While most turkey hunters don’t really ever measure their bird, here’s how to score a turkey.
Now that you’ve taken down this magnificent gobbler, it’s time to show off its true beauty, fellow hunter! So how do you score your turkey and evaluate it against other trophies? Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re going to delve deeply into the world of turkey scoring and reveal the methods for gauging the grandeur of your bird.
The Three Pillars of Turkey Scoring: Weight, Beard, and Spurs
Like a three-legged stool, a turkey’s score rests on three crucial pillars: weight, beard length, and spur length. Each element plays a vital role in determining the overall trophy value of your bird.
Weight: The Foundation of the Score
The foundation of your turkey’s score is its weight. This is in pounds and ounces, and for accurate scoring, each ounce is carefully converted into a decimal. Naturally, a large gobbler will score higher due to its size and maturity.
Beard: The Whiskered Wonder
The beard, those captivating whiskers adorning the turkey’s chest, adds a unique dimension to the score. Measured from the skin to the tip of the longest whisker, the beard length is doubled to account for its impressive presence. If your gobbler sports multiple beards, rejoice! Each beard’s length is added together and doubled, amplifying your bird’s score.
Spurs: The Sharp Symbols of Experience
The turkey’s age and experience are evident from its spurs, which are bony protrusions on its legs that are sharp. The total spur length is multiplied by ten when measured from the base to the tip on both legs, highlighting the importance of these tried-and-true weapons.
The Scoring Formula: Unlocking Your Gobbler’s Trophy Potential
Now, let’s unveil the magic formula that transforms your turkey’s measurements into a score:
Beard length in inches times two plus the spur length in inches times ten equals the total score.
For instance, a gobbler weighing 20.125 pounds, sporting a 10-inch beard, and boasting 1-inch spurs would score an impressive 40.25 points.
National Wild Turkey Federation: The Keeper of Turkey Records
The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) stands as the guardian of turkey records, offering a platform for hunters to compare their trophies with others across the nation. Their comprehensive database allows you to search for record weights, beard lengths, and spur lengths, categorized by typical and atypical birds, as well as those with multiple spurs.
Submitting Your Gobbler to the NWTF Records: A Journey of Recognition
To etch your gobbler’s name in the annals of turkey history, you can submit its measurements to the NWTF Records. A current NWTF member or a licensed hunter from the state of harvest must verify all measurements, ensuring the integrity of the record.
Beyond the Numbers: The True Essence of a Trophy
While the score provides a quantifiable measure of your turkey’s magnificence, remember that the true essence of a trophy lies beyond the numbers. The thrill of the hunt, the bond with nature, and the memories forged in the pursuit of this magnificent bird are the treasures that truly enrich your experience.
Additional Resources: Expanding Your Turkey Scoring Knowledge
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR): The DWR provides valuable information on turkey scoring, including guidelines and a link to the NWTF Records website.
Got Hunts: This website offers a concise guide on how to score a turkey, outlining the steps and providing examples for easy understanding.
Scoring your turkey is an exciting way to appreciate its trophy value and compare it to other gobblers. Embrace the spirit of this tradition, but remember that the true essence of a successful hunt lies in the memories and the connection with nature. So, grab your measuring tape, delve into the world of turkey scoring, and celebrate the magnificence of your gobbler!
How to Score a Turkey
- Weigh your turkey on a good scale. After the precise weight has been established, convert the ounces to decimals. It’s been a while since I had to do this, so I felt the need to review my foundational math skills.
- Beard measurements are taken to the nearest sixteenth of an inch. Measure the turkey from the skin to the tip of its whiskers, then multiply the length by two to determine its score. For example, if the turkey had a ten-inch beard, the score would be 10 x 2 = 20. If your turkey has more than one beard, measure each one by adding up the lengths and dividing the total by two.
- From the base to the tip, measure the spurs on each leg. After obtaining those two measurements, multiply the total by ten. For example, if one spur is 1 ″ and the other is 1 ¼”, the spur score is 2. 25 x 10 = 22. 5″.
- Add the three measurements together for the final score.
How to Score a Turkey Based Off the NWTF Scoring System
FAQ
What is a good score for a wild turkey?
How do you judge turkeys?
How do you measure a turkey’s beard?
If you have an atypical bird (multiple beards), measure each beard, convert them to a decimal number, then add those figures together and multiply by two. This is the number of points you receive for your turkey’s beards. Add together the weight, the points for spurs and points for beard (s): This is the score you receive for your turkey.
How do I find out if a Turkey has been harvested?
Easily search the database by using the search function at the top of the page, or simply zoom in and out on the map. Then click on the turkey push pin to bring up an information window that displays the total number of birds harvested in that county and the average and top score, weight, beard and spur length of the birds recorded in that county.
Can you hang a wild turkey by his spurs?
Wild turkey hunters are sometimes told if you can hang a wild turkey by his spurs, you know you’ve done something. Of course how long the spurs need to be depends on the size of the branch. The longest turkey spurs on record are 2.5625 inches, and they belonged to an Eastern harvested in North Carolina by Willard Dills in 2017.
How many wild turkey records are there?
The NWTF’s Wild Turkey Records Program began in the fall of 1982 and has amassed more than 27,000 registered birds. Click the above image to view the interactive turkey records map. View our interactive map to search our wild turkey records and discover where to find the largest birds in the country.