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Turkey question

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
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SW Ohio
Just wondering, is there an accurate way to age a turkey? I figure jakes are 2 years old or there abouts but what indicates a bird that is 5,6, or 7?
 

brock ratcliff

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Jakes are birds hatched the previous spring. I have heard 1/4 " per year on spurs, haven't a clue how accurate that is because I have never killed one at 3/4''... which you would think you would if they grow at 1/4" intervals. Seems like they are 1/2", then about 1'', and then in 1/4'' increments beyond that. Best bird I ever shot had 1 1/2" hooks, he looked old to me, and all the local know it alls said 5.
 

Kaiser878

Senior Member
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ohio
Im not real knowledgeable about turkeys.....

but from what I have seen and been told is as follows. also, spurs tend to be different in diff regions of the country.

a jake is a year old bird
3/4 to 7/8 tends to be 2.
1 to 1 1/8 inch tends to be 3 with tips that are starting to sharpen... then you start getting sharp hooks at 1+ inch after a bird is 4....
there again, this is all roughly speaking
someone who knows more might be able to enlighten you better
 
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aholdren

Senior Member
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South East Ohio
Just wondering, is there an accurate way to age a turkey? I figure jakes are 2 years old or there abouts but what indicates a bird that is 5,6, or 7?

Jakes are last years poults, usually 3/4 to 1" is a 2 yr. old bird and if a bird is 5 or older they'll have 1 1/2" spurs. This is for Easterns some other species have longer spurs.
 

finelyshedded

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Ohoooooooo, thanks for the info guys. When toms have mutiple beards is that an anomaly or another age factor?
 

LonewolfNopack

Junior Member
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The woods
Yep you guys are pretty much right.

General Guideline
1/4 inch and less= Jake
3/4 inch= 2 year old
1 inch= 3 year old
1 1/4 inch= 4 year old
1 1/2 inch= 5 year old

Beard size and length has more to do with health and genetics, but it is fair to say that older birds will have thicker longer beards while 2 year olds many times have thinner beards. I do not believe mutiple beards has anything to do with age though.