by Brian Lovett, editor
Ohio hunter Trace Claypool scored a record bird May 3 on his first-ever
turkey hunt.
Claypool shot a hen with a 9-inch beard. After consulting with the National
Wild Turkey Federation, he learned the previous record for a hen beard in
Ohio was 8.5 inches.
About 15 percent of hens grow beards. However, they are typically thin and
rarely grow longer than 7 inches. The national record for a hen beard is 11
inches.
Claypool is getting the record-setting hen mounted.