Longest turkey beard you've shot?
Contributors to this thread:Turkey
From: huskerbowhunter
02-May-08
Whats the longest beard youve shot or seen..Ive got an 11.5 inch under my belt here in Nebraska..post pics. if you got em
From: Ermine
02-May-08
Here in Colorado, I dont know if it is the terrain or what, but the longest I have ever got was 9 inch.
From: Buffalo
02-May-08
I have one(eastern)just over 11" and a few in the 10-11" mark. The longest Rio I've shot had an 8.5" double beard. Shot this one last weekend. Heavy bird, he's just over 10.5" long and very thick.
From: phutch30
02-May-08
Eastern-10 1/2 from SC merriams- 10 1/4 from MT Rio- 9 3/4 from OR Osceola 11 1/4 from FL
From: Straight —» Arrow
02-May-08
23lb 11" from Missouri (Eastern).
From: HighPockets
02-May-08
A lot of what decides how long a turkeys beard can be is the weather. Ever kill a turkey that had a little Brown at the end of his beard? That's from where his beard ahs frozen in cold weather and gotten brittle. That and the length of his legs that keep the beard from dragging the ground will both decide how long the beard can finally be!
From: NYSupersportsman
02-May-08
I shot one here in NY last season with a 10.5 inch beard. It is the longest i have ever seen around this area. I know people who have shot 30 -40 turkeys in ny and never gotten one that long. but we had a pretty mild winter so I imagine it didnt get broken off like they usually do. Weather is the biggest factor for beards. Especially when we usually get over 100 inches of snow a year.
From: power@wvu
02-May-08
I have killed three birds all out of WV and they have measured 11 3/4, 10 1/2, and this years was the the smallest at 9 1/2. I missed one last year that had a beard the was draggin the ground bad. I was about sick.
From: Thumper
02-May-08
Never really measured one I killed but probably some where around 8", I hammer the jakes pretty hard as they seem to eat better and most often give the shot opportunity.
From: dgee
02-May-08
9 3/4.......3/4 of it is greyish white...the tip is kindof blackish brown....kindof cool
From: Bowfreak
02-May-08
11". I have only killed one bird that had a beard shorter than 10" and that was the lone Rio I have killed. I have killed 30 or so gobblers, and all of them but 1 had at least a 10" beard???? Go figure.
From: writer
02-May-08
Personal best is 12 1/2" from an Ozark eastern.
My son's best - his first when he was 10 - was 12 5/8. Mossy Oak filmed the hunt for "Huntin' the Country" and NWTF used some of the footage.
Still, of the #s we've shot probably only about 5-6 have measured 11 inches and two of those were Osceolas. All of the others were Missouri easterns.
The browinsh/blonde coloration has nothing to do with the weather. Likewise beards you see very short and with the tips of most strands balled up weren't burnt in a fire.
Turkey beards can get fungus or mites...not sure which is which. Since beards have no flesh or blood flow freezing couldn't effect them.
From: LW
02-May-08
Exactly 12", KS eastern.
From: Last Cast
02-May-08
10-1/2" , 1-1/8" spurs - 43 yd shot
From: Yogi33
02-May-08
In Virginia during the fall season we use bird dogs to flush the gang of turkeys and then call them back in. Two years ago during a flush one of my dogs caught a gobbler that had a 13 inch beard. He was very malnurished. I had to go break his neck. You should have seen my friends faces when I came out of the woods with a bird and no gunshot.
From: Genesis
02-May-08
Beard rot is spooky looking and represents poor production of melanin by the pituitary gland.The beard becomes brittle and breaks off at the amelanotic area.
Periods of poor nutrition can percipitate the condition.
From: gahuntnut
02-May-08
12" Georgia eastern, 20# spurs 1 3/8 & 1"(broke)
From: MI Bear
02-May-08
11" beard, 1&3/8" & 1&14" spurs and almost 25# Eastern in Southeast Michigan
From: Kiteman
02-May-08
How 'bout TOTAL length?
I was LUCKY enough to get my first with a bow last week
4 beards! 10", 8-1/2", 7", and 6-3/4" Total 32-1/4"
From: Kiteman
02-May-08
Close up of beards
From: Kiteman
02-May-08
BEST part about the hunt--my son did all the calling.... Three gobblers came in--He SMOKED another one with a shotgun right after my arrow hit! (10" beard)
From: Buffalo
02-May-08
Kiteman,
Wow!!
From: hoosiercat
02-May-08
12 1/2
From: 14pbuck
02-May-08
I was waiting for the pics to show up on Bowsite Kiteman! I'm still in awwwwwww! Cant wait to mount that one for u!
From: HUNT MAN
02-May-08
longest eastern 11 7/8 GA merriam 9 3/4 MT RIO 10 ID. HUNT.
From: Kiteman
02-May-08
Congrats to all!
Buff--thanks!
14p--You know it! I know you'll make it look alive!!
From: NYSupersportsman
02-May-08
Writer, I am not saying ur wrong but I have heard from numerous people and I am pretty sure that I read in T&TH magazine that beards can freeze get ice balls or buildup on them and break off?? I live in an area with a ton of turkeys and everyone around here says thats why the beards are not that long. My buddy shot a bird last year that was at least 5 years old 1.5 inch spurs 26 pounds and it had a 9 inch beard stretched right out... thats just my experience I am definately interested.. Thanks NYSS
From: guidermd
02-May-08
nysuperman, we get alot of the smae thing around this end of maryland........cold hard winters leave an iceball on the beard and they can easily freeze off a portion of thier beard every year. also, most all turkeys with beards over 9" will drag the ground................while walking or feeding. beards can't drag the ground when they are standing upright, only when bending and feeding. i've also had alot of turkey efforts go down the drain when they turn and walk away...............
From: Ermine
03-May-08
Just havested a mature Colorado bird. over 7 inch beard, but part of it was broke off due to beard rot. I have a buddy that has some beards with blonde streaks in them , and also one beard that has 4 different colors to it. Pretty wild.
From: IowaTomKilr
03-May-08
My best is just over 13 inches, however it was on the lightest bird I have ever taken here in Iowa and the only one I have taken over 10.5 inches, only 19 lbs. Every onther turkey has been in the 9.5 to 10.5 range. I have one triple beared turkey to my credit but that too was kind of a light bird for the area and only had 3/4 inch spurs.
From: ToddT
03-May-08
I killed a turkey that had a 28 inch beard, yep, had to carry it across his shoulder to keep from snaggin on the ground -sure wish I had a,,,,, ummm, beard like that of my own.
Seriously I have seen a lot of turkeys - I am a taxidermist, and most of the comments of 12 and 13 inch single beards are,,,, well,,,, stretched. The very best I have personally seen was a turkey that had seven beards - similar to the one pictured here, total was like 35 inches, BUT, the single fat beard was only about 10 inches. The longest single beard I have seen is about 11, generally speaking those who claim otherwise need to learn to read a tape, but I have never seen a 7 foot man either, and according to guiness they exist, so, maybe........
From: HUNT MAN
03-May-08
look in the record books for easterns some over 18 inch. recorded by a offical . they know how to read a tape and so do i make my living reading a tape. HUNT
From: adirondacksonmymind
03-May-08
Anybody want to hear about my lone turkey kill? That bad boy had a 4 inch beard! I'm still proud of him though... hope to break my 5 year drought this week.
From: skinny indian
03-May-08
From: skinny indian
03-May-08
From: Extreme Predator
03-May-08
A bunch off 11.5 inchers. Only 4 with bow. 53 total. Mostly Osceolas
From: ToddT
04-May-08
Cool pic skinny indian. I think that is how a beard longer than 10 inches makes it,,, just a few of the hairs happen to escape damage. Anyone got a pic like the one shown here of the total beard - all hairs - going more than about 11 inches.
From: hewy
04-May-08
My best was 11" killed in wv 5/3/08 11:00 AM
From: INbowdude
04-May-08
5/4/08 11 1/2 inch eastern. I'm not sure if it's my best or not but it's up there.
From: AZBUGLER
04-May-08
10 1/2 Eastern from Kansas, 9 inch Merriams from Arizona.
From: writer
06-May-08
Skinny...will those longest beard hairs pull out if lightly stroked? I've never seen the longest hairs be much more than an inch longer than most of the beard.
I judged a beards and spurs contest and most of the beards of more than 11 inches had damaged hairs hanging long.
From: ToddT
07-May-08
writer I was actually going to mention that, but felt it had no relevance, but I guess maybe it has. I too had a beard brought in by a hunter who claimed the beard was 13 inches, but as I gently tugged on the beard those long hairs were very easily removed. To keep the customer happy, I super-glued them back into place and left the beard alone.
From: SBROWN
07-May-08
I got my first this year. It was a double bearded birf with an 11 inch beard & 8 1/2 inch beard. Had 1 1/4 & 1 1/8 spurs. I think that spoiled me....doubt I will ever top that.
From: SBROWN
07-May-08
From: steve
07-May-08
Just shot one this morning opening day CT 22 lbs 10 in beard and 1.062 spears my biggest yet . STEVE
From: Tom Morang
07-May-08
11.5 in main beard with a 8 inch second beard. Spurs are 1 3/8 and the bird weighed in at 23 lbs. Took him on the first day of the late season hunt(5-5-08) here in Michigan.
From: Prairie Dog
07-May-08
High Pockets I shot this one last Thursday, he had a full fan and weighed 22 lbs. I knew he wasn't a jake but I couldn't figure the short beard or the colored tip.
From: steve
08-May-08
22 lb 10in 1.062 spears bowtech and slick trick .yesterday STEVE
From: Razorhead
08-May-08
11 and 11.5 from SE MN and southern IA.
From: mist-a-hog
08-May-08
22#, 10" beard, really thick beard also. My first bow bird.
From: mist-a-hog
08-May-08
I should add that he left a blood trail a blind man could follow. I must have hit him right through the vitals. I never knew turkeys would bleed like that.
From: Sub-Zero
08-May-08
12 and 1/2 beard 1 and 1/4 spurs is my best to date.
From: COkid
08-May-08
Have never gotten a turkey, but to answer Ermine's question about not having seen a turkey really over 9 inches. It is because their beards drag in the snow and get wet. Then that night the moisture freezes and when they fly down and begin walking around and eating, it breaks off at somewhere from 8-9 inches. -Ty
From: writer
08-May-08
Ty...then how come big easterns from northern states like MN and WI often have beards of 10-11 inches?
Dang sure gets cold and wet up there, too.
From: elknuts2
08-May-08
I've been hunting Rio Grandes for almost 30 years and over that time the two longest bearded birds I've shot were 11 1/8" and 11 1/4". Most of the long beards we take have beards ranging from 9" up to about 10 1/2" and while we've taken a number of birds with beards over 10 1/2", they usually aren't much longer.
I don't know if that's a local thing or not, but this is from a pool of probably 60+/- long bearded toms. Only about 4-6 of them have been 11" or longer.
From: fuzzy
09-May-08
about 10"
From: AZBUGLER
11-May-08
I believe it has alot to do with the ground cover in the habitat. If there is alot of rocky terrain, the beards are more likely to get rubbed down and or broken off in the winter. In most of our habitat in Arizona, you can't step somewhere that doesn't have a rock. I have never seen or heard of a beard much over 10 inches here, although I am sure it is possible.
From: elmer
11-May-08
What's the longest turkey beard I've ever shot???
Well, I've never shot a turkey beard!! :0)
From: mkmgbble
11-May-08
called in a 11 1/2 incher the last day of pa (99) my friend shot it. his first. and only so far
From: writer
11-May-08
My best bird ( 12 1/2) came from a rocky part of the Ozarks, after a mother of a winter with tons of cold and deep, deep snow. 11" beards aren't uncommon in that camp.
It must do some with genetics, too. We've had average beard length drop about 1 1/2" or more in several areas after the easterns became hybridized with rios and crosses.
Same property, same rocks, same average winters...
From: Quarters
11-May-08
Just took the new Cal. Bow record. He had a 13-1/16 beard and 1-7/16 spurs. Old bird. I think his beard was so long because he had a broken leg and it looked like it was hard for him to bend over to eat.
From: rosharb
01-May-09
My nephew has one with 12.5 inch beard. Taken in Michigan
From: Elkhunter - Home
01-May-09
11.5 in Alabama
From: AdamX3
01-May-09
12 inches on the dot here he is mounted
From: AdamX3
01-May-09
here he is dead. Notice how big the bird is compared to me. Thats because he weighed 32 pounds...Thats right 32 pounds, and the scale wasnt broke. We weighed him on 4 different scales.One scale said he weighed 34. I have killed a few 24 pounders and thought that those were gonna be hard to beat until this biggun came along.
From: Preacher Man
01-May-09
25#, 11 inch beard, 1 inch spurs. Eastern turkey taken in Texas.
From: longboman
01-May-09
Two easterns taken in east texas...both 11" beards. Also shot a Rio near Bowie Tx with a 10" beard...watched him mate a hen on a dirt road and when she shook her body and walked into the brush beside the road I let him have it. Must have been nice... get'en off before you were shot off.
From: Hollywood
01-May-09
I boom-sticked a 21 lber years ago that had a single strand squeek 11", but was 10 1/2 inches for all intensive purposes.
From: Sixby
01-May-09
12 1/2 and 12 1/4 by my son. Several in the 11 plus range.
From: Cheque
02-May-09
From: blazelefty7
04-May-09
Adam...awesome bird, but the mount doesn't look very good. Hopefully its just a bad photo.
From: 'Ike'
04-May-09
10.5" CA Rio....
From: JayG
04-May-09
Got one at 11 1/2" but that was with a gun, so it doesn't count. My bird from yesterday was 10 1/2" but not too thick. Still, a nice bird with a bow.
Good luck out there, Jay
From: Ward
05-May-09
Turkey beards will grow 20 inches or better if the turkeys didnt step on them and pull them out...thats why they get to around 11 inches max give or take...they step on them and pull them out,a longer legged turkey will have the longest beard...I have killed alot of turkeys and Ive took alot of old birds with around 11 inch beards...Ive heard about 12 or better but never seen one,not to say they didnt...I see above Skinny Indian has a picture of a 13 inch beard...you can see there are very few strains that got that long..those could even be detached...Happy Huntin!
From: BullCrazy
05-May-09
10 1/2" Rio from Utah.
From: Will
06-May-09
9.5" on an Eastern... 23.5 lb :)
From: bb
06-May-09
I don't tell too many people this because no one beleives me but 155 is my best yet.
From: Mathew
02-Sep-09
here in Indiana my longest one was right at 11" most of mine are 9-10"
From: RLong
02-Sep-09
10 1/4" Eastern w/1 1/8" spurs last season. My first bird was 22lb and had a real heavy 7 1/2" beard that was broomed off at about a 45deg angle. Who knows how long it would have been?
From: arctichill
03-Sep-09
I don't remember the length on this one, but it has to be right around 11". Where I hunt these Merriams birds, the terrain is so rough and rocky that once they hit maturity, the beard is kept "groomed" at about 11". Same thing with the spurs (not 11 inches though). The spurs get a lot bigger, but not long, sharp and pointy like some in other areas do.
