Robby hosts a great buck hunter on today's Rokcast: James Yates.  James has taken nine big bucks in the last several seasons on mostly easy-to-obtain tags, but it was the 2024 season that pushed him over the top. James took three big bucks in just a few weeks' time across three western states. Two of those bucks are knocking on 200" gross, too.

James and Robby jump into how this incredible season unfolded, from the scouting to the starving, the lack of sleep to the seconds leading up to the shots, to the weapons, the areas, and much more.

This is a big episode with many takeaways on what it takes for a guy to find big bucks in this day and age.

James is also the Archery/Hunting Editor for Western Hunter Magazine.  Check out one of his recent articles here Backcountry Passage: The Best Methods of Transit in the Wilderness - Western Hunter

See some of James Yates winning photos here (2020 Best Bull Elk Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kifaru | Rokslide Forum

Tipsy Tuesday#44 Steve Evans and his journey to build the perfect custom rifle. While Steve has only been into big game hunting for a handful of years, he has built multiple high end custom rifles. He shares experiences along the journey of what to look for in a smith, parts and calibers. Matt Cashell then reviews the Vortex Razor UHD 32mm https://www.rokslide.com/vortex-razor-uhd-32mm-binoculars-review/. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews [https://www.rokslide.com/category/gear/] and recaps the latest Western news.

Huntnful review thread- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/custom-rifle-journey-review-pic-heavy.344621/

Howl for Wildlife https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action 

Details on the Rokslide best Hunting Photo contest below-

Elk-2024 Best Elk Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kifaru

Mule Deer-2024 Best Mule Deer Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kryptek

Sheep-2024 Best Wild Sheep Hunt Photo Contest, by Stone Glacier

Whitetail Deer-2024 Best Whitetail Photo Contest, sponsored by First Lite

 

Check out Rokslides 2023 Favorite Gear- Here

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 hosts whitetail hunter Beau Martonik of the East Meets West podcast.  In this episode, they dive deep into the intersection of hunting big mule deer and big whitetails.  Although two different species living in different habitats, these guys have discovered there is an overlap in behavior of the big bucks of both species.  Overlaps like an affinity for heavy cover, similar home ranges (at certain times of the year), and the ability to evade most hunters.  They also discuss the differences in the pursuit of the best bucks of each species.

Beau Martonik talks about how he uses trail cameras as one tool for finding big bucks, but not the only tool, and Robby agrees.  They talk about specific tactics for the specific times of the fall like pre-rut, post rut, late season and nuances in between.

Whitetail hunters, especially those hunting the big woods of the Eastern US, have a lot in common with mountain mule deer hunters of the West.  Listen in and enjoy the discussion with Beau Martonik and Robby.

You can follow the East Meets West Podcast here East Meets West Hunt Podcast - Apple Podcasts

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

Mule Deer Hunting on Antlelope Island in the Great Salt Lake is probably one of the more unique hunting opportunities in the world. At auction, this tag broke multiple records for dollars raised. What most people forget, is the other tag available through the Utah draw process to a lucky recipient.

Chuck Carpenter was the guy that drew the 2024 public tag on the Island and his story has to be one of my favorite stories from this hunting season.

We dive into the history of the island, how he kept drawing the tag a secret between him and a few close friends, his scouting process, the terrain, habitat and big buck behavior. A great tale of what it was like to be able to hunt and squeeze the most out of a super rare opportunity with his hunting buddies.

This was a lot of fun to be able to hear this story, and I think you'll appreciate how much Chuck enjoyed this experience and all the work they put into getting the most out of it.

Chuck with his 2024 Antelope Island Buck..... Look at those bases!

See more from Chuck here on his Instagram Page

Some more similar content on getting really special tags-

If I had a Governors Tag Podcast

As always, join the thousands of discussions on Rokslide.com

Tipsy Thursday #43 is Travis Hobbs Alaskan Brown Bear hunt. Travis walks us though the entire process from outfitter selection to the gear he used that made this adventure successful. If an Alaskan Brown Bear hunt is on your bucket list give Travis's tips and tricks a listen. then Matt Cashell reviews the Kowa 55 TSN. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews [https://www.rokslide.com/category/gear/] and recaps the latest Western news.

Matt Cashell Kowa 55 TSN review-https://www.rokslide.com/kowa-prominar-tsn-55a-review/

Howl for Wildlife https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action 

Details on the Rokslide best Hunting Photo contest below-

Elk-2024 Best Elk Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kifaru

Mule Deer-2024 Best Mule Deer Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kryptek

Sheep-2024 Best Wild Sheep Hunt Photo Contest, by Stone Glacier

Whitetail Deer-2024 Best Whitetail Photo Contest, sponsored by First Lite

 

Check out Rokslides 2023 Favorite Gear- Here

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

Corey's Big Buck Taken at 70 yards

It's all about rifles for hunting big mule deer on today's episode.  Robby hosts fellow buck hunter Corey Dixon to talk about how they both arrived at similar rifle systems independent from one another.  They talk about average shot distance on their last 10 big mule deer and why this distance requires a certain class of rifles and optics (they're not saying other systems won't work).  These 10 different scenarios also demonstrate why a hunter needs to be able to react quickly on some shots and needs a fast-handling, quick-shooting rifle.

A few highlights of their rifles:

-Less than 7.75lbs

-Non dialable scopes

-Flat shooting calibers with bullets under 143 grains

They also talk about how they practice in the off-season with these rifles.  Listen in to their interesting discussion on rifles for hunting big mule deer.

You can listen to a previous episode with Corey on his 192 NET B&C buck here 192 Net Boone & Crockett Typical Mule Deer - Rokslide

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

Photo Courtesy of Dustin Wittwer/The Huntian

Everyone wants better mule deer hunting, but what is that really? Bigger herds? Better bucks? Better draw odds? Less opportunity for other hunters besides ourselves? Or something else altogether?

Travis and Robby discuss some changes that could be on the horizon in at least three western states: Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Travis also shares some of scouting experiences since his seasons closed.

If you want better mule deer hunting, you need to get involved now.  Below are links to some of the proposals discussed, and links to public meetings (some can be attended virtually).  The future is ours, we just need to get involved and debate all the ideas out there to make the best decision for the future of mule deer.

Utah Division of Wildlife 2025 Mule Deer Proposals

https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/2014-dwr-recommends-updates-to-deer-management-plan-and-hunt-strategies-research.html

Idaho Southeast Idaho Mule Deer Committee

https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/southeast-idaho-mule-deer-advisory-committee-efforts-are-underway

Idaho Technology Committee

https://idfg.idaho.gov/hat-working-group

Wyoming Mule Deer Community Conversation Meeting times and Locations

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events?type_1=event

 

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

Hey Rokcast world! it’s a good day when we can defeat one of the biggest threats mounted against the North American Wildlife Conservation model in decades. Colorado Voters recently defeated Colorado Proposition 127 which would have taken management of Colorado’s mountain lions, bobcats--and potentially all huntable species--out of the hands of wildlife biologists. It was a big win for hunters.

The defeat of Colorado Proposition 127 was led in part by Dan Gates of the CRWM here, among others. Dan was a frequent guest on the Rokcast here Podcast Archives - Rokslide during the last year, helping hunters understand what was at stake if Proposition 127 would’ve passed.

Today we host Dan again to tell us how we won, and what the future holds if we want to ensure sound wildlife management continues in the USA.

Besides a big thanks to some of the industry names that came together like HOWL, Steve Rinella/Meateater Randy Newburg, GoHunt, Cam Hanes, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Derek Wolf, Jason Matzinger, the Mule Deer Foundation and many others, we want to thank some of the Rokslide members who helped out too. From money donated, to time spent, to talking to non-hunters, here are just a few (there were many more) of the Rokslide members who helped defeat Colorado Proposition 127:

Corbland

Bluumoon

gburk

Ucsdryder

wyogoat

LFC911

Nicaburns

sndmn11

BTLowry

Poser

sodaksooner

h2so4

Turkeygetpwnd38

ElDiablito

Thanks to these and all these Rokslide members who helped defeat this major threat to scientifically based wildlife management. You can view just a few of the many threads created by members on the Rokslide forum here

Please continue to support C.R.W.M. here as there are already more battles to win.

Travis Hobbs wraps up this episode with a preview to an upcoming episode he's working on about managing for better bucks without continuing to just decrease licenses.

Robby hosts today's episode.  He gives a Mule Deer Rut update and how it relates to the moon phase. Tapping into previously published whitetail research by the late Charles Alsheimer, Robby relates it to what he and other hunters have observed in the field.

Robby also dives into a recent successful buck hunt and an unsuccessful one too, further illustrating the difference in simply moving in deer country and actual still-hunting. He also documents the furthest distance between two sightings of the same buck in the same season but outside of the migration.  Even he was surprised.

Finally, he talks about the typically necessary amount of time a hunter needs to give a fresh snow before looking for those big blocky tracks that make our hearts jump.

He wraps up the episode with a discussion on "hunting burnout", something that is experienced by many hunters who push the limits.  Learn to recognize burnout and how to keep it from ruining your hunt.

From the mule deer rut update, to a buck story, to managing burnout, there is something for everyone in this episode.

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 #42 has Mark Denham general manager of Outdoorsmans sharing his company's history and innovations. Everything from their humble beginnings, to building a product lineup that has revolutionized how hunters use their optics, no stone is left unturned. Mark even spills the secrets of what Outdoorsmans innovations are in the works. Matt Cashell takes a deep dive into the Ziess Conquest HDX. Lathrop and son's details what's important with boot outsoles. Sam then shifts the talk toward the other Rokslide.com gear reviews [https://www.rokslide.com/category/gear/] and recaps the latest Western news.

Outdoorsmans Tripod Holster-https://outdoorsmans.com/products/outdoorsmans-tripod-holster

Matt Cashell Innegra Tripod & Gen 2 head review-https://www.rokslide.com/outdoorsmans-g2-carbon-innegra-tripod-and-g2-pan-head-review/

Matt Cashell Ziess HDX review-https://www.rokslide.com/zeiss-conquest-hdx-review/

Lathrop and Son's-https://lathropandsons.com/collections/mountain-hunter

John Stallone Prop 134-https://johnstallone.me/arizona-prop-134-just-my-take-important-for-sportsmen/

 

Details on the Rokslide best Hunting Photo contest below-

Elk-2024 Best Elk Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kifaru

Mule Deer-2024 Best Mule Deer Hunt Photo Contest, sponsored by Kryptek

Sheep-2024 Best Wild Sheep Hunt Photo Contest, by Stone Glacier

Whitetail Deer-2024 Best Whitetail Photo Contest, sponsored by First Lite

Vote No Proposition 127 and Donate to CRWM here-https://secure.anedot.com/colorado-s-wildlife-deserve-better/donate

Howl for Wildlife https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action 

Check out Rokslides 2023 Favorite Gear- Here

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