Aging turkeys?

[Southern Sportsman]

Does anyone know of research regarding turkey spur and age correlation? I know it varies by region, but conventional wisdom around here holds that 1" and less is called a 2 yr old, from 1" -1 1/8" sharp spurs typically called a 3 yr old, and beyond that everybody just guesses.

My boss has turkey hunted since turkeys first existed in west TN. In the early 90s, he killed a banded turkey (TWRA band)? Looking at the spurs, everybody I know would have called him a 3 year old. When the letter came back with the band info, he learned that the bird was released 9 years earlier as a jake.

Was this bird an anomaly, or are spurs really not an accurate means of aging turkeys?

 

[REN]

Spurs are the only thing and closest to age collection without dissecting it. However spurs are really only an indication for ages .5-3 or 4. If you hunt real rocky areas then that makes it even a tad harder.


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[Boll Weevil]

I've always heard the same as you SS. <1" = 2 yr old. 1" to 1-1/8" = 3 yr old. Anything over an 1-1/8" is pretty much a guess on age.

 

[REN]

I will add that is for sure and anomaly though cause the life span for an average turkey is only 4-5 years and for hens that's even less


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[elknturkey]

No there is no reliable way to age. I go by beard more than anything. No amber tips he's at least 3. There's studies out there with banded birds killed at 7+ years old with spurs 1 1/8". I killed one this morning in Virginia that looks like you took a hacksaw to the spur ends. Every bird we've every killed on that mtn has been that way. It's extremely rocky and steep. Beards rarely hit 10"

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