[birdman]

How to Score Your Wild Turkey


Before you begin to score your turkey, be sure to note that all measurements are taken in 1/16-inch increments and converted to decimal form. A current NWTF member or another licensed hunter from the state where the bird was harvested must verify all measurements.

Step 1:
Weigh your bird in pounds and ounces and convert ounces to decimal form.

Step 2:
Measure each spur. Spurs must be measured along the outside center, from the point at which the spur protrudes from the scaled leg skin to the tip of the spur. Add both spur measurements and multiply the combined length of the spurs by 10. This is the number of points you receive for the turkey’s spurs.

Step 3:
Measure the beard length (a beard must be measured from the center point of the protrusion of the skin to the tip) and convert it to decimal form. Click here for conversion chart.

Next, multiply the beard length figure by 2; this is the number of points you receive for the beard length. 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.

Step 4:
Add together the weight, the points for spurs and points for beard(s): This is the score you receive for your turkey.

Conversion Chart
1/8 Measurements1/16 MeasurementsWeight1/8 = .1250 1/16 = .0625 1 OZ. = .06252/8 = .2500 2/16 = .1250 2 OZ. = .12503/8 = .3750 3/16 = .1875 3 OZ. = .18754/8 = .5000 4/16 = .2500 4 OZ. = .25005/8 = .6250 5/16 = .3125 5 OZ. = .31256/8 = .7500 6/16 = .3750 6 OZ. = .37507/8 = .8750 7/16 = .4375 7 OZ. = .4375 8/16 = .5000 8 OZ. = .5000 9/16 = .5625 9 OZ. = .5625 10/16 = .625010 OZ. = .6250 11/16 = .687511 OZ. = .6875 12/16 = .750012 OZ. = .7500 13/16 = .812513 OZ. = .8125 14/16 = .875014 OZ. = .8750 15/16 = .937515 OZ. = .9375

[oucorry]

Very informative, birdman. Very good information since turkey season is right around the corner

[D Winkler]

I can't wait. I told my mother I was bringing home a wild turkey so she could have the oven ready the next time I'm back home. She didn't seem too excited.

[birdman]

Don't make the same mistake my brother made with the first turkey he prepared for his inlaws several Easter's ago. He forgot to dig the gullet (I believe this is what it's called. Sac where food is contained prior to passing through digestive system and gizzard). You have to dig pretty deep in the chest cavity to remove and he missed it. Anyway, he was in the process of carving and cut through this part. He said bugs, seeds, grass, etc.. came spilling out onto the meat. Luckily, nobody witnessed this ordeal and all thought it was the best turkey ever ......

[oucorry]

That would be horrible. I could just see that with my wife's family, she has one cousin that is a vegetarian and an aunt that is an animal lover, that thinks it is terrible that I hunt