turkey scoring system?

[Hangfire]

I have heard there is some kind of scoring system to rate turkeys, using beard length, weight, and spur length. How does it work?

[SpokaneSlayer]

It's on the NWTF website:

www.nwtf.org/all_about_turkeys/how_to_score.html

[turkeydancer]

also visit wanwtf website for forms & info

[Austrian Hunter]

Now, whats an average score if I did it right my bird from last year sscored 59.9375

[SpokaneSlayer]

The WA NWTF site says that a tom that scores over 50 is an outstanding bird.  My last tom would score 62.

[Austrian Hunter]

The WA NWTF site says that a tom that scores over 50 is an outstanding bird.  My last tom would score 62.

That's cool, my bird last year was my biggest out of the six I have killed so far.  62 is really impressive the way the scoring works    I can't wait to get out there!!!!!!!!!!

[KimberRich]

50 doesn't seem "outstanding" to me???     It's definitely a good bird but "outstanding" ??

17.5 lbs

7/8 spurs (.875 x 2 = 1.75 x 10) = 17.5

7.5" beard  (7.5 x 2 ) = 15

Total = 50

Definitely bigger than a jake but from what I've shot and seen killed a lot of 2 year olds would be this size.. 

I'm no trophy hunter and will gladly shoot the first jake that walks in front of me but I would say 60 would be more "outstanding" in my opinion.  I think of the birds I've shot only 1 would break 60. 

[yelp]

I use the 20 rule to explain.for you score junkies... This is a great bird in WA any day.

20lb turkey
10" beard
1" spurs

WEIGHT...1 pts for each lb = 20 pts
BEARD.....10" x 2 = 20 pts
SPURS.....2 (1") spurs= 2" x 10pts = 20pts

20 + 20 + 20 = 60 pts

Spurs are what makes the score..a 1/2" longer on each spur gives you 10 more points.

[Hangfire]

The score is interesting, but the hunt is what it is all about. I have shot one jake at 5 yards, second bird with the flintlock, very enjoyable.

One of the best hunts was also my biggest bird.  It took over 1 1/2 hours for him to come in, circled and came in thick brush behind me, shot at less than 15 yards.  This bird I felt was a 20 lb. bird if I ever shot one, 9.5 inch beard and 1 5/16 spur on one side and 1 4/16 spur on the other.  This would score 63 plus if I used 19 pounds to be conservative. Taken with the flintlock. This bird was so tough it took 36 hours in the crock pot to be able to penetrate the thigh with a fork.  We ground all the rest and made excellent patties, dipped in a little egg, cracker crumbs and fried in a little olive oil.

Last years bird has the longest beard of any so far, 10 inches.  He only weighted 16.5 pounds and had a one inch spur on one side, nothing on the other. Shot 20 minutes into the season opening day using the flintlock.  Called in with a wing bone call I made.  A trophy to me. He would only have scored 46.5

[yelp]

The score is interesting, but the hunt is what it is all about. I have shot one jake at 5 yards, second bird with the flintlock, very enjoyable.

One of the best hunts was also my biggest bird.  It took over 1 1/2 hours for him to come in, circled and came in thick brush behind me, shot at less than 15 yards.  This bird I felt was a 20 lb. bird if I ever shot one, 9.5 inch beard and 1 5/16 spur on one side and 1 4/16 spur on the other.  This would score 63 plus if I used 19 pounds to be conservative. Taken with the flintlock. This bird was so tough it took 36 hours in the crock pot to be able to penetrate the thigh with a fork.  We ground all the rest and made excellent patties, dipped in a little egg, cracker crumbs and fried in a little olive oil.

Last years bird has the longest beard of any so far, 10 inches.  He only weighted 16.5 pounds and had a one inch spur on one side, nothing on the other. Shot 20 minutes into the season opening day using the flintlock.  Called in with a wing bone call I made.  A trophy to me. He would only have scored 46.5

So the moral of the story is 30 pt birds are tastier...LOL