trkyslr

So I posted this on another forum but thought some here would enjoy it...So with limited time this fall to hunt turkeys here I got out a total of 3 times to hunt due to bigger priorities. The first hunt was with joe and Brent where we called in several groups of birds as they were on their way back to their roost. I passed on several hens and jakes in hope some longbeards would come in, which they did. Brent smoked one longbeard and they took off before I could get a shot at a second one. My third hunt I was with joe and long story short several jakes and hens came into the deeks but the longbeards were MIA. No shots were taken that afternoon. My third hunt I decided to take a hike down into a public land canyon that was burnt by the recent Butte Fire. If some of you remember I was in the danger zone of the Butte FIre and had to evacuate and ultimately returned to my undamaged home. My hike was more an excercise hike figuring I wouldn't see much in the way of wildlife specifically turkeys this soon after the fire. But just in case I wore my loaded turkey vest and had bow in hand. Walking down into the canyon was something else to see.... Fire has some crazy paths of destruction ........

Thanks a bunch guys... 270 this is in nor cal

Thanks guys!!!

The end!

Walk out of that canyon was better then the walk in even with the added weight! The view was quite spectacular and I can't wait to see it green in there this spring. Hope you all enjoyed the read and wish everyone a safe and happy Hollidays!

Almost forgot to mention as I was setting up I realised how bright my face and hands were.... With no CAMO mask or paint I quickly used burnt bark and dirt to dull my skin.. Gotta do what's necessary

Smoked fried turkey was now on the menu......

The burn provided a cool unique setting that's for sure... I love huntig turkeys and this one was smoked!

I laugh when I read birds can't be called in and decoyed in fall... Even happens on rugged public ground in a burn sometimes... I was pretty pumped to kill this bird in such an unexpected but cool area in the burn... I almost forgot to add that as the birds were coming in I didn't have a CAMO mask or gloves so I quickly rubbed burnt bark and dirt on my hands and face to dull my bright skin.... Admiration is always given...

Short track and blood trail to my bird.....

As the birds were closing in they continued to yelp aggresively and a few even gave a half hearted gobble. At 70 yards I spotted six jakes with some trailing hens coming in quickly. I was wishing I had my deeks at that moment so figured I'd play it out as when Id get a shot. The jakes came to about 40 yards from my location on a small knoll with a small ditch in between us. The birds stood there looking for the hen who started this party. After a minute the birds started walking from right to left and away. After calculating the distance in my head I had an opening set for 50 yards. As the birds began filtering through the opening I calmed my nerves, got steady, and as the last jake entered the opening I yelped at him. The bird stopped and the arrow was on its way. I watched the arrow arch all the way into the boiler room. The bird ran a quick 6 yards before he fell over dead! The other birds jumped on their comrad then as they saw me approaching the fled the scene with a quickness.... Arrow upon recovery.....

Some of the areas were untouched some were scorched and looked more like a third world....... As I got to an area where in years past the turkeys liked to frequent, I let a couple series of hen assembly calls on the slate. I stood there for a few minutes listening and wondering if I was gonna hear anything. I had low hopes that any birds were back in the area so soon as the ground still resembled moon scape..... Just as soon as I started doubting any birds would be anywhere nearby, I heard a hen let out a response assembly yelps of her own up the hill about 200 yards away. I then began looking at the burnt hill and soon spotted a group of birds moving in my direction quickly. I used some cover and a ditch to get up the hill about 30 yards to a spot that was somewhat open due to the burn... This is where I set up and the birds continued to close into my location quickly.

Some of the areas were untouched some were scorched and looked more like a third world.......

On some of the roads through the canyon, hay laced the roadways to help with erosion..... I had seen a little bit of scratching on the roadways and wondered if what I saw was recent ..... Made for some interesting views......

Thanks everyone!

So in 2012 I killed two of my biggest nor cal blacktails and had them mounted. I wanted to display them together but time, a kid, and other things delayed it a little bit. A couple months ago I scored this end table/cabinet piece before it thrown away and my idea was finally in motion......

With winter upon us and thoughts of next years elk season, elk hunting videos are enjoyed by many. Let's make this thread for all users to post elk hunting vids from arizona hunts they enjoy for the rest of us to see. I think the thread would be easier to follow and scroll through video to video if we DID NOT comment on each video and just posted links to each vid, but that's up to you guys and gals. So post away those great az elk videos no matter if it's a diy edited film from your basement or a professional film you always liked. Here's a buddy of mine video he put together to start it off. Enjoy https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw8zxxM19Ic

Hey guys feel free to post but geez not all at once ;-) These vids help pass the time before January coues hunt.

Another great vid.. Not az but elk rut vid that's .. Vids can be from any state. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=14GiWCXerQ0

Nice!!

There a few public land hunts in wilderness areas (otc tags) and national Forrest hunts (otc tags) where a number of big bucks are killed each year but you have to work your balls off to find them way back in there. There's also some late season rut hunts that produce some big bucks but those tags require several pp to draw. Otherwise majority of the remaining premier property is private. Going in on one of these hunts without knowing the area or having any Intel can be a tough hunt.

Oh and by the way the first three are absolute Giants and are in the considered "pure" zone... Nor cal has some dandies!!!!

Nor cal is the land of giant blackies, both ones west (pure) and just east of the boundary highway (blacktail hybrid) however recent dna has shown pure blacktails east of the line and blacktail hybrids west of the line, so that shows they do trespass lol... I just go by their physical characteristics, habits, etc...Here's some of this years nor cal blacktail kills (not mine) from other forums and my second 2015 buck with me in it.

Thanks guys!!!

Whoops forgot the above described pic..