You have just finished a thrilling spring or fall hunt and have before you a magnificent trophy--the Eastern wild turkey. The Michigan State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) invites you to register your trophy in our official wild turkey records program. The state chapter and local chapters are members of the National Wild Turkey Federation -- the only national non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the wise conservation and management of the American Wild Turkey. The S.W. MI Long Beards Chapter will be the official record-keeper.

The purpose of this program is to provide Michigan hunters with a permanent record-keeping system on all legally harvested wild turkeys taken in the spirit of fair chase. Whether it be your first turkey, the largest or even the smallest, we urge you to enter your bird for the record.

Entry Rules and Application:
S.W. MI Long Beards Chapter (record-keeper),
Gary G. VanDyke, President
16431 S. 24th St.
Vicksburg, MI 49097
(269) 649-0384.

In order to record your trophy in the official records system, please follow these procedures.

*Weight. All turkeys must be weighed to the nearest ounce. *All birds weighing more than 22 pounds must be weighed to the nearest ounce on scales inspected and certified as accurate for trade by the State Department of Agriculture. It is required that a weight coupon or signed document be presented for proof. An additional witness is also required. Beards measuring over 12 inches must have additional witnessing, and application must include photograph-showing measurement. Spurs measuring over 1.5 inches must have additional witnessing, and application must include photographs showing measurement

**Beard and spur length measurements must be made with a measuring device, which is accurate to 1/16-inch. In order to standardize measurement, all measurements are to be recorded in sixteenths.

Total Score. The formula for overall score is: weight (lbs. and oz.) plus 10 times the spur length (r&1) plus 2 X beard length.

All measurements must be verified by a current member of the NWTF or the DNR. Hunters must enter each turkey on an official entry application form, including certification that the turkey was taken by legal means, in the spirit of fair chase, and that the bird was not released for commercial hunting or confined within any artificial barrier. Please download and fill out the Michigan State Official Registration Form. All entries must be signed, witnessed, and mailed, along with your $10.00 check, to: S. W. MI Long Beards, 16431 S. 24th St., Vicksburg 49097

Click Here for Michigan State Official Registration Form

All Wild Turkey Records listings will be maintained by the SW MI Long Beards Chapter in Vicksburg, MI. The MI State Chapter, NWTF, will update the records annually and post on our web site. The name of the hunter and measurements or scores will be included in this site, ranked by top measurements or overall scores. In order to be considered for listing, entries must have been received not later than October 1^st annually.

Entries in the Michigan Wild Turkey Records will be acknowledged, and each hunter will receive a lapel pin and a certificate suitable for framing. All entrants are guaranteed that their trophy will be recorded in the official records program and listed, with its measurements or scores.

Click Here to see the Top Five Wild Turkey Records in Michigan
 

The National office of the N.W.T.F. keeps records of all six sub-species of Turkeys in North America. We urge you to also register your turkey with the National office of the N.W.T.F., PO Box 530, Edgefield, SC 29824, (803) 637-3106.

Click Here for National Official Registration Form

Click Here to look up National N.W.T.F. Wild Turkey Records