MULTIPLE BEARDS; multiple spurs; how far turkeys travel; how long they live. Biologists may not set out to learn such things, but these and other interesting tidbits of turkey information were uncovered as a result of the recent, multi-state turkey gobbler study. Wild Turkey Trivia NWTF Regional Biologist By Bob Eriksen IS GOBBLE STOPPED me in my tracks as I eased across the flat-topped ridge. I had not heard any gobbling at first light so I was heading across the ridge to listen on the north side. I was too close. I backed off and made a wide arc around him to come in from the west and set up. By the time I cautiously made my way into his general vicinity he had dropped over the north side of the ridge. He gobbled a hundred yards or so down the slope. I set up 30 yards from where the ridge dropped off and began an hour long “conversation” with him. After an hour I finally heard the 20 H reason he was glued to his spot — hens. I switched tactics to try and lure the hens to my location. Thirty minutes later his entourage approached. Four hens followed by a mature tom in full strut. The hens came willingly; he followed slowly. When the hens were within 15 yards he was at 20. When he got within 10 I could even see his spurs, but try as I might, I just couldn’t confirm a beard on that gobbler. A few minutes later he and then hens walked away. How common are beardless gobblers? When wildlife biologists design a study the objective is to collect data to make decisions concerning the management of a wildlife resource. We don’t set out to GAME NEWS