naturebob Report post Posted October 18, 2014 Iv'e killed many toms and 1 jake, in the last 20+ years. My ? is if a Jake has a 3-4 inch beard in the spring how long will it be in the fall. I havn't hunted fall birds in many years, all my kills are spring hunts. Here in Dakota this spring there was a ton of jakes. Thinking about going out cause here You can do alot a spot and stock with all the little rolling grassland hills.. I allways thought fall was tough in AZ. in the pines. I never found birds in the fall where I would find em in the spring. Here they stay where they got trees to roost in cause there aint many..Any Turkey experts out there? Or I should say Biologist?????.................BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted October 18, 2014 No expert, but been told they grow 3"-5" per year, and when they hit 10"-11" they wear on the ground so they generally don't get much longer than that. Generally just have a nub the first year, can live up to 13+ years. Please correct me if I'm wrong, my disclaimer 😊 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted October 18, 2014 Funny how some Jakes have just the 2" stubb and others like the one I got has a 5" beard. I know He's a jake cause nubs for spurs and the jake tail feathers.............Most of the birds Iv'e killed had 8-9" beards. Never got one of those real thick paint brush beards. Seen some in the neighborhood tho................BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues assassin Report post Posted October 18, 2014 What would you guys consider to be a "trophy" beard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted October 18, 2014 Triple bearded turkey, 10"+ goulds turkey would be a dream turkey with 1" Spurs,,, high hopes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted October 18, 2014 In ND at least, the jakes you see in spring are poults from the previous spring. In the fall there tail feathers will be filled in and they'll have longer beards. If there were a lot of jakes last spring there'll be lots if young toms this fall and next spring if they make the winter. They rarely get over 8-9 inch beards here due to snow freezing them off. You can tell a 2 y/o Tom as he'll have little round bump spurs. If there sharp and hooked they're a 3 y/o or older. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seldom Drawn Report post Posted October 19, 2014 12 inch beard in my opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted October 19, 2014 There is one double bearded Tom in Our trailer park. Only one Iv'e ever seen. and like I said there is a paint brush or 2 that are hittin the ground. Its tough for them to be to long cause -30 below 0 and ice . It eats em up just like it does to Me.I think most bird here would not make it thru the winter if not living of a ranch or people feeding them in town. Just to Frickin cold. They would freeze on the roost..Any those are trophies to me................BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
