Robby hosts today's episode of the Rokcast, covering multiple topics. From bow choice dilemma, to the "Art of Sticking Your Head Over the Rise," bucks transitioning from velvet to hard-antlered, to a 45-day buck hunt story, it's all in the episode on scouting to archery seasons He then chats with Toby Boudreau of the Idaho Fish and Game on mule deer fawn and calf elk over-winter survival before calling Travis Hobbs on his thoughts on scouting so far in 2024. They talk about runt bucks, fuel mois...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Robby hosts today's Rokcast. He covers high-level glassing for big mule deer, and touches on Travis Hobb's recent episode, "Your Angled Spotting Scope is Holding You Back." here Robby also covers a popular thread in the optics subforum, "Zeiss Victory SF Review," here recently renewed by Rokslide member B_Reynolds_AK on the superb performance of the Zeiss SF 32 mm binocular platform. He makes the case that the SF bumps up against the venerable Swarovski NL 32s. Blasphemy to some, but go check th...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Watch Rokslide writer, Tony Trietch bowhunt the great state of Nevada for giant bull elk! Video: https://youtu.be/mi7Ev5gdsuI?si=PYVp3x09YYRNvA-h
Aug 11, 2024•10 min
Travis Hobbs finally explains why he hates angled spotting scopes for mule deer hunting—it really does make more of a difference than you might think. He also explains glassing efficiency and why you should be using binoculars on your tripod more, and his thoughts on what binoculars you should buy if you are on a budget. This episode is also available by video, it helps to see his demonstration, it is one of the first video episodes we have ever done. Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/sGtiuyTVnn Y...
Aug 05, 2024•28 min
Today we explore how Jared Bloomgren's scouting process continues to put him on great animals even during general seasons. Jared explains what he's looking for during boots on the ground and explaining where to find proven spots during pre-season scouting. Will Frye compares two Swarovski heavy weights BTX vs dual STC spotting scopes. Maven's Cade Maestas takes us though the RS 1.2 riflescope and talks about how to get one. The guys from Black Ovis tell us about some new products to be on the lo...
Jul 30, 2024•1 hr
Travis jumps on the Podcast with Matt Cashell to discuss the latest binocular from Swarovski Optik- The 14x52 NL Pure. They discuss the upcoming full review by Matt, as well as their initial thoughts and just how good is this new offering from Swarovski. Watch for Matt's Full Review in early August Here find more Rokslide optic reviews here
Jul 29, 2024•40 min
Robby reviews one of the all-time classic books for archery mule deer hunters: “Hunting Open Country Mule Deer” by Dwight Schuh here This book still applies to today’s bowhunter. While some of the gear might be outdated, Dwight's thorough and deep dive into preparing for a stalk on a mule deer still has not been matched in 39 years since publication. Robby gives an overview of each important chapter and how it can help you stalk big mule deer. Sadly, we lost Dwight Schuh in 2019 but here is your...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Today Mark Livasay takes us though his E-scouting process in Treeline Academy. Mark's proven 12 core principles to finding elk when E-scouting can narrow down any unit in the west to its highest probability. Moultrie launches their new Edge2 and Edge Pro2 Trail cameras and gives tips on best use. PhoneSkope helps us master Digiscoping with their Carbon Pro along with accessory details and the uses of Pyro Putty. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews [https://www.rok...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Robby is today's host. Summer is heating up, and a few big bucks are around, even in the most hard-hit winterkill areas. Before Robby jumps into the next two chapters of Hunting Big Mule Deer, he gives a scouting update and covers advancements in Moultrie Mobile's cellular cams, including the incredible battery life, no SD cards, AI screening for bucks, and Smart Tags for efficient filtering. Then it's on to Deer Drives for the big mule deer hunter. Do they really work? If so, how does a hunter ...
Jul 15, 2024•46 min
Robby hosts Taylor Gregory of the Wood River Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation. Find out how removing a single fence in critical mule deer corridors makes a difference in helping mule deer. They also chat about getting off the "fence" and stepping up to help mule deer. Taylor took a hard look at himself and decided rather than just complain, he'd get his hands dirty helping mule deer where he can. Once he made the decision, the door flew wide open and soon he was co-chair of Idaho's Wood River...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 19 min
Today's Tipsy Tuesday is all about the early season. Up first Larry Bartlet takes a deep dive into the science of meat care in the backcountry. Larry lays out how to mitigate meat spoilage in the early season, along with proven tactics that get the best table fare even when temperatures are warm and your packed in days from the trailhead. Some of the top clothing companies (Stika, Firstlite, Forloh, Skre Gear) talk about their favorites choices to stay comfortable during those hot early season t...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 5 min
The Top 1% is a little mini series we are recording with some of the best DIY Mule Deer Hunters in the country. This is the second episode in that series. The guys we really want to focus on and hear from are average hunters, family men, working blue collar jobs somehow taking the top 1% of Mule Deer over and over again on run of the mill type tags that the general public can get, they are getting it done legally and ethically. Dioni Amuchastegui defines the Top 1% and is such a fun guy to talk ...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Robby's back to his book, Hunting Big Mule Deer. Today's episode is in on tracking big mule deer, a top technique for buck hunters. Big mule deer can be very hard to track in the big mountains, due to the steepness of the terrain, but you still don’t want to ignore the technique. Even if big bucks are hard to track and shoot in their beds, paying attention to the tracks on the ground will tell you where deer go, where they don’t go, and a keen eye can tell the quality of the age class in the are...
Jun 24, 2024•41 min
Rebecca Levine is on today's episode of the Rokcast, hosted by Robby Denning. Rebecca is a research scientist with the Monteith Shop. She conducted the Meeteetse Moose Project in Wyoming. Dive in to this episode to learn how temperatures and wind affect bull moose differently than cows, when the peak of the moose rut occurs, and how bull moose separate by elevation PC: Billy Molls The Monteith Shop is one of the leading research organizations on mule deer and other ungulates. Based out of the Un...
Jun 20, 2024•41 min
#33 This week's Tipsy Tuesday all about Optic Innovations. Drew Miles CEO of Tricer USA takes us though their newest innovations and even drops some hints of things to come. Hamilton Boykin lays out Leica USA https://leica-camera.com/en-US/product/leica-geovid-pro-10x42-ab 2024 Optic Innovations. He goes into great detail of the operation of the Geovid Pro AB+ and why every hunter could benefit from the Shot Probability Analysis (or WEZ). Afterwards Dustin Diefenderfer and Sam talk mental toughn...
Jun 18, 2024•56 min
Robby hosts Darby Finley, Wildlife Biologist for Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Darby has served over 20 years in Northwest Colorado, the heart of the Chronic Wasting Disease battle. From day one on the job, Darby has been immersed in the origin, effects, and ongoing fight against CWD. If you think CWD is just the boogey-man of wildlife management, you might want to listen to this episode. Darby gives evidence of how CWD has cut mule deer herds to the point that tag numbers have to be reduced (t...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 33 min
Travis Hobbs and Robby Denning host Dr. Tayler LaSharr of the Monteith Shop. Tayler studied the mule deer migration in Wyoming in relation to fawn survival. She was looking for a correlation between survival rates of fawns raised in or near agriculture--are mule deer fawns more likely to survive, or are there hazards that actually decrease survival rates? Tayler also discusses how the condition of the mother and how "site selection" affects a mule deer fawn's survival in its first winter. This s...
Jun 10, 2024•43 min
Kevin Monteith is back, this time busting up the myths surrounding antler size vs age of bucks and bulls. This episode will surprise more than a few hunters. How antlers grow with age has been speculated on for decades, but with more access to accurate lab aging, and researchers like Kevin, a whole body of evidence is showing that what we think isn't always the case. Do antlers peak at five years old, or seven? Do antlers regress as a buck or bull reaches his later years? Also, can an elk really...
Jun 06, 2024•45 min
#32 This week's Tipsy Tuesday is focused on Purposeful Shooting Techniques. Chris Cornelius shares his personal journey into the foundational aspect of killing game animals on demand. Purposeful Shooting Techniques is a "whole system" process approach- accounting for the shooter, the complete rifle system, and proper ammunition. These optimized techniques and processes increase speed and consistency when forced to make accurate on demand shots. Afterwards Alps Outdoorz https://alpsoutdoorz.com/e...
Jun 04, 2024•50 min
Photo Courtesy of Ben Regan Travis and Robby host Rebekah Rafferty of The Monteith Shop. They discuss Rebekah's research into the phenomenon of mule deer abandoning winter range, and how seasons and landscape shape the winter distribution of deer. Rebekah is the current coordinator of the Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project and brings a wealth of knowledge to the Rokcast on mule deer. This episode on the dynamics of mule deer winter range was recorded at the recent Mule Deer Days, sponsored by The M...
May 30, 2024•50 min
Robby hosts Idaho Fish and Game Deer & Elk Coordinator, Toby Boudreau, and Justin Binfet, Deputy Chief of Wyoming Game & Fish's Wildlife Division to talk Elk Hunting. They discuss the recent article by Dac Collins of Outdoor Life: "Elk Hunters had a Phenomenal Season in Wyoming, While Idaho Saw the Worst Harvest in a Decade" here https://www.outdoorlife.com They dive deep into what may have caused this harvest difference. Is Wyoming managing their elk herd better than Idaho? Or is Idaho ...
May 27, 2024•1 hr 7 min
#31 Tipsy Tuesday has Blake Brown taking us along on his big bull elk hunt in Fiordland National Park on New Zealand's South Island. Roy Sloan president of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation https://fwf.net.nz/ walks us though the ballot process on how to draw this amazing big bull elk hunt. Roy shares the foundations successes and describes the legal fight to keep New Zealand's Wapiti/Elk herd in Fiordland National Park. Ryan Sapena joins in to let us know what's new at Seek Outside https://seekou...
May 21, 2024•52 min
At the recent Mule Deer Days in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Robby caught up with Cody Robbins of the TV show Live 2 Hunt with Cody & Kelsey. If giant mule deer are your thing, this is your episode! Cody has taken 11 bucks between 200" all the way up to 288"! He's one of the most successful big buck hunters out there. In this episode, Cody talks everything about hunting giant mule deer: His early days of filming with Jim Shockey How shed hunting helps him locate giant mule deer Hunting public land...
May 20, 2024•1 hr 14 min
USGS Migration Route Data. Notice Interstate Locations and Migration Barriers. We hear all the time about urban sprawl affecting mule deer populations. I think the average hunter, (me included) usually only thinks about habitat destruction directly related to communities, homes, and businesses. We don't even consider the road system that link all of these communities together and the impact roadways have on wildlife, especially mule deer. Of course when we do think about roads and wildlife, the ...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Robby reads from Hunting Big Mule Deer: How to Take the Best Buck of Your Life. His chapter on Ambush Hunting is a must if you want to be a complete mule deer hunter. Before he dives in, he recaps some mule deer news and checks in with The Mule Deer Foundation’s spring edition of their magazine--always a good source for on-the-ground mule deer updates. As Robby always says, this stuff will make you a better deer hunter, and better at Ambush Hunting, too Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% of...
May 13, 2024•41 min
#30 Tipsy Tuesday has Daykota Kime giving out Bow Tuning tips. Daykota's tuning tips will help everyone get their broadheads flying straight for the 2024 Cold Bow Challenge. Howard Mee lays out the new rule changes and gives us the inside scoop of the Cold Bow Challenge. Finally, Bill Vanderhyden from Iron Will Outfitters talks about the University of Colorado arrow vane study https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/university-study-arrow-vane-designs-for-improved-broadhead-flight.355752/ and Bill e...
May 07, 2024•58 min
We are winning the mountain lion fight in Colorado! Robby is back with Dan Gates of C.R.W.M with an update and why we can't let up now. Hunters can and must win this fight! Topics covered in this episode: Update on C.R.W.M since Travis Hobbs' January 1 episode here Funds raised Nonresidents contribute over 80% of individual donations! Are we winning? Why this fight won't stay in Colorado Post-Colorado Long Term Plan Listeners can get involved and support C.R.W.M & Dan Gates here Coloradans f...
May 06, 2024•53 min
This Tipsy Tuesday is Everything Kifaru with Aron Synder and Anders Christianson. We cover Kifaru's move to Riverton Wyoming, jump into new material choices, and close out with what future holds for Kifaru. This week's reviews start with Les Welch's Mathews Lift https://www.rokslide.com/mathews-lift-review/. Sam then has Dustin Diefenderfer to talk about workouts and what's new at MTNTOUGH (https://mtntough.com/). Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews [https://www.r...
Apr 30, 2024•58 min
Most of us have been there, it's the worst day you can have hunting. You tried to do everything right, yet somehow you made a bad shot and now you have a wounded animal. A truly emotional rollercoaster ride. Now, the trail has gone cold, and you just can't sort the track out any further. It doesn't get much worse than this when hunting. This is where Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery just might be able to help. I was recently at the Mile High Hunt and Fish Expo and a booth caught my eye. Rocky Mo...
Apr 29, 2024•56 min
Robby hosts Brandon Diamond on today's Rokcast. Brandon is the Area Wildlife Manager for Colorado's Gunnison Basin and beyond. Brandon has been on the Rokcast before here and brings a depth of knowledge and experience to managing Colorado's mule deer. They talk about the current over-winter survival for the Gunnison Mule Deer and other parts of Colorado. They talk about the challenges of managing for a variety of users, buck:doe ratios vs. age class, the increasing pressure from technology and m...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 39 min
