Spurs are similar to peoples feet some wear a size 9 the next guy wears a 12....
I believe only real way to tell a turkey's age is by how keen/sharp the spur is and that is not absolute.
Yep.
The discussions of aging birds by spurs get awful heated. While nothing is absolute, I will tell you with 90-some percent accuracy how old a bird is HERE by its spurs.
1/2" and round is a jake
3/4"-7/8" and round is a 2 year bird
1 - 1 1/8" and starting to get sharp will be 3
1 1/8 - 1 1/4" and SHARP (unless broken) will be 4
1 3/8" - 1 1/2 is probably 5.
That's where it starts to get dicey. Too many growth and wear factors to be sure. But any spurs over 1 1/4" are attention getters. The other thing (like the size of feet you mentioned) is the "gauge" or heaviness of the spurs. One set of 1 3/8" spurs on a triple beard I shot here at home are pretty thin. Another set the same length that my daughter shot here look like freakin' bison horns.
Merriam's and Gould's are pretty much ALL rounded and worn. If you get much over an inch on either one, you done good.
