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How big do turkeys get?

LanceS4803

LanceS4803

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Putting out some mineral blocks for deer today and checking out the farm in prep for turkey season. Saw only minimal droppings.
But, on the way out saw a flock of turkeys, about 3 dozen, moving across a field. What struck me was the size of the lead bird. This guy was HUGE. Almost twice as large as any of the other birds. I wish I had my camera.
I only have 4 turkeys under my belt, with them being between 18 and 22 pounds. I think this guy would have to go 30.
Possible?
 
the biggest recorded is I think 35 or 36 pounds, biggest one I've ever seen in person weighed 25, they just don't get that big without some extra feeding except for a few rare exceptions, your birds weight ranges are the norm
 
Possible yes but 30lbs is HUGE HUGE for TN. Average bird in TN would be in the 18-22lb range with 24-26 being big birds. Also depends if the birds are being taken from places with a bunch of agriculture as that will add some weight. Like deer they tend to lose weight over the mating period so the later you kill one the lighter they will be.
 
First one I ever killed weighed 24 pounds. Killed him on Cheatham WMA the first season it was open to turkey hunting. There is no agriculture anywhere in the area.

Biggest one I ever killed weighed 28 pounds. Killed him in KY. Lots of agriculture near the lease. He looked like a butterball. Most of the gobblers that I have killed weigh between 18 and 21 pounds, some smaller and some larger.
 
Largest recorded by NWTF for a TN Eastern is 30.25 lbs. With that said, I would bet 98% of turkey hunters could care less about putting their turkey in NWTF's record book, thus the NWTF's sample size is probably small for comparison sake. For what it is worth, when people in the south (TN, MS, GA, etc) say they killed a 25lbs plus bird, they better have a picture with it hanging on a scale to convince me, and then I would still be skeptical. I'm not saying it never happens, but 25lbs plus in the south is the exception rather than the rule. If you get a chance this spring, click on the OG and GON forums when they start their kill threads. The majority of posts last year on both sights stated the birds killed were 23-27 lbs, hardly any birds reported in the more common 18-22 lbs range. If this year is anything like last year, it will become glaringly obvious that many overstate their bird's true weight. Largest I have ever killed in TN is 24lbs, weighed on $20 digital fish scales.
 
ive turkey hunting since 87 and have 4 birds out ouf the truckload ive taken being 26lbs so i would have to agree the average is 18-23lbs but you will occasionally get that heavier boss bird.good luck with him and hope you have a pic of him come april
 
Well some years weight is up due to food sources. I killed 2 last year that 1 went just over 24lbs and the other at just over 25lbs. That is not the norm in my spots but last year they just had some weight on them. Both of those were on a scale and pics to go with it. 25.9 lbs is the biggest I have weighed in but most are in the 18-22lb range.

Biggest I have ever killed in bama was 23.2 lbs and he was a hoss for the area
 
This i my biggest bird i didnt weigh him on scales but i would easily say he tipped past 30 lbs....
ms3.jpg


:D on a serious note i killed one that weighed 25 he was an ancient bird
 
Another thing you might consider is the difference between the beginning of the season and the end. Some of my late season birds have been downright skinny from running around and breeding all spring vs. those killed right off the bat that had so much breast fat they'd just about fry in there own grease.
 
Boll Weevil said:
Another thing you might consider is the difference between the beginning of the season and the end.
Click to expand...
Very true. On average, I have killed some of my heaviest turkeys first weekend/week of season and my best spurs last two weeks of the season.
 
I have seen a few hundred dead long beards over the years, across a ton of different states and regions. I have yet to see a single bird which tipped the scales over 24lbs. I see stuff every year regarding these mongloid birds killed around, and personally do not buy it. Sure a freak is always out there, but reality says that birds of 24lbs are rare.

AT the end of the day what separates a big turkey from the others is the length of his spurs. A big turkey has spurs longer then 1.25", and anything north of 1.5" is a monster.
 
the big bird that i killed was on the jouvenile hunt and had 1-1/4 in spurs bu the way
 
Thanks everyone.
Hopefully this group will find its way to my farmland. I would love to put this guy on the scales!

BTW, how was that ostrich? Supposed to be good eating.
 
Setterman said:
I have seen a few hundred dead long beards over the years, across a ton of different states and regions. I have yet to see a single bird which tipped the scales over 24lbs. I see stuff every year regarding these mongloid birds killed around, and personally do not buy it. Sure a freak is always out there, but reality says that birds of 24lbs are rare.

AT the end of the day what separates a big turkey from the others is the length of his spurs. A big turkey has spurs longer then 1.25", and anything north of 1.5" is a monster.
Click to expand...

I would say that for the most part that is so true. The biggest I have personally killed is 24lbs weighed by the Mo Dept of Conservation agents on a digital scale. Yes MO does occasionally get some that will go a legit 25 or maybe even 26lbs, but those are extremely rare. Very few birds will ever see 25lbs even in MO.
 
It seems to me one thing that determines the weight is the acorn crop from the past fall. If there were lots of acorns then birds will be heavier. Also, seems further north you go the heavier the birds tend to be. Have seen alot of heavy birds in northern MO...seems like the birds up there have bigger builds. IMO...
 
the biggest tom i've seen came last year. my dad killed one that weighed 28.4lbs. it did have 1.5" spurs too. i've killed several that tipped the scales just over 25 lbs. all of these turkeys have been killed across the line in ky. these birds have thousands of acres covered in ag land. this helps. :)
 
Lincoln co. has big turkeys. The first year I hunted there, I killed a 28 pound and my buddy killed a 27 pound. In 2003, I killed one on AEDC that weighed 24.5 pounds and there was one brought in that year that was a little heavier. I ain't seen one over 20 pounds since 2003 though.
 
i hunt a farm in Northern Knox County. Two people hunting this farm over the past 3 years has produced 4 birds 24 lbs or over. Weighed on certified postal scales. No bird less than 20 pounds.
Cow farm with surrounding agriculture.
 
Not the best scale, but my first bird from last season moved my weight up 26 lb on my home scale. It measures me accurate every week so its close. He was a lot bigger than the other 3 measured the same way throughout the season. They were all 21-23 lb.
 
I carried one out that weighed 150lbs till I put him on the scale he weighed 23lbs they seem heavy on long walks lol
 

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