Spurs

[Sundance]

thanks

[jackelope]

your speculation is my speculation too.
 

[BrushChimp]

Well, you're probably talking about 2 or 3 different sub-species in your post. All of my 5 or 6 Rios and Merriams taken in Washington have had fat, short spurs. Likely two year olds. I was also wondering why I hadn't seen very many birds with 1.5+ inch spurs.

Anyone have any pics of Washington gobblers with big spurs?

[SpokaneSlayer]

How about these hooks.  1 1/4" killed in Spokane Co.

[NWBREW]

Hey Spokaneslayer is that a Rio or a Miriam? I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

[SpokaneSlayer]

Merriam by county of kill.

[NWBREW]

I know  the rio's inhabit gmu's 133 and 136, that is the reason I asked. I have also noticed the rio's having more pronounced spurs on the older birds. I don't know if that is a reason or not. 

[SpokaneSlayer]

I don't know.  This one was killed in GMU 130.  Might be a hybrid.  I know the spurs were sharp.  One got caught in my cargo pocket.

[turkeydancer]

Here's the link to the NWTF State Chapter turkey records:
http://nwtf.ipower.com/turkey_registration.html

Scroll down ... I think you'll find that the state record spur lengths for the various subspecies is fairly impressive.  I know my 1st bird this year had 1 inch spur .... buddy a couple years back had 1-1/4 spurs and another buddy's 1-1/2".

Age, diet, rocky terrian, genetics, etc. will all play into it.

[fishunt247]

I shot a central WA Merriam that had 1" and 1 1/8" spurs. They weren't sharp though, and likely a 5 year old. My dad shot a Rio in the blues that has 1 1/4" spurs, hooked and sharp. Both pictures are predigital, so I don't have them. And the spurs are at his house, not the same town I live in. But the steep, rocky ground would be me guess too.

[Turkeyman]

 I have killed easterns on west side with big sharp spurs. The rocky terrain is my guess on east side birds.

[yelp]

Some of the longest spurs come from the Oscellated turkey in Guatemala..

[NWBREW]

Dang yelp, that's a fine looking turkey. Those spurs look dangerous

[SpokaneSlayer]

 

[Hangfire]

If I was to make a guess, I would not think that soil composition is responsible for sharp spurs in eastern Washington.  I think it takes longer to develop the sharp pointed spurs. I look at the birds I have shot and the spur length and sharpness seems to respond  to age.  The  shorter spurs do not look worn.  The best spurs I have gotten on a bird were 1 1/4 on one side and 1 5/16 on the other. This was a very old bird as judged by size and beard. They don't seem to me to develop the pointed spurs until 1 inch long, genetics?