Thank you Hilltop for all that information. I have actually guided to quite a few birds in Nebraska pine ridge country as well as Wyoming, and the one thing we really noticed on the weights of the birds is the weights went down the further into the spring season the bird was harvested. Average 2+ year old birds weights were mostly in the mid 20's for weight where by the end of the season we were lucky to harvest a long bearded limb hanger that would make 20 pounds. I was guessing the breeding season takes it out of them just like the rut for deer, elk, and antelope. I never really payed much attention to the beards besides the length overall. After reading your words of wisdom I drug out all my beards and started seeing exactly what you are talking about. I wish I would have logged what beard went with what years turkey and payed close attention to what my thoughts were about the bird like weight time of year spur length etc. I know that only a hand full of my birds had spurs over an inch with the sharp hooks, what I would call limb hangers. I have beards that are 10" plus that are all the same length and 2 others that are 10" plus that are all worn and broken. This birds brush is all worn and broken as well but only 9.5". I guess with this new found knowledge from you I will have to try to keep better track of the looks of the beards to tell as much about the bird as anything else. It seems easy to tell a Jake from a 2 year old by fan and lack of spurs and lack of draping beard. and two year olds have longer beards but still dont have sharp spurs that get out into the 1" range like the 3 plus birds. It would be nice to drag out a spotting scope and be able to tell a 3 year old from a 4 or 5 year old. Thank You again for all that great information.