Buckwheat, you have gotta be the most unusual turkey hunter ever! 177 kills and not a one over 19 pounds? You have mentioned hunting in some of the same areas where I have hunted, and I haven't found anything unusual at all about a 20 pound gobbler in AL. I haven't kept up with the weights, but I would guess that I've killed at least 50 that were over 20. I weigh all that I kill, and the average weight can vary from year to year, but 20 isn't at all unusual.

The biggest one I've ever killed weighed 23.5 and had spurs over 1.5". He came from Dallas county in early season, so probably at his peak . But he was a real easy turkey - I yelped at him and he immediately flew out of the tree and lit in gun range. The hunt was over in less than a minute. I remember plenty of 2 yr olds a lot more fondly than him . To me, the weight, beard, and spurs are just a curiosity to be discovered once the turkey is dead . His trophy status is determined by the quality of the hunt he provides.