Wild Turkeys in Sanpete?

Yesterday, as I pulled out of my subdivision on my way to work, I had an amazing surprise.  Standing in the middle of the Ephraim Canyon road were 18 turkeys.  Now I know that turkeys are commonplace in Sanpete, there are millions of white domestic turkeys huddled in sheds all around the valley- but these were wild turkeys!  In the summertime wild turkeys live up the canyon in the Willow Creek area, I have seen them there before while riding my ATV.  In the winter, however, they migrate to the valley and their tracks can be spotted all over in the snow.  Last winter I saw their tracks in my drivway just after a snow storm.

I think we need a few more wild turkeys in Sanpete to balance out the population.

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After chasing a 6 point bull elk on Saturday morning without success, and passing up a 5 point elk later that afternoon, I went home empty handed.  I had a friend tell me that he had seen a 7 point elk in the same area, but I had only seen the 6 point.  He called me up Sunday night and told me the 7 point was spotted just below our lookout point in Willow Creek, Ephraim Canyon.

My dad and I got up early Monday morning and headed up the mountain.  Only minutes after I arrived I heard rocks rolling below where I was standing.  I looked down and a herd of elk, with a large bull, was just below me.  The light was still dim and the herd quickly moved into the bushes before I could count the number of horns on the bull.  I anxiously followed the elk off the hill to get a better look.  I caught another quick glimpse of the bull as he went into a grove of pine trees, but I still could not tell how big he was. Read the rest of this entry »

This morning I woke up I with a sore shoulder. Last night I went with a friend to the shooting range in Ephraim to sight in the 7MM MAG rifle I plan to use for the Big Bull Elk Hunt next month on the Manti-LaSal National forest. It didn’t take many shots with a gun this size before my shoulder started hurting. It “kicks like a mule”. Read the rest of this entry »

My son and grandson went fishing at 9-Mile last week but happened to pick a rather cold afternoon. They spent about 2 1/2 hours there without a bite. Finally, they decided to head for home and try again another day. Usually the fishing there is great. They have never before come home empty handed. We always look forward to their fishing days because we love to eat the fish!! I think we had pizza that night though. Oh well, there are many days ahead for the fishermen in our family to drag their poles and bait to the many fishing holes in Sanpete that they love to visit. Better days ahead to eat those tasty morsels!!

Well I finally did it, I drew out for the big bull elk hunt on the Manti-LaSal National Forest. I received my official tag this past week in the mail. I have been putting in for this hunt for more years than I can keep track of, approximately 10.

My dad called me up this past Winter to see if I wanted to enter the draw and I almost told him no. After so many years of not drawing I had almost lost interest. The hunt is this September so I will have plenty of time to brush up on my elk bugling skills.

I have been teasing my wife that a head mount would look really good above the stairs or in the front room. She laughs and smiles but I think in her mind she is saying “hang it in the storage room!” If any of you know where all the big boys hang out, please leave a comment. I don’t want to get skunked on such a great opportunity.  Photo: King’s Outdoor World