ok, well here comes another dumb question. What exactly classifies a turkey as a "BIG ONE"?
They all look huge when you see them in the woods. That's especially true when you're a newb.
By and large, "trophy" turkeys are not hunted like "trophy" bucks. I dont know anybody who calls up 2 year olds and lets them walk waiting on a big one. It's all about working them. I have never had any idea how big a turkey was when I shot it. My first bird was a behemoth, and I didnt really know til I got home and got out the tape measure.
There are 3 things that can make a turkey "big": weight, spurs, and beard.
Spurs are probably the most reliable indicator of age, although many mountain birds wear them down quick. Generally speaking, 2yr old birds go .5 to .75". I'd call an inch pretty big, and anything over that is big.
Much like deer, 90% of hunters have never weighed a turkey they killed. You're usually better off just not listening when most people tell you how much they think their deer or turkey weighed. 20lbs used to be a heavy turkey, but they seem to be getting bigger:head:.
Beards vary. Anything over 10" is pretty darn good. Over 11" is great. 12" is awesome! A more mature beard will be thick.