In a perfect world a big tom would have a long beard, and razor sharp long spurs. Since this is the real world we can't have everything, that being said which do you guys look for in a bird long spurs or beard?

Personaly I just look for a great hunt on a mature bird. I like a thick healthy beard. Then again a good hooking pair of spurs is pretty sweet. Cant always get both so as long as its a mature bird I'm happy.

Can't argue with that

I measure them if at all by the hunt. I don't judge them on the hoof beyond mature gobbler. Long spurs are nice, quite nice. They're all trophies.

What has already been said.


Earl

Ditto!

I'll go ahead and answer. All things equal (quality of hunt, etc.) I would like a beard so long he trips over it, maybe three of them, over spurs.

I second all the comments made. A good hunt is best and the rest is gravy. I do love those big hooks but a turkey with a unique characteristic is very cool too. Like multiple beards!

Ditto with what Bird Dog said... long beards and sharp spurs are nice, but, other than seeing the beard length most of the time we really don't know what we've got until he's on the ground. It's all about the hunt... I've all but quit measuring them unless people ask or they look exceptional one way or the other.

Guess if I were to choose one of the two, would be a big ol paintbursh beard. But...... may sound weird, when I look back over my spring season, I measure it's success more by how many turkeys I was able to work. To get in their head,fire em up, to make em do carzy things,that's my thrill, to simply pull of the trigger,a very small part of my hunt.

Here's a quote I love:

"I hate to kill em sometimes but they taste too good not to kill."

It's hard to spot the spurs when there out in front strutting around but you surely can spot that paint brush hanging off his chest. I love it all the whole experience of the thrill of the hunt.

I guess more of what I meant was would you be more excited for longer spurs or beard not really trying to judge them before you shoot the bird, after all the feathers settle.

We've been really blessed over the years to take alot of birds. Some had beards over 12 inches, some had spurs over an inch and a half, multiple beards, and a few over 25 pounds. All of these were trophies and made for decent conversation, but for myself and my group its the hunt that is the real trophy, whether it be a hunter or child taking their first longbeard, or that Tom you've been hunting for years finally coming in, and even the one that got away and keeps us guessing . These stories are what keep us waking up every morning at 4 am year after year with the same excitement as our first time. Best of luck to everybody this season and be safe.

I will say this, just for my 2 cents....

I always thoughtthat for me it would bethe beard.... however, todays hunt... I don't think I ever saw the beard or spurs... when all I saw was the fullest fan of a turkey I have ever seen!! And seriously the most white red head I have ever seen!!! Sooo..while I love a long beard and spurs.... that fan is amazing to me!!!! Matter of fact..my bird looked sooo stinkin big, the 11.25 beard looked actually small! Lol!!