Jay Scott

Posted by Jay ScottMy Good friend Tyler Hall and his girlfriend Heather had a great Gould's turkey season. Here is her story, "On the afternoon of May 20, 2012 (the very last day I was able to hunt), I shot and killed my first animal; a beautiful Gould’s turkey. To say the least, my hunt was filled with up’s and down’s including a couple missed shots and a period during my hunt when I felt like maybe I wasn’t cut out for turkey hunting and thought maybe I would rather just watch them strut and gobble instead of killing one. We hunted off and on since the hunt started at the end of April with lots of gobbling action but my hunt ended up coming down to the wire on the last day I was able to hunt. Tyler and I had started the morning off very early. We woke up at 3:30 a.m., got dressed, grabbed some coffee, and headed to a place we had nicknamed “Turkey Ridge†to go and find a bird. We had heard several gobblers there the night before, and thought that was the perfect place to go in the morning. We got in the birds right off the roost with two gobblers coming in but staying just out of range of the 20 gauge. After we had figured that these birds were not coming in, we packed up our gear, and headed back to camp. We ate breakfast, and then took a nap. When we woke up we started to take down our camp and I felt very sad and frustrated that I had not yet shot a turkey. Tyler grabbed a camping chair and asked me to come and sit by him and relax, so I did. We were sitting there talking about everything that had transpired during my hunt, when I saw it; a giant Gould’s tom walking towards our camp. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I immediately said to Tyler, “There is a turkey walking right into our camp!†He looked shocked, and then excited. The turkey was walking by about 30 yards from our camp. Tyler got up, quickly snuck to the truck, and pulled the gun out. I began to feel my heart pound, and I got incredibly excited but also felt a little nervous. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I then snuck up to Tyler, grabbed the gun that he had loaded for me, sat down…aimed…and shot. The turkey immediately went down. I looked to Tyler for reassurance about what had just happened; his face said it all. This has been one of the most amazing adventures I have been on in my life. I learned so many things about myself, had an incredible time with Tyler, and was ultimately blessed with what I think is the most beautiful bird on the whole mountain. Thanks again to everyone who helped me during my hunt. A special thanks to Tyler for being so wonderful and patient with me and “Billy†Jim Vincent who let me borrow his 20 gauge." View the full article

We have been using Dave Smith Turkey(DSD) decoys for a few years and they work really good. Here is a great video showing how durable and realistic they are from Men in Black ProductionsCheck ou these additional Dave Smith Turkey Decoy videos links.Dave Smith Decoy Strutter takes a beatingDSD Strutter Turkey Decoy View the full article

As Interior Alaska's most popular hike, the Angel Rocks trail sees lots of traffic, but because of the looping nature of the trail, we did not see much of a crowd, even on a Sunday. The trail is a 3.5 mile loop, starting and ending at a pleasant trail head that also has a nice picnic area on the Chena River. For people wanting a longer excursion, another trail splits off and heads to the Chena Hot Springs offering an 8.5 mile hike, one way. This route would require a shuttle. We had beautiful weather, besides the 30 minute thunderstorm complete with hail. We took a leisurely pace, snacked at the top, and finished the hike in about 2.5 hours.The trail was mellow and easy to follow.The Angel rocks on the horizon.The girls taking in the view above the Chena River. Twenty minutes past the Angel Rocks we climbed through a burned area that offered a great view.Lush and green. Keep moving if you don't want to become a snack of AK's state bird, the mosquito. View the full article

We decided to do an evening float last night on the Colorado river from South Canyon to New Castle. Our friend, Jess, from Silt, and Jeanne would be manning the rods and I was on the oars. We put in at 5:30 in a wind storm and minor sprinkles. Jess fished streamers and Jeanne was fishing dries. Between the wind and rain they each managed to catch a healthy handful of fish. Mostly browns with a few rainbows mixed in. View the full article

Posted by Jay ScottWe got settled in to our place in Carbondale, CO and I woke up early this morning to go check out the river. The water was off color due to the warm day yesterday. I put on a white and tan articulated conehead streamer and I was off to the races. The fish seemed eager to chase the streamer and some even decided to take a bite out of it! I landed a handful of fish and had as many strikes. Most of the fish were browns with a few rainbows mixed in. Three mistakes that I had to quickly remedy were not keeping my rod low on the retrieve, having too long of a leader and rod setting as opposed to strip setting. All of which I know from past experience but it seems that a refresher course was in need. On smaller creeks, I find having a shorter leader is better because you can strip the streamer much closer the end of the rod tip thus leaving the fly in the water longer. I love fly fishing because it is a constant learning exercise. Good thing I have lots of practice heading my way! This brown came off of the shady seam line on the far bank right by the grass This brown came of the middle of the run pictured on the left. It was sitting right in the fast water. View the full article

Posted by Jay ScottGear review of Swarovski 10X42 EL RangeI have recently picked up my Swarovski EL Range 10X42 binoculars hoping that they would be my replacement binoculars for my everyday user which is currently the Swarovski 10X42 EL's. The 10's are the ones that are around my neck 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time, I have my 8.5X42 EL's in play. My first impressions of the 10X42 EL Range is nothing short of spectacular. They feel good in my hands and are very bright to look through. The EL Range only weighs 32 ounces and the field of view is 330 ft at 1000 yards. Here is the kicker for me and the reason I wanted the Swarovski EL range; it has a laser rangefinder and an angle compensator. The Swaro-aim laser rangefinder shoots from 33-1500 yards. I have personally shot 1479 yards with my new little gem on the first morning testing it in the Arizona desert while looking for Desert Bighorn sheep. The on-board angle compensator will give you the angle or the adjusted distance to shoot for. I am a simple person who wants to know the yardage but even more importantly I want to know the adjusted yardage so I can just point and shoot. I have seen way to many times in the moment of truth things go sideways therefore for me having the already adjusted distance is of utmost importance. The button is on the left side of the binocular but I found no problem holding the binocular in my bow free right hand and reaching over to hit the button and achieve my distance. I will be playing with the 10X42 EL Range over the summer and will update my findings as they come. As for now I think they will be in the starting lineup come September 1st for archery elk season. Thanks to the guys at the Outdoorsmans Here is a picture of the actual distance through the 10x42 EL Range, I should have taken a picture of the adjusted range but I did not do so. When shooting in the adjusted mode it shows the actual distance and the adjusted distance. View the full article

I set my Dad up with the Wilderness Athlete Altitude Advantage vitamins and the Hydrate and Recover drink mix prior to the 2011 Colorado Rifle season. Here is what he had to say about the product. My son, Janis suggested I try the Wilderness Athlete Altitude Advantage vitamins and Hydrate and Recover to help acclimate to the hunting altitude of Colorado. I do not think of myself as a “Wilderness Athleteâ€, but getting up the mountain the past several years for elk hunting had become more of a task every year. Since reaching the age of 60 it seems my body is in a conspiracy against me. I must watch what I eat and every body part seems to complain with aches and stiffness. No matter how much I trained for our annual elk hunt it was always tough and never enough for the tour. My real test came during the first rifle season. I began the Altitude Advantage vitamins while in Michigan about 30 days prior. Usually on arriving at 8000 ft. the first days are for acclimation. My approach has been to take it easy and drink a lot of water. This time I (we) began to hike the mountains and scout on the day of arrival. Of course it wasn’t easy, but I noticed a difference. I was surprised with how much energy I had. I was stopping less and going farther. I continued using the Altitude Advantage and Hydrate and Recover in camp. To my amazement I was able to negotiate the climbing with our group or by myself with much more stamina, improved breathing and less muscle fatigue. Training before the hunt and watching my caloric intake was key, but WA made a difference. I was able to keep up with my younger friend and youngest son who are 40-60 lbs. lighter than I and are more accustomed to the altitude. " Keeping up " means I did not pass out and went all the way to the top at a reasonable pace. I was climbing 1,500 to 2,000 ft. for two days in a row with no major ill effects. Yes I had to ice my knees at night, but that’s a separate issue. I shot my elk on the first morning; this meant I would be glassing for the others in our party, early and late. The task required climbing up to surrounding ridge tops that permitted glassing across the valley to look for elk. Later I would report back to the group if I had spotted elk activity. Every climb was easier than the prior. The knees still hurt but I believe the WA gave me an edge. I continued this exercise to the last day of the hunt. Wilderness Athlete didn't make me Superman, but it did help to keep up and get over some personal challenges. Shoot straight!! Janis (Yanis) Putelis Kalamazoo, MI . My Dad and brother at 10,000 ft in the Colorado high country. View the full article

Yes trophyhntr we have fished in this area quite a bit over the years. There are four main rivers to choose from Roaring Fork, Colorado, Crystal and the Frying Pan. The Eagle river is also abotu one hour away. We plan to hit them all while we are here. Tight lines............

By Darr Colburn I have to admit I used to not be much of a fish eater. I loved catching any type of fish but up until a few years ago always let everything go. Now days I get cravings for fish, especially this recipe. I bought a fish fryer last season and it made all the difference when frying fish. I love to cook and try different recipies. This recipe for fish tacos is a huge hit with my family and friends. We usually try and load up the freezer during the spring and summer with crappie. You could use any type of fish but I prefer crappie, bass or striper. The Baja Sauce is amazing and makes the recipe. You can adjust the cayanne pepper and jalepenos to your liking. Here is what you will need. 1 lb of thawed fish fillets1 cup beer1 cup Shore Lunch Beer Batter (Best Batter I have found)1/3 to 1/2 package of taco seasoningcooking oilMix the batter with the beer and taco seasoning. I don't like the batter to be to thick. Cut the fish fillets into bite sized nuggets and throw them in the batter and stir until covered. Heat your cooking oil to 350 degrees and fry the fish until golden brown. Remove fish pieces from fryer and drain on a paper towel. Baja Sauce1/2 cup plain yogurt1/2 cup mayo ( I will sometimes use 1/4 mayo and 1/4 cup light sour cream)1 lime juiced1 jalepeno minced1 teaspoon minced capers1/2 teaspoon dried oregano1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepperOnce the fish is cooked place 4-5 pieces on a soft tortilla and garnish with shredded cabbage, avocado, salsa and the baja sauce. Sqeeze a little lime on top and enjoy! View the full article

By Darr ColburnMy brother and I went out one night last weekend with my boys Parker and Paul to night crappie fish under lights. A front moved through a couple of days before we went and the fishing was a litttle slow but we did manage to catch a few. I really enjoy night crappie fishing under lights during the summer. The lake is queit, the temperature is nice and the fishing is usually really good. View the full article

Posted by Jay Scott: I took advantage of the small cold front that came thru the valley this Memorial day weekend and did some Arizona Desert Bighorn sheep scouting in Unit 24B South. It never ceases to amaze me how much feed and vegetation that this area maintains for the desert sheep. With highs in the low 90's, it was downright beautiful. I saw four rams and one ewe and was able to capture some video (see below) of the sheep even though they were over 1 mile away. I was able to cover some ground in three different areas. It was my first real look through the Swarovski 12X50 EL's and the Swarovski 10X42 EL Range. Both of which I found to be amazing! I have some pics of them in action that I will post later. Here is some video of one of the rams from 24B South View the full article

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Posted by: Janis Putelis We headed out the Chena Hot Springs road about 30 miles and hiked the Compeau trail to the top of Twin Bears Peak. It is a multi use trail so it could be atv'd and mountain biked as well. Trail was in top notch condition. The Aspens and Birch trees are finally leafing out giving the woods a lime green glow. Jennifer on the trail carrying Aina.One of many botany lessons for Aina.Twin Bears Peak offered a nice view.On the way home we stopped on the Chena river and I managed to find a Grayling that wanted to eat a dry fly.The Grayling is definitely a fish that pictures do no justice. The colors on the side and the dorsal fin rival that of any Rainbow trout. I'll get better pics in the future to show them off! View the full article

Check out one of the new KUIU products coming in late Junei View the full article

Coues Sniper aka Big Buck-- I have not gotten any sneak peeks but they both look sweet! Love the 6000!

In case you guys are wondering KUIU flat out has it figured out and is kicking out the most cutting edge products on the market. If you like ultralightweight hunting gear then you need to check out KUIU. View the full article

Click here to see more backcountry gear by KUIU View the full article

Check out this Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep scouting video from May of 2012. More at JSO YOUTUBE and Colburn and Scott Outfitters. View the full article

Darr called me yesterday after seeing the weather forecast and we agreed the situation couldn't be better to go find some new country and look for some rams. Highs predicted for 108 and sunny, hottest day of the year so far..... perfect!. 2Am wake up came and we were out the door. As the sun rose this is what the Good Lord had for us right off of the bat. We struck gold today and actually found 17 rams!! We took some great pics and video, here is just a sample. Here's to good friends, good country, sweet rams and of course the awesome Arizona summer weather! All pictures were taken by Colburn and Scott Outfitters. View the full article

Here are some more pictures of the desert bighorn sheep scouting trip from yesterday. All Pics were taken by Colburn and Scott Outfitters View the full article

mybarra- I just got my 12X50's and 10X42 EL Range back from the Outdoorsmans, I had them put the Outdoorsmans stud in them so they would work with the Outdoorsmans Bino Adapter. I haven't had a chance to give them a full test yet. I am as curious as you are. Initial impression is that I am really going to like the 12X50's. I want to run them for awhile to make an accurate assessment. I will definitely post my findings when I have completed my test.

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Dub T- The 12's have been sent off to get the Outdoorsmans stud for the Outdoorsmans bino adapter. I should have them back by Wed. My initial impression was that I might be able to hand hold them even though that was never my intention. I dont have the specifics on the weight difference off hand between the 10's and 12's but they seem surprisingly compact (see photo to compare) AZ slim- No coffee for me but I hear you on the small hand shakes. There is a definitely fine line between what you can hand hold and what you cant. Mybarra- yes the same Outdoorsmans Bino Adapter will work on the 12's. Just an FYI, I also just got the new 10X42 EL Range that has been sent to have the Outdoorsmans post installed as well. I hear the bino adapter for it is a touch longer. I should have them back by Wed. as well. I will report my findings. I look forward to testing them out and will give some updates shortly. Meanwhile, rumor has it the fish are biting..................

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Posted by Janis Putelis I'm spending the summer in Alaska. My wife Jennifer took a job in Fairbanks. In our spare time we are trying to do as many adventures as possible. I was invited along on a Dalton Hwy spring Caribou hunt. Here is the basic rundown. 200 miles north of the Arctic circle, 9 hr drive from Fairbanks, North side of the Brooks range. Hunters must be 5 miles off of Dalton Hwy before shooting. No motorized vehicles allowed. We left Fairbanks Friday morning and headed north on the Dalton Highway aka the Haul road. We crossed the mighty, yet still frozen Yukon River, passed the Arctic circle, through the town of Coldfoot, and over Atigun pass around dinner time. Beating the darkness was done easily since it won't get fully dark again until sometime in late August. The following morning we packed our gear, strapped on our Cross Country skis, and headed due West to an imaginary line at 5 miles that would allow us to hunt. Atigun PassBrooks RangeCaribou tracks Almost immediately we started seeing Caribou tracks and soon the Caribou themselves. After setting camp and melting lots of snow for water, we took off to a high point to get a look around and plan a hunt for the morning. That first day we saw close to 1,000 Caribou and were able to pick out the two main travel routes in the vicinity of our camp. It was amazing to see such a migration. Mountains as far as the eye could see.Well worn. The second morning, after a breakfast mixed with aerobics to get warm, we posted ourselves on a ridge that most of the Caribou seemed to be coming to. We spotted our first group quickly and two hours later the group of eight were feeding right to us. My cohorts, Andy and Dash, made three shots at 100 yards and we had three Caribou down. As a non-resident, shooting a Caribou would've cost $400. I decided to pass on pulling the trigger and just enjoyed the adventure. It was Andy and Dash's first ever big game hunt and it was exciting to experience their process of becoming hunters. I was glad to introduce two more to the sport. Looking north across the foothills to the coastal plains. That is where the Caribou are heading to calve and spend the summer.Last day of April and still frozen solid. We took our time skinning, quartering and processing the meat for transport. To shave weight and save space we deboned the shoulders and ribs. The Caribou were getting ready to shed their winter coats which made for a hairy mess. We had to be super careful to keep the meat clean. After a long day we decided it would be best to stay in the field one more night, get some rest and head out in the morning. We were greeted by four inches of fresh our last morning in the field.Lows around 0 deg and highs in the low 20's. I lived in two layers of KUIU merino wool and my KUIU Spindrift jacket the whole trip. I added layers of the KUIU Guide jacket, Chugach jacket, and my Mountain Hardware down jacket accordingly, sometimes wearing all of it at once. It was cold!Packing up camp after three days of fun.Packed up and ready for three miles out. The Pulk sleds hauled our gear and Caribou meat very well. In the foreground is my KUIU Icon 6000 pack loaded to gills. At 60lbs. with extra gear strapped all over the outside, the Icon pack was still very comfortable and allowed me plenty of movement to kick and glide myself home.Smooth sailing! The whole adventure was accomplished via a Honda Civic hatchback topped with a Yakima skybox. By getting almost 40mpg, we did the trip for $100./ person. The highlight of the trip was our Wolverine encounters. We spotted him the first day loping along the ridge the Caribou were favoring. After closer inspection with our optics, we could see he was carrying the whole head of a Caribou. Another hunter had been successful prior to our arrival and the Wolverine was doing clean up! The evening after we killed, he came cruising along the frozen lake edge near our camp. He would stop at every mound or spot where the snow had melted and mark his territory. Every time he did this, he would eyeball the three visitors and then continue. He definitely was not afraid of us. To top it off, on our way out, two miles from our campsite, I look to the flank of the mountains and see a small black dot loping up a slope steep enough I would be scared to ski. With my binoculars I confirm another Wolverine sighting and can't help to wonder where and what he's going to get himself into. View the full article