Well Scott b’s pics of the turkeys just reminded me of a pic I got of turkey this fall. This is by far the longest beard I’ve seen on a turkey. I’ll be after this spring and yep I’m giving my turkeys NAMES this year too.
Now thats a long beard 
Is the bast ard tom on the 
list 
Look at the rope on that thing!
Wow that is the longest beard I have ever seen! There is one in the group thats hanging around here that is close to that but not quite THAT long!!
I have my eye on the one here also, he is an old bird usually bringing up the rear in the group and he walks with a limp. I am calling him “Gimpy”!
As someone who never turkey hunted before this fall, I am kind of getting into it now! 
Great bird!!!
Fall is usually when you see beards of that length/thickness. After a winter full of crusty snow/ice damage, he’ll be lucky to have a few strands left. Some farm area birds can get the food/crops they need without venturing into the deeper snow, but most with beards like that don’t keep them.
That said, even if it’s only a single strand, it counts!
I’m estimating that beard at around 14″es, which would put him #2 typical in MN in terms of beard length. Number one is a tad over 16.5″es.
Joel
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Great bird!!!
Fall is usually when you see beards of that length/thickness. After a winter full of crusty snow/ice damage, he’ll be lucky to have a few strands left. Some farm area birds can get the food/crops they need without venturing into the deeper snow, but most with beards like that don’t keep them.
That said, even if it’s only a single strand, it counts!
I’m estimating that beard at around 14″es, which would put him #2 typical in MN in terms of beard length. Number one is a tad over 16.5″es.
Joel
So what you’re saying Joel is to let him go for another season? 
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I’m estimating that beard at around 14″es, which would put him #2 typical in MN in terms of beard length. Number one is a tad over 16.5″es.
Joel
It doesn’t look 14″, but if it is I’ve got something else I need to go re-measure…. 
Give or take a bit, that’s a comfortable estimate. Of course, it’s tough to prove unless we’re lucky enough to see an up-close pic of him this spring. 
The key to field judging beard-length on a live turkey or on a photo of a turkey, is to assess which position the turkey is standing in. Your avg. 2-3 year old bird with a beard up to 10″ hangs at or just below the bottom of the breast when the bird is standing in the upright position as this one is.
Most people that claim to see birds with a “beard that drags on the ground” only see the bird moving with head forward/down. Many toms have beards that drag in this position. Beard length is difficult to assess while the bird is in the strutting position, which is also when most people see birds being still enough to determine beard size.
Hopefully he shoots it, but no matter what, it’s a quality bird!
Joel
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Give or take a bit, that’s a comfortable estimate. Of course, it’s tough to prove unless we’re lucky enough to see an up-close pic of him this spring.
The key to field judging beard-length on a live turkey or on a photo of a turkey, is to assess which position the turkey is standing in. Your avg. 2-3 year old bird with a beard up to 10″ hangs at or just below the bottom of the breast when the bird is standing in the upright position as this one is.
Most people that claim to see birds with a “beard that drags on the ground” only see the bird moving with head forward/down. Many toms have beards that drag in this position. Beard length is difficult to assess while the bird is in the strutting position, which is also when most people see birds being still enough to determine beard size.
Hopefully he shoots it, but no matter what, it’s a quality bird!
Joel
Actually wasn’t questioning your field judging capability, you are much better at it than I am for sure. I was making a comparison between measurement and perception saying I need to go re-measure my…oh never mind. 
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Look at the rope on that thing!
Thats not a rope, its the reins so you ride that big SOB around like a donkey.
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Give or take a bit, that’s a comfortable estimate. Of course, it’s tough to prove unless we’re lucky enough to see an up-close pic of him this spring.
The key to field judging beard-length on a live turkey or on a photo of a turkey, is to assess which position the turkey is standing in. Your avg. 2-3 year old bird with a beard up to 10″ hangs at or just below the bottom of the breast when the bird is standing in the upright position as this one is.
Most people that claim to see birds with a “beard that drags on the ground” only see the bird moving with head forward/down. Many toms have beards that drag in this position. Beard length is difficult to assess while the bird is in the strutting position, which is also when most people see birds being still enough to determine beard size.
Hopefully he shoots it, but no matter what, it’s a quality bird!
Joel
Actually wasn’t questioning your field judging capability, you are much better at it than I am for sure. I was making a comparison between measurement and perception saying I need to go re-measure my…oh never mind.
I know it, I was simply trying to help a guy out seeing as how you were being glass-half-full!
Joel
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