Man some of you bama boys must be awesome. Never seen a forum with so many members that could age birds on the foot. Lol just kidding. Ok now the sarcasm is out of the way heres a tip for some guys that may accidentally click on this thread. YOU CAN NOT TELL IF A BIRD IS 3 YEARS OLD OR 9 YEARS OLD EVEN WITH HIM IN YOUR HAND. Past 3 it's a crap shoot. There's been banded birds killed with 1 1/8" spurs that were over 8 years old. Genetics, subspecies, terrain, ect all play a role. Yes that limbhanger you killed with 1.5" hooks is most likely 4 or 5 or older but there's no definite way to age a bird. Don't get me started on weights . Now put your torches and pitch forks down. I'm bored and going nuts with this beautiful weather so I'm going to listen in the morning to soothe the soul. Hope everyone has a great season

Your not telling us anything we don't already know

As far as I can tell there is only one person on this forum who claims they only shoot trophy boar Tom's

If you can't tell if it's past 3, how come you say those with 1.5 hooks are 4 or 5? I generally agree with your premise. Here in AL, we don't have too much variability in things that wear spurs, rocky mountains, gravelly soil, etc., nor do we have to worry about subspecies or variations in genetics. I would like to see the reference for the 1 1/8" 8 year old though? Based on my information, less than 1/2" jake, 1/2-1" 2 yr old, 1-1.25" 3 year old and more than 1.25" 4 and older. I don't know anyone who, legitimately, looks at spurs before they shoot, therefore those saying they don't shoot 2 year olds are full of something!

I call BS on the whole thing. For me it all about the excitement of the moment. I never count points on a big buck. If he makes my heart start pounding he dies the first chance I get. Same thing goes for a turkey. I never even think to look at spurs
Before I shoot.

Oh come on I just joined this forum and already seen a few guys post about it lol

I said LIKELY 4 or 5 or older. I will dig up some of the studies and post. I also personally know a couple of guys that have killed banded birds. One was last year. 6 year old with 1 3/8" spurs. Genetics is one thing you do have to take into account. Not all birds will grow draggers even if they live to a ripe old age. No different than the spurless birds being killed.

Any anybody you have seen post about has been ridiculed and laughed at.

They act like a man, 5hen they die like a man

You really should get out of the LA, piney, flatland more often.

And I thought Whild bill was full of it.

Nope. You have seen one guy post about it, and a bunch of others making fun of him for posting it.

On my farm, the spurs don't get sharp, like they do at my club. My farm is a rocky mountainous place. I grow rocks,turkeys and deer. I always figured they were dull, because of the rocky enviroment.

If it were not for 2yr olds I would have quit hunting them years ago.

I shoot 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 yr olds. I only pass up jakes and gobblers that are 8 and older

Its rare for me to be able to see a spur before I shoot anymore, even if I wanted to try too. Eyes aren't that good at 51 and I almost am never in a field where I hunt now. When we hunted around fields some as a teenager and early 20's, you could sometimes get an idea of spurs/age before you shot. Sunshine, good eyes, binoculars, a long time to look at them and plowed fields would sometimes give you a look at the spurs. Not that it changed the outcome. Gobblers get shot messing with fake hens.

I only shoot jakes and spikes

I don't give a damn how old he is. If he gobbles and has a full fan, he's getting a face full of Nitros!!

Same thing up here, the South and West slopes are cedars and limestone below about 1,100 ft, with sandstone bluffs at the top. The river bottom and farm birds will have longer, sharper spurs. T he real ridge runners will be shorter and blunt and usually colored differently.

OP, please post less!