Bucks vs. Fawns with Randy Larsen “Wildlifeprof”

Today's bonus episode is from the Hunt West Podcast by Jaden Bales Jaden and Robby dive into old school deer hunting tactics that too many hunters might not think about. The West is primed for a big growth in mule deer populations, though mature buck numbers in a lot of places are pretty low right now - let alone big special ones. On the back of this, hunters will need to think outside of the box to find bucks in places other hunters are not able to find them. How does someone do that? Topics discussed:  Adapting to Changing Hunter Habits Big Bucks in Easy to Glass Places vs. Thick Country. Are deer drives something guys should consider for big bucks? How to practice when long shots aren’t your game plan. Tracking: How’s a guy do it? How’s a guy get good at it? and more on old school deer hunting tactics. You can find Jaden's podcast and more at https://huntwestplanning.com/ Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app You can also find Robby’s books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here https://www.rokslide.com/product-category/mule-deer-books/

Robby hosts this multi-topic episode. Front and center is his review on the 2013 book: "Blood in the Tracks: A Mule Deer Manifesto" by Jim Collyer.  Robby shares some of the highlights of this great mule deer book on today's episodes. Jim Collyer spent 40 years hunting mule deer before he penned this book, and it shows. Jim has a deep experience hunting mule deer and this book can help anyone in their pursuit. Most mule deer books focus on high country/spot & stalk, but Jim writes about hunting in the timber and some of the old school tactics, like tracking--tactics that are more conducive to pursuing big mule deer living in the thicker country. Jim also dives into the proper mindset a successful mule deer hunter must adapt. Robby also shares some good news on the mule deer front: Idaho bringing back some opportunity previously lost to the hard winters of late. He wraps up the episode with a story about the first buck he ever killed after finding him in the preseason, nearly 60 days earlier. While that was over 30 years ago, the lessons learned still hold true. You can find Blood in the Tracks on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Tracks-Mule-Deer-Manifesto/dp/1470168987/ref=sr_1_1?crid=122KRBHUZO9TR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vqGr53Lp4718mhtPCtoyH7c6UbJEbXvxgytHS2yK9JtI66KDQ1iqyXKZvzTkyGqjtIj2KtbbyR35EW5mUWAoCQ.332x0vWwaPX-YUHQSdny2CQF8cXl1AQdUqKdueHF5t0&dib_tag=se&keywords=mule+deer+manifesto&qid=1747323379&sprefix=mule+deer+manifesto%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-1 Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app You can also find Robby’s books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here https://www.rokslide.com/product-category/mule-deer-books/

Tipsy Tuesday#55 Hunting New Zealand with Spartan Precision's Rob Gearing. Rob takes us along his latest New Zealand hunting adventure, going though some of the terrain challenges and equipment necessary to be successful. Rob also introduces Spartan Precision Equipment's newest and most affordable offering the Javelin Lite.  Then Stephen Follett of LS Wild hunting gear takes a deep drive into all their new and exciting offerings. Barrels, Suppressor covers, Knives and Shooting bags are covered this episode. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews and recaps the latest Western news. Spartan Precision Equipment-https://javelinbipod.com/ LS Wild Hunting Gear-https://www.lswild.com/ Dixie Zipper thread- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/help-finalize-the-dixie-zipper-mini-cbk-for-a-group-buy.393007/ LS Wild Suppressor Covers thread- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/ls-wild-suppressor-covers.399929/ Cold Bore Challenge Q&A thread- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/2025-cold-bore-challenge-q-a-thread.403820/ Rokslide's Cold Bow Challenge- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/2025-cold-bow-challenge.397922/ SCI Fund raising Raffle for COLORADANS FOR RESPONSIBLE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT- https://raffles.scicolorado.org/   Howl for Wildlife- Take Action Check out Rokslide's 2024 Best Gear- https://www.rokslide.com/best-gear-of-2024-rokslide-edition/ Visit Rokslide's Rokcast Forum to submit questions, request a topic or give feedback. To be a guest on Tipsy Tuesday please send an email to [email protected] [ Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app

Randy Larsen, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at BYU is today's guest. A frequent contributor to the Rokcast, Randy brings a depth of knowledge to wildlife management, especially when it comes to mule deer. On today's episode, Robby and Randy dive into these topics Buck Survival: what percentage of bucks in the population do hunters really harvest? And are the numbers different in general vs. draw units? Collared Buck Harvest: Are hunters avoiding shooting radio collared bucks? Impact of Buck:Doe Ratios on population dynamics, female condition, fawn recruitment Fawn weights across Utah units Follow Randy Larsen super interesting Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/wildlifeprof?igsh=MTlnZWtrY3Y0cGNtYQ== Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app You can find Robby’s books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here https://www.rokslide.com/product-category/mule-deer-books/

Tipsy Tuesday #54 Selecting the right arrow with Jace Johnson. Jace's inside knowledge of arrow manufacturing highlights some of the nuances of carbon arrows. We chase down some rabbit holes and learn what is truly important when picking the right arrow. Then Caleb Sorrels from G5 Outdoors talks broadheads, bows, and Montana Rifle Company. Seek Outside's Ryan Sapena takes us though the 2.0 shelter and more. Justus Nielsen from Kings Camo covers some XKG favorites. Howard Mee walks us though how to enter Rokslide.com Cold Bow Challenge. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews and recaps the latest Western news. Rokslide's Cold Bow Challenge- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/2025-cold-bow-challenge.397922/ G5 Outdoors-https://www.g5outdoors.com/ Montana Rifle Company review thread-https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/montana-rifle-company-marshall-field-evaluations.394772/ Seek Outside-https://seekoutside.com/tipi-tents/ Kings Camo-https://www.kingscamo.com/collections/xkg-series SCI Fund raising Raffle for COLORADANS FOR RESPONSIBLE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT- https://raffles.scicolorado.org/   Howl for Wildlife- Take Action Check out Rokslide's 2024 Best Gear- https://www.rokslide.com/best-gear-of-2024-rokslide-edition/ Visit Rokslide's Rokcast Forum to submit questions, request a topic or give feedback. To be a guest on Tipsy Tuesday please send an email to [email protected] [ Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app

Brian Wakeling, Game Management Bureau Chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is today's guest, hosted by Robby.  Montana is in the process of developing a new mule deer plan. This plan brings together biologists and the public to increase mule deer populations using the best science available. The plan will also address the real threat to mule deer from chronic wasting disease, and improving the hunting experience and landowner relations.  This is in important episode for hunters who want to participate in the future of mule deer management in Montana. You can find more information about Montana's mule deer management here: https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission-councils-committees/mule-deer-citizens-advisory-committee Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app You can find Robby’s books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here

Whitney Tramel is the host of the Wild Strength Podcast. As a hunter and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, she blends the two worlds of fitness and hunting in a unique way.  On today's Rokcast episode, we play her interview with Dan Gates of the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management here https://savethehuntcolorado.com/ at the recent Mile High Hunt & Fish Expo in Denver. They talk about how our win against the anti-hunters on the defeat of Proposition 127 (see We Won here) https://www.rokslide.com/we-won/ can be the framework for the battles to come, including bringing even more non-hunters under our tent of scientific wildlife management. Give it a listen and if you like Whitney's podcast "Wild Strength", give her a follow and a review where ever you listen to podasts here https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mp3bQdCA8FexXzLQnsSnE You can also follow Whitney from Wild Strength on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/whitneytramel_?igsh=MWpkMTdyZmRtbDNvYg== Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app You can find Robby’s books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here

Tipsy Tuesday #53 features bowhunting authorities Tony Trietch and Jared Bloomgren. These bowhunting diehards give us insight into their bow setups, tuning processes, and tips and tricks they use for being so successful. Hear the stories how the 200+ inch Mule Deer and 400+ inch Elk hit the ground. Josh Jensen from SKRE Gear announces the Torrid hoodie and other new releases. Justin Rasmussen joins in and tells what's new over at Razco Gear. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews and recaps the latest Western news. Rokslide Cold Bow Challenge- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/2025-cold-bow-challenge.397922/ SKRE Gear-https://skregear.com/ Razco Gear-https://www.razcogear.com/   Howl for Wildlife- Take Action Check out Rokslide's 2024 Best Gear- https://www.rokslide.com/best-gear-of-2024-rokslide-edition/ Visit Rokslide's Rokcast Forum to submit questions, request a topic or give feedback. To be a guest on Tipsy Tuesday please send an email to [email protected] [ Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app

Robby recently interviewed Rebekah Rafferty and Kevin Monteith at the Mule Deer Days in Rock Springs, Wyoming.  They talk about what a recovering mule deer herd looks like in the Wyoming Range and beyond. Topics covered: Collaring fawns specifically in recent wildfire burns Determining mortality on adults bucks What reaching carrying capacity really looks like No matter where you hunt, there is something to be learned about recovering mule deer herds in this episode Learn more about Rebekah Rafferty and her Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project here See all that the Monteith Shop does here Monteith Shop – Advancing science and management, one data point at a time. Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app You can find Robby’s books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here

Tipsy Tuesday#52 Drew Miles of Tricer takes us though some of their newest products. Drew explains the design phase, testing process, and releasing the product. Tricer micro panning, window mount, weighted glassing and shooting tripods, the new bipod and so much more are covered in this episode. Jace Johnson explains Arrow-ID the Black Ovis custom arrow builder. Phil Mendoza takes us though the 2nd annual Mile High Hunt and Fish EXPO on April 11th-13th. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews and recaps the latest Western news. Black Ovis Custom Arrow Builder-https://www.blackovis.com/arrow-id Arrow ID Review-https://youtu.be/SKPPiFifs_0 Mile High Hunt and Fish EXPO- https://milehighhuntexpo.com/   Howl for Wildlife- Take Action Check out Rokslides 2024 Best Gear- https://www.rokslide.com/best-gear-of-2024-rokslide-edition/ Visit Rokslide's Rokcast Forum to submit questions, request a topic or give feedback. To be a guest on Tipsy Tuesday please send an email to [email protected] [ Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here.