kazpilot25 Report post Posted February 25, 2016 I picked up a 12A turkey tag for the hunt starting 4/29 and know nothing at all about the unit. I've hunted the last couple years in 6A, but didn't get drawn so picked up a leftover. I hear there are a ton of turkeys up there, but that time of year there are access problems, snow, mud, and horrible roads. I'm thinking about bringing my popup trailer, or should I just bring the canvas tent? I've heard the 67 is closed that time of year, so how do you access the areas along that road? Good camping spots? Finally, where are the turkeys? Thanks guys! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TRKHNTR Report post Posted February 25, 2016 got me one of them tags too Kaz keep in touch when its time will give you some area's to hunt and might be able to help you with access through the gate on 67 depending on snow of course. as to your question "where are the turkey's" they are where you find them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kazpilot25 Report post Posted February 25, 2016 Sounds good. We'll be in touch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heat Report post Posted February 25, 2016 Highway 67 is closed until late April or May'ish. You can still access the Kaibab Plateau by going past Jacob's Lake to the FS RD 22 or West Side Game Road and heading south. That should take you through a lot of good country if passable. While you have the legal right to access all of the National Forest in the Unit for your hunt, I would strongly encourage you to avoid the roads down by the border with the National Park in spirit of cooperation with the guys who drew what is likely their once in a lifetime opportunity to take a bison. Those roads in case you aren't familiar are the 223, 270, 268. This really is a tiny area in comparison to the rest of the plateau and quite frankly isn't the best turkey habitat anyway. I would be looking for Oak trees and following the snow line if there still is one. Good Luck! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Little Creek Calls Report post Posted February 25, 2016 Bring the popup if you don't mind pulling it that far. Most all roads in 12A are good for trailers. Locations of birds and accessible areas will depend on snow pack. I have made some 5+ mile hikes one way to get into some favorite spots some years because of multiple 8 foot deep snow drifts across roads. Next time I hunt 12A in the spring I am bringing a mountain bike I can carry across the drifts and cover miles faster and silent. Keep in touch with Bill (TRKHNTR), he is a good guy and has a lot of experience and knowledge turkey hunting. If you need any more help with the where let me know. Good luck and have fun. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted February 26, 2016 I'm going to be up there at that time, too. I think I (and my daughter) may be hooking up with Bill (TRKHNTR), too. I've hunted up there the last 4 years on that left-over tag. I can point you some directions and I've never had a problem getting my popup pulled up there. I've also never had problems with snow pack, but then its also been pretty mild up there the last several winters. I avoid the areas that Heat mentions for that reason, but also (mainly) because I don't want them ruining my hunt anymore than they want me ruining theirs. I hunt pretty close to those areas, though and have never had issues and always been on birds. There are tons of birds near the park boundary and lots of room to hunt both turkeys and bison without causing trouble for each other. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kazpilot25 Report post Posted February 26, 2016 Very cool guys. Glad to see there's a whole contingent of us heading up for that hunt. It should be a blast. IA Born: Do you take that 282 road S from Jacobs lake? Is is usually pretty good? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kazpilot25 Report post Posted February 26, 2016 Bring the popup if you don't mind pulling it that far. Most all roads in 12A are good for trailers. Locations of birds and accessible areas will depend on snow pack. I have made some 5+ mile hikes one way to get into some favorite spots some years because of multiple 8 foot deep snow drifts across roads. Next time I hunt 12A in the spring I am bringing a mountain bike I can carry across the drifts and cover miles faster and silent. Keep in touch with Bill (TRKHNTR), he is a good guy and has a lot of experience and knowledge turkey hunting. If you need any more help with the where let me know. Good luck and have fun. Thanks Amon. I like the mountain bike idea. Do you have any seminars scheduled for this year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted February 29, 2016 Very cool guys. Glad to see there's a whole contingent of us heading up for that hunt. It should be a blast. IA Born: Do you take that 282 road S from Jacobs lake? Is is usually pretty good? I don't remember the road number, but I take the first road to the west south of Jacob Lake (FR 461) west and down the hill to FR462 then west to FR22. Then I take the 22 to my final destination. Its usually very washboardy in the spring and I've beaten my popup on there by driving too fast the first couple of times I did it (learned since then), but its definitely driveable. One thing I learned the hard way is to take a chainsaw up there. I had to jackknife my pop up to turn around after backing up 80 yards on a narrow road after getting caught by a downed tree. A saw to remove two dead branches would have made life so much easier! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Little Creek Calls Report post Posted February 29, 2016 Very cool guys. Glad to see there's a whole contingent of us heading up for that hunt. It should be a blast. IA Born: Do you take that 282 road S from Jacobs lake? Is is usually pretty good? The 282 road stays higher in elevation and could be impassible depending on snow conditions. It would be better to take the 461 west and down the hill to the 462 road like IA Born said. When you get to the 462 you can go west or southeast and it can get you wherever you want to go. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maximus Report post Posted March 1, 2016 that is a long way for turkey!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted March 1, 2016 Thats why there generally is left over tags ..................BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ghottle Report post Posted March 5, 2016 I will be up there by myself, if anyone would like to share a camp let me know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couestracker Report post Posted March 5, 2016 A couple of friends and I also have the late 12A hunt. We'll be in a white chevy crew or a Polaris Ranger crew. Feel free to stop and talk! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TRKHNTR Report post Posted March 5, 2016 A couple of friends and I also have the late 12A hunt. We'll be in a white chevy crew or a Polaris Ranger crew. Feel free to stop and talk! you can find me under a Ponderosa Pine near a roost feel free to stop by and listen to me talk turkey. Will be looking for you. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
