“The gobbler I shot had double spurs on each leg,” said Weston Anderson of Gaylord. “After a few phone calls to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and National Wild Turkey Federation, it turns out this turkey is very rare.”

How he shot the goobler is a short story. Anderson said it was one of his quickest hunts ever.

“It was pretty cool. I heard two turkeys gobbling in the woods together a couple hundred yards away. I called to one three times, and he came running, “ Anderson said. “I shot the bird about 15 minutes after I left the truck.”

Anderson said he called the DNR Hutchinson office and a Minnesota Wild Turkey Federation biologist and sent them photos of the turkey.

Submitted photo Gaylord turkey hunter Weston Anderson holds the doubled-spurred legs of a 23-pound turkey he shot and killed near the Minnesota River, northwest of New Ulm April 21.

“They told me it was a rare deformity that they’ve never seen before,” said Anderson.

An online YouTube search showed a former turkey-calling champion harvesting a rare gobbler with double spurs and a double beard.

Southern Minnesota DNR Information Officer Dan Ruiter said he didn’t find anyone in the DNR office with firsthand knowledge of a double-spurred turkey. He added that multi-spurred turkeys are very rare, but not unheard of.

Anderson said he plans to have the turkey mounted by a family friend, Pat Mehlhop of Mehlhop’s Four Seasons Taxidermy in Courtland.

“I usually go north to hunt but went around New Ulm this time and got lucky,” said Anderson. He also hunts deer and ducks, mostly in public spots around Winthrop and Gaylord.

“Wild turkey tastes really good. The legs may be tough, but the breast is always really good to eat. I like eating all wild game,” said Anderson.

He also enjoys fishing and manufactures fishing tackle, working for JB Lures.

Minnesota spring turkey hunt Season B ends at sunset Tuesday. Season C begins Wednesday, a half-hour before sunrise. Season D is May 4-10, Season E May 11-17 and Season F May 18-31.

Wild turkeys must be registered at a registration station, online or by calling 888-706-6367 within 24 hours of harvest. For more information, visit dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/turkey.