I was hoping to go on my first turkey hunt with my friend. But we were told that Michigan is out of all their turkey licenses. So now what do I do? I was so looking forward to it. My other buddy harvested a nice 29 1/2 pound bird with 10 1/2" beard and 1 3/4" spurs. Is that good? I will probably have to wait til next year now.
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Now I'm no turkey expert, but when I see one 25 pounds, that's a monster. From the birds I know about, this guy would never be able to fly up to roost. In Delaware history, it records William Penn as loving to hunt Penn's Woods (Now Delaware) because it was not uncommon to kill 40 pound turkeys. Those SOB's probably ran all the buffalo and elk off the peninsula.
29 1/2 lbs. is more belivable than 1 3/4" spurs. I have killed a couple of 27's and we kill 25 and 26 lb'ers every season. We usually kill around 20 birds (personal and guided) a year and about half of them are over 24lbs. Has more to do w/ your region and food available than anything I belive. I'm sure genetics plays a major role as well. We hunt one farm in paticular that produces major heavyweights. A 28, 27 1/2, 27, and more 25 and 26's than I can count. The spurs are what is hard to belive. Those are huge. I once mounted a bird w/ spurs that size, but it was the only one I've ever seen. 1 1/2" are what I call BIG spurs. We don't get them that big very often.
last year here in Ohio that tipped the scales at 30lb. I did not believe it until the bird came into the shop. I have never even seen a bird of this size except in the grocery store. It had 1 1/2" spurs.
I reckon we will be seeing your buddy in the NWTF for citations next year cause that is a "heluva" bird if I may. I have taken some nice birds but that is pretty impressive. You definitely need to get him to take you on this property..
The Michigan turkey season ends tomorrow, May 31st anyway, but there will be some permits available per lottery drawing for the Fall season, a little later this year. Check out the MI DNR website for permit dates and deadlines. A 25lbs plus turkey is not uncommon here in Michigan at all. I shot a 27 pounder 2 years ago. He was one big boy. Good luck to you!
Bill
www.nwtf.org
you can look at the record books.