do like turkey hunting better than deer hunting now so not sure when I'll be considered an old school turkey hunter :p
 

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