Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Dropping into Moreno Valley I was headed to a place Paulette and I visited regularly when we lived at Casa Oso. A hunting camp near treeline with a meadow about three miles long with knee deep grass and lined with Aspen. We spent many sunsets waiting for elk herds to emerge from the Aspen. More than once almost walking among them with bulls squeaking. I laughed out loud the first time I heard a bull elk making that sound. Such a majestic powerful beast squeaking like a mouse. This area was almost a guarantee to spot elk, wild turkey or bear, maybe all three in one visit. It’s where we would take visitors from the flatland to spot wildlife when the visited us at Casa Os.
I could see a rain cell at the south end of the valley. Having seen the movie for seventeen year close up I know I had an hour of so before it hit. I headed up the mountain to the trailhead. As I loaded cameras and rain gear into a pack a few drops began to fall.
One of the greatest inventions for an outdoor photographer/videographer was action cameras. Waterproof and they take fantastic images these days although not perfect in low light so I packed a one inch sensor Insta360 Luna Ultra with 15x zoom into a waterproof pocket. Up the trail I went as if I had good sense.
As I approached the hunting camp the rain began to fall steadily although luckily not a downpour.
Perfect weather for elk but not today yet but I did spot a flock of about eight wild turkey in the distance. For about an hour I scouted the edge of the meadow but still no elk.
Then there they were on the trail ahead of me another flock of about a dozen wild turkeys. I stopped expecting them to spook like they always do but it was as if they didn’t know I was there or just didn’t care. I was about fifty yards behind them on the trail. I starting shooting video. They kept browsing making a cat like purring sound between clucks.
nmosg.com
Dropping into Moreno Valley I was headed to a place Paulette and I visited regularly when we lived at Casa Oso. A hunting camp near treeline with a meadow about three miles long with knee deep grass and lined with Aspen. We spent many sunsets waiting for elk herds to emerge from the Aspen. More than once almost walking among them with bulls squeaking. I laughed out loud the first time I heard a bull elk making that sound. Such a majestic powerful beast squeaking like a mouse. This area was almost a guarantee to spot elk, wild turkey or bear, maybe all three in one visit. It’s where we would take visitors from the flatland to spot wildlife when the visited us at Casa Os.
I could see a rain cell at the south end of the valley. Having seen the movie for seventeen year close up I know I had an hour of so before it hit. I headed up the mountain to the trailhead. As I loaded cameras and rain gear into a pack a few drops began to fall.
One of the greatest inventions for an outdoor photographer/videographer was action cameras. Waterproof and they take fantastic images these days although not perfect in low light so I packed a one inch sensor Insta360 Luna Ultra with 15x zoom into a waterproof pocket. Up the trail I went as if I had good sense.
As I approached the hunting camp the rain began to fall steadily although luckily not a downpour.
Perfect weather for elk but not today yet but I did spot a flock of about eight wild turkey in the distance. For about an hour I scouted the edge of the meadow but still no elk.
Then there they were on the trail ahead of me another flock of about a dozen wild turkeys. I stopped expecting them to spook like they always do but it was as if they didn’t know I was there or just didn’t care. I was about fifty yards behind them on the trail. I starting shooting video. They kept browsing making a cat like purring sound between clucks.
nmosg.com
