Roe Hunting Resources' Podcast

Chris just got back from the Kansas City area and the elk seminar he did on Saturday night in conjunction with John Overton and the KS City area chapters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation at Overton's Archery Center. A great turn-out resulted in some great discussions that made the four hours of the evening fly by! In this episode, Chris touches on:

– Some of what was discussed at the seminar;

– What RHR's Elk Hunting Institute Elk Module has inside the "walls" of its on-line video "Library";

– Working Smarter vs Harder;

– Thoughts on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and how it relates to State agencies and non-resident hunters;

– Colorado wolf ballot initiative that SHOULD be happening, and the apparent lack of sportsmen leadership on the issue these days; and

– More!

Chris is finally back behind the microphone after a bit of a delay, and covers:

– What's been going on since last week's podcast;

– The state of habitat work so far this season;

– General "shittery" in people – sportsmen or otherwise;

– Corn piles, and a lovely thing called Aflatoxin (and implications for deer and turkey);

– RHR Elk Hunting Institute/Elk Module guidance for new subscribers;

– and More!

Wild turkey populations are in decline across much of the U.S., and northwest Kansas (heck...Kansas in general) is right there in the thick of it, despite what the State, and many hunting outfitters, may want you to believe. In this episode, Chris dives into what his observations lead him to believe to be the cause of the catastrophic decline of Rio Grande wild turkeys populations in northwest Kansas – BEYOND just the brutal drought cycle that part of the State is in – and what might need to be done to get [at least] this region OUT of this troubling trend. In this episode, Chris discusses:

– Agricultural crop rotation changes, and the move away from a winter wheat dominated landscape;

– Changes in cattle/pasture/"waste-ground" management;

– Changes in native habitat landscapes;

– Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) changes/management;

– The subsidization of raccoon and other mesopredator populations;

– Realities surrounding the mantra of "It's just habitat, habitat, habitat!";

– Possible "what–to–do–about–its"; and

– More

After a timely professional publication came in the mail last week that had so many articles in it that perfectly dove-tailed into what Chris has been talking about recently, there was no way he couldn't NOT talk about them! This podcast covers:

– How Chris evaluates where to put his money with regard to Conservation and/or Sportsmen's Advocacy groups;

– The possible return of the "Old Man" buck from last fall/winter;

– Acceptable predator management (and by the way, yours isn't);

– Captive breeding/rearing efforts for conservation of species;

– Why are certain things OK for non-game species that sportsmen can't get a conversation on regarding game species; and

– More!

It's Monday morning again, and Chris is behind the microphone late on Sunday night – this time talking about:

– How he blew out his vocal chords resulting in this squeaky podcast discussion;

– The challenges associated with land management and Mother Nature screwing you (aka Extreme Drought);

– CWD in Northwest Kansas and implications on deer management/harvest potential;

– Habitat management for ground-nesting birds versus predator management, and the realities of each;

– Another brief touch on "Is Hunting Conservation???";

– A teaser regarding Chris' "Sportsmen's Advocacy Burnout";

– Turkey "Reaping" aka "Fanning" and is it the cause/major contributor of turkey population decline?; and

– What's ahead for future discussions!

Chris drags himself into the studio absolutely WOOPED after two long days of hard labor simply because he didn't listen to the "little voice" in his head last summer when he put up the steel buildings at the horse property, and so in this episode, he cautions you to NOT do the same, and:

– Shares updates on what's been going on;

– Talks about the challenges/status of habitat projects;

– Shares his observations regarding "social media hunters" and their perceived "conservation" focus; and then

– Finishes by teasing the question, "IS hunting conservation???"

Chris has been friends with Bill Vanderheyden of Iron Will Outfitters for some time now, so when Bill called him last week to chat about a segment he heard in the nearly 8-hour Kifarucast podcast marathon with Aron Snyder, it quickly became evident that the quick chat to catch up was going to be oh-so-much more than that, and that their discussion ought to be a podcast in and of itself. Two days later, they sat down, and talked about all SORTS of broadhead engineering topics that many of you might find interesting. Give it a listen, and let us know what you think! Just like Roe Hunting Resources, you can find Iron Will Outfitters website info/social media pretty much anywhere you want to find them under their name – Iron Will Outfitters.

The original intent of this podcast episode was to deep-dive into Roe Hunting Resources' first turkey hunt of the 2022 season – the youth hunt with the Matheson family. But...as usual, life happens, and an unintentional result of watching the series finale of Ricky Gervais' "After Life" sent Chris in an entirely different direction. Give it a listen – regardless of whether you're a parent or not, whether you take youth hunters into the field or not, or whether you give a rip about turkey hunting or not. At some point, you'll look at life – your hunting, your family, your kids, or whatnot – from BOTH sides, now; take stock in the "Good 'ol Days" you're living through right now, appreciate them, soak them in, and set yourself up for success – and minimal regrets – later. [and I mentioned Ricky Gervais hosting the Oscars... I meant the Golden Globe Awards ceremony]

2022 Kansas turkey season is upon us, and there are some things folks ought to keep in mind before they head this way this year; the downward trend in numbers seems to be continuing! In this episode, Chris touches on a few topics related to this, including:

– Maybe holding off on getting your second "Game Tag" (or even your license in general)before scouting your bird numbers/public ground;

– Habitat changes and statements regarding what Chris refers to as "Pollyanna" wildlife/habitat management;

– What crop rotation changes over time have likely contributed to turkey declines at least in parts of NW KS;

– The need at some point to talk predator management;

– Those who say "I'll Never Pay a DIME!" to hunt on private property;

– Not over harvesting your birds; and

– More.

Jay Scott of Jay Scott Outdoors joins the discussion once again, this time talking:

– How he manages hundreds of hunts in Mexico each year;

– Turkey hunting, calling, and what could make folks more successful;

– Sportsmen "issues" these days and the future of hunting;

– The U.S. Economy, Russia issues, and how he's planning for the near future;

– The New World Order and the Great Reset; and

– His offer to Extra-Terrestrial Aliens should they come to Earth and want to go on a hunt!

This one has some substance! LOL!