A.J. DeRosa founded Project Upland in 2014 as an excuse…
An Elk Hunter Finds a Passion for Turkey Hunting in the Spring
Jeff Lusk is a passionate elk hunter from Puyallup, Wash., who caught turkey fever. Now he finds himself in Missouri with rising flood waters that may put an end to his hunt. But through determination and perseverance, he brings the story home in this Morning Thunder Original Film by Nathaniel Maddux.
The connection of turkey hunting and the act of turkey calling is often referenced to as the “Poor Man’s Elk” hunt. And much like elk hunting, it can take a lot of miles, failed encounters, to overcome the pursuit of wild game.
“If you can feel them spitting and drumming and you can feel it in your heart. You know they are close.”
Lusk, while turkey hunting in Missouri, explores the passion he found for turkey hunting with a lifelong friend. Although time has taken Jeff to the West where he pursues Elk as his primary quarry he finds a profound connection with the pursuit of wild turkeys.
A.J. DeRosa founded Project Upland in 2014 as an excuse to go hunting more often (and it worked). A New England native, he grew up hunting and has spent over 35 years in pursuit of big and small game species across three continents. He has a passion for side-by-side shotguns, inspiring him to travel the world to meet the people and places from which they come. Looking to turn his passion into inspiration for others, AJ was first published in 2004 and went on to write his first book The Urban Deer Complex in 2014. He soon discovered a love for filmmaking, particularly the challenge of capturing ruffed grouse with a camera, which led to the award-winning Project Upland film series. AJ's love for all things wild has caused him to advocate on the federal and state levels to promote and expand conservation policy, habitat funding, and upland game bird awareness. He currently serves as the Strafford County New Hampshire Fish & Game Commissioner in order to give back to his community and to further the mission of the agency. When those hunting excuses are in play, you can find him wandering behind his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the mountains of New England and anywhere else the birds take them.
