2026 Turkey harvest pics

[sawatch]

Got mine in the mountains of CO at around 10k. Called in with a wild country pot call, no decoys. Came in strutting and shot with a 20g. Odd bird, 8 1/2 beard, full fan and dominate, but only weighed 13lbs.

 

[Rogue Bay]

Got mine in the mountains of CO at around 10k. Called in with a wild country pot call, no decoys. Came in strutting and shot with a 20g. Odd bird, 8 1/2 beard, full fan and dominate, but only weighed 13lbs.

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Beautiful bird! I shot one like that in Montana years ago. To this day it’s my most mature Merriam’s with sharp 1 1/8” spurs, but was small. I didn’t weigh him but have always said I’d be amazed if he was 16 pounds.

 

[LongWayAround]

A turkey at 10k is pretty sweet. I don't think I have killed one over 8k, maybe 8500...

My mountain bird this year was also tiny. Full fan, no spurs, beard may have made 7". I didn't weigh him but figured 15lb would have been on the heavy side.

 

[hersh2209]

Colorado Merriam at 8500'

 

[Brushcreekbill]

South Dakota Merriams turkey
Flew off the roost with about 6 hens. Watched which way they were headed and snuck in front of them. A couple of yelps from the mouth call and we shook hands at 40 yards. TSS #9s
4th turkey in 3 states this year. No decoys used yet.

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

A friend and I had a trip planned to go up north to the Adirondacks turkey hunting last season, but my wife and I had a baby come earlier than expected, so the trip got pushed back another year. This year however we made it happen! Three days of camping on state forest land and we got to hunt some of the most beautiful turkey land you have ever seen. Rolling hills, grass and chiseled fields, finger ridges, a river running through the property. Like something from a movie. It all came together and ended in a double on Saturday. One just before 6 and one just after 7 sitting in the same setup. We got to hear and see it all, spitting, drumming, gobbling, yelps, cuts, full strut toms, hens, jakes, a tom beat up the decoy, double beard. The full turkey hunting experience. Great times with great friends. A trip I won’t soon forget.

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[Rogue Bay]

I have killed one like that too. Tripped me out. That photo I shared was a private property bird that was at least 5 years old, my wife shot him when she was pregnant. We just have a lot of predators and hiding spots for them. It doesn’t help the gobblers when they play “marco, polo” in the jungle.

I have always just assumed lack of age was why long spurs are so rare around here but I saw something this season that makes me wonder if I’ve been underestimating age.

I was scouting and found a nice long beard and two hens on a ridge. The gobbler was standing on a little finger ridge that dropped off steeply into a small clearing and his two hens were already down in that clearing. He started down a well used elk trail to get to his ladies. I don’t know what I was expecting but he almost crouched as he moved down hill so his legs were almost parallel to the ground and he was undoubtedly digging his spurs into soil. Maybe some of these big gobblers are older than I’ve been thinking and are just wearing their spurs down…

 

[Daylate]

2026 North Mo. 25#..10 inch beard…1 3/8 spurs.. 15 yds.. Jake decoy (which got whooped). Day after we got back from unsuccessful Co. hunt…

 

[Taudisio]

I have always just assumed lack of age was why long spurs are so rare around here but I saw something this season that makes me wonder if I’ve been underestimating age.

I was scouting and found a nice long beard and two hens on a ridge. The gobbler was standing on a little finger ridge that dropped off steeply into a small clearing and his two hens were already down in that clearing. He started down a well used elk trail to get to his ladies. I don’t know what I was expecting but he almost crouched as he moved down hill so his legs were almost parallel to the ground and he was undoubtedly digging his spurs into soil. Maybe some of these big gobblers are older than I’ve been thinking and are just wearing their spurs down…

I have never seen or heard anything like that. That would be interesting behavior for sure.

 

[fatlander]

Spur length is all genetic and has nothing to with age. I listened to a podcast about a banded bird that was banded at least 2 years old (full fan and beard over 7”). He was killed 4 years later and the difference in his spur length was +1/8” from when he was banded. This was in the south, so no chance he was beating them up in rocky terrain.

This new found interest in aging turkeys is some weird carry over from deer hunters. The criteria for shooting a turkey is pretty simple for most die hard hunters, he’s got a full fan or he doesn’t. If you can hang him on a limb or he’s especially heavy, that’s just a cherry on top.


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[fatlander]

This turkey aging reminds me of the deer age thread. It showed some incredible scoring bucks that were only 3 year olds, and plenty of less than stellar bucks in the older age classes.

The biggest deer on my wall is a 3 year old, and I honestly don’t think you’d find anyone in this country, other than someone that just likes being contrarian, to say they wouldn’t have shot that deer. The biggest deer I’ve ever hunted was a 3 year old when someone else killed him. If the guy elects to score him, he’ll be in the top 10 ever scored in this state.


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[Rogue Bay]

Spur length is all genetic and has nothing to with age. I listened to a podcast about a banded bird that was banded at least 2 years old (full fan and beard over 7”). He was killed 4 years later and the difference in his spur length was +1/8” from when he was banded. This was in the south, so no chance he was beating them up in rocky terrain.

This new found interest in aging turkeys is some weird carry over from deer hunters. The criteria for shooting a turkey is pretty simple for most die hard hunters, he’s got a full fan or he doesn’t. If you can hang him on a limb or he’s especially heavy, that’s just a cherry on top.


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That’s very interesting and makes sense. Thanks for sharing this info!

 

[Anvil69]

My first turkey. Took me a couple days to get them figured out. Set out a hen and Jake decoys. Used a slate call just enough to get one looking at the decoys then I shut up. 20 gauge at 28 yards. Im hooked now but luckily my wife loved eating him. Shes ready for next season!

 

[Rogue Bay]

My first turkey. Took me a couple days to get them figured out. Set out a hen and Jake decoys. Used a slate call just enough to get one looking at the decoys then I shut up. 20 gauge at 28 yards. Im hooked now but luckily my wife loved eating him. Shes ready for next season!

Congrats on your first and welcome to the obsession!

 

[IsThisHeaven]

Had just about the perfect morning last Friday. First turkey I’ve shot aim 5 years. Have been working on getting my kids birds the last few years. This particular hunt is why I do it. He strutted in the opposite end of the field I was set up in for about an hour. Watched him breed the 5 hens that were with him, then they scattered. When he was all alone he got interested in my hen decoy and some purrs and clucks. Shot him at 30 yards in my decoys. 22lbs, 1” spurs, 11” beard. Reminded me why I love it.