PRATT – Big game and turkey hunters love to compare the animals they take. Most trophy-class animals are older and more difficult to hunt, presenting a unique challenge many hunters enjoy. Deer hunters, for example, use well-known scoring formulas to compare antlers based on size and symmetry. Hunters of turkeys are no different. If they catch a truly impressive bird, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) may give them a Trophy Turkey Award.
In the early 1980s, the National Wild Turkey Federation put out a scoring system that is still used for the KDWPT awards program. A score sheet and certificate application can be downloaded at www. ksoutdoors. com. Hunters score their own birds by following this formula and measuring to the eighth of an inch: First, weigh your bird on accurate scales in front of other people. Next, measure the beard (or beards) from the point it protrudes from the skin to the longest bristle. Then, measure each spur from the point where it protrudes from the scaled leg skin. Now you have the necessary measurements and are ready to calculate the score.
How long is the beard? (Or add up all the beard lengths if there are more than one)‹ Then add the length of the spurs together and multiply the sum by 10. Add the weight to these two figures for a total score. A bird that weighed 21 pounds, had a 10-inch beard, and spurs that were each 1 1/4 inches long would get a score of 66. (21 + 20 [10 x 2] + 25 [1 ¼ + 1 ¼ x 10] = 66).
The minimum score for a Trophy Turkey Award is 65. KDWPT keeps Top 20 lists in two categories: typical and nontypical. Birds with multiple beards would fall under the nontypical category. The biggest typical bird ever recorded was 88 4/8 inches long and was caught in 2007 in Franklin County by Bobby Robinson of Eupora, Miss. There were 17 ¼ inches of beard and 1 3/8 inches of spurs on that bird. It weighed 26 4/8 pounds. The largest nontypical ever awarded was taken in 2008 by Rick Pritchard of Little Rock, Ark. The bird Pritchard’s was also caught in Franklin County. It weighed 27 pounds and had spurs that were 1 1/8 inches long each. However, the bird sported eight beards that measured 54 5/8 inches in total. The official score was 158 6/8.
There’s still time to go on a fun spring turkey hunt because the season lasts until the end of May. If you’re lucky enough too take a big ole gobbler, weigh it and take some measurements. You might qualify for a Trophy Turkey Award.
Turkey hunting is a cherished tradition for many outdoorsmen and women across North America. Each spring, hunters eagerly await opening day with hopes of bagging a mature tom. And while simply harvesting a bearded bird is reward enough for most turkey hunters, many also enjoy comparing their trophies and competing for bragging rights over who shot the biggest gobbler.
This has led to the creation of formal scoring systems that allow hunters to objectively measure the quality of a harvested turkey based on its physical features But what exactly constitutes a trophy tom in the scoring world? Let’s take a closer look at how wild turkeys are scored and what kind of scores are considered exceptional
How Wild Turkeys Are Officially Scored
The most prominent wild turkey scoring system is maintained by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) They provide an official process for measuring and recording harvested birds in their Wild Turkey Records program.
The NWTF scoring system takes into account three characteristics
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Weight – The entire body weight of the turkey in pounds and ounces.
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Beard Length – The length of the longest beard in inches, measured from the center of the chest base to the tip. Multiple beards are added together.
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Spur Length – The length of each spur in inches, measured along the outside curve. Spur lengths are added together.
To calculate the final score:
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Convert weight to decimal pounds and ounces.
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Add both spur lengths together and multiply by 10 to get spur points.
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Add all beard lengths together and multiply by 2 to get beard points.
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Add the weight, spur points, and beard points.
The resulting number is the final NWTF score. There are separate categories for typical and non-typical turkeys.
What Scores Are Considered Trophy Toms?
So what kind of scores indicate an above-average or trophy-class tom? According to the NWTF records, all birds scoring over 60 points are considered trophies. Here are some benchmarks for outstanding scores:
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60-69 – This is considered a good score and better than average. Many state records fall in this range.
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70-79 – A score in this range typically represents a top 5% bird in most states.
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80-89 – Any turkey scoring over 80 points is exceptional. These are often state record contenders.
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90+ – A score of 90 or above is extremely rare and likely among the best ever harvested in that state. Many state records are below 90.
Just like with deer, however, scores vary significantly across the turkey’s range. An 80-point Texas Rio Grande may not raise eyebrows, while an 80-point Eastern would be world class. Regardless of subspecies and region, any turkey over 90 points is an outstanding trophy.
To put this in perspective, the current overall #1 typical Eastern gobbler in the NWTF records scored 93.75 points. It weighed 23 lbs, had a 10.25″ beard, and 1.5″ spurs. A gobbler of this caliber would be considered a once-in-a-lifetime trophy for most turkey hunters.
Estimating Scores Based on Characteristics
It’s not always possible to get an official measurement, but you can still estimate the general scoring range of a bird based on its features:
- Body Weight – 20+ lbs
- Beard Length – 10″+
- Spur Length – 1.5″+
A tom with all three is likely to score near or above 80 points. You can get a rough estimate by assuming:
- 20 lb weight = 20 points
- 10″ beard = 20 points
- 1.5″ spurs = 30 points
That would give an estimated score around 70. Actual calculations may adjust up or down slightly.
Reviewing state record books can also give you a general idea of benchmark sizes for exceptional birds in your region. For any turkey over 20 lbs, a 10″ beard, or 1.5″ spurs, it’s worth getting an official scored entered into the NWTF records.
Factors Affecting Scores
Several factors impact the scoring potential of turkeys:
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Age – Older toms tend to have longer beards, larger spurs, and more overall mass. Most trophy birds are at least 4 years old.
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Subspecies – Larger varieties like Eastern tend to score higher than smaller Rio Grandes. But any can produce outstanding specimens.
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Condition – Well-nourished toms in prime habitat will score better than young birds or those in marginal areas.
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Scoring Category – Non-typical turkeys with multiple beards and spurs have an advantage over typicals.
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Hunter Access – Areas with limited hunting pressure allow more toms to reach full maturity and potential.
In the end, the thrill and challenge of turkey hunting is more about the experience than the score. But for those lucky hunters who do bag a true trophy tom, official scoring provides lasting recognition of their outstanding accomplishment.
Frequency of Entities:
NWTF – 5
Beard – 13
Spur – 11
Weight – 7
Trophy – 7
Score – 20
Hunter – 5
Turkey – 16
Scoring Your Turkey (NWTF)
FAQ
What score is a trophy turkey?
What is considered a big gobbler?
What is considered a good turkey?
What are considered big spurs on a turkey?
How do you score a turkey beard?
The turkey should have two spurs so measure each in 1/16 increments and add together then multiply by 10. This will give you the number of point to use in scoring the spurs on your turkey. Now measure the beard length and again and convert it to decimal form and multiply by two to get the score for the beard.
Is there a scoring system for the wild turkey?
Heck, some folks don’t even know there is a scoring system for the wild turkey. But there is. And thanks to a handy chart from our friends at the NWTF, we’ll share exactly how to score your turkey. The info below can be found at www.nwtf.org, as well as tons of other great info on hunting the wild turkey, conservation, NWTF events, and resources.
Where are the largest wild turkeys on record?
The county that’s currently in the No. 1 spot for harvesting the largest wild turkeys on record is Lyon County, Kentucky. This achievement was made by hunter David Cody Guess with a 37.61 pound bird.
Which states harvest the most turkeys?
You can also tally your score by using the Scoring Calculator. If you search the Top 20 Counties with the most record birds harvested, you’ll see Florida and Nebraska lead the way. * Data as of 2019 records. Box calls are a great options for beginner turkey callers.
How many Slams are there in turkey hunting?
Find highest scoring birds, see your own records and more in our searchable database of more than 27,000 records. A slam is considered one of the biggest feats in turkey hunting. The NWTF currently recognizes six different slams.
Where can I find wild turkey Records?
The NWTF’s Wild Turkey Records Program began in the fall of 1982 and has amassed more than 34,000 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.