Rokcast

Legendary outdoor writer Jim Zumbo has spent more than six decades hunting across the West, writing over 20 books, serving as hunting editor for Outdoor Life, and chasing everything from mule deer and elk to all four species of wild sheep. Jaden Bales caught up with Jim at the Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation's Sportsmen's Expo in Casper, Wyoming, for a conversation packed with hunting stories, hard-earned lessons, and a look at how Western hunting has changed over the years.

Jim takes us back to the glory days of mule deer hunting in the 1960s with greenhorns who wanted to shoot off their horse, recounts a disastrous desert bighorn sheep hunt that ended with his truck burning to the ground, and shares stories from horseback elk hunts and Alaska Dall sheep adventures. 

Beyond the stories, we get into old-school still-hunting techniques, finding mule deer in sagebrush country, the evolution of hunting technology, fair-chase ethics, and what today's hunters can learn from previous generations. Jim also shares his advice for first-time Western hunters, including managing expectations, preparing for the physical demands of elk hunting, and having a solid plan before heading into the mountains.

Originally recorded for the Hunt West Podcast, this episode is being shared on Rokcast while Jaden is out in the field during hunting season. We hope you enjoy!

Links Mentioned:

Jim Zumbo's website and books 
Hunt West Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Four pounds of glassing gear, a free AI scoring app, and a lightweight rifle built for the mountains. This episode explores gear upgrades that can improve your hunting season. If you hunt the West and want to save weight without losing performance, this conversation is for you.
Host Sam Weaver talks with Brad Carter of Altitude Outdoors about lightweight tripod systems for glassing, shooting, and scouting. Brad explains the Nano Pro fluid head, Mountain SS, and Swift TS tripods. He also shares how tripods can improve shooting positions on steep slopes, in thick brush, and during hunts with new hunters. Brad also introduces Vizirack, his AI-powered scoring and decision-making tool. The app estimates gross scores for elk, mule deer, and whitetails. In addition, it includes Quick Judge, score sheets, trophy-room organization, and hunting hit lists. Brad explains why photo quality matters and how actual score sheets can improve the system over time.
Next, Mike Moore reviews the Sitka Dew Point Ultralight Jacket. He compares the seven-ounce, three-layer shell with the regular Dew Point. He also covers durability, venting, hood design, and wind protection. As a result, listeners can better understand when ultralight rain gear makes sense in the mountains.
Closing out, Jared Bauder of Echelon Rifles discusses custom lightweight rifles, carbon fiber stocks, carbon ARCA rails, and suppressor-friendly barrel lengths. He also explains why steel barrels remain his preference and how barrel coolers can improve zeroing and load development. Talk then shifts towards the other Rokslide.com gear reviews and a recap of the latest Western news.

Vizirack - see it, score it, save it
Altitude Outdoors
Stika Dewpoint UL Review
Echelon Rifles
Echelon CF Ultralight Stock Review






Howl for Wildlife- Take Action
 


Check out Rokslide’s 2025 Best Gear- https://www.rokslide.com/best-gear-of-2025/
 


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 Sam@Rokslide.com

Ryan Avery joins Jaden this week for a no-frills conversation about choosing a suppressor for a Western hunting rifle. Ryan has owned, transferred, tested, or worked around dozens of suppressors, and he explains which features actually matter once you leave the range and start carrying one through the mountains.
They break down suppressor builds, recoil reduction, and the differences between traditional and reflex designs. Ryan explains why he prefers a lightweight, one-piece, direct-thread suppressor, how caliber-specific cans can perform differently, and how adapters, hubs, end caps, and poorly cut barrel threads can introduce additional failure points. They also discuss why decibel ratings are difficult to compare and why hunters should pay attention to measurements taken at the shooter’s ear.
The conversation eventually expands into the entire hunting rifle system. Ryan and Jaden discuss shorter barrels, manageable recoil, spotting your own impacts, realistic rifle weight, and the value of practicing with a suppressed .223 trainer. They also talk about how only one-third of rifle shots are usually taken prone, reinforcing why hunters need to practice sitting, kneeling, and building positions with a backpack, bino harness, or trekking poles.
This episode is ultimately about keeping things simple. Build a dependable rifle, eliminate unnecessary variables, practice from positions you will actually encounter, and quit trying to buy your way around a lack of experience. Buy less gear, shoot more ammunition, and put the remaining money toward tags and time in the field.
Links Mentioned:


How Loud Is It Really? from Shoot2Hunt
Sound Testing Popular Hunting Suppressors
Sound Testing Suppressors with Muzzle Brakes
Unknown Munitions and Unknown Suppressors
Rokslide Suppressor Forum

Rob Gearing explains how Spartan Precision Equipment designs field-tested bipods, tripods, and shooting support systems for hunters, long-range shooters, PRS competitors, and defense users. From Arctic testing to mountain hunts, discover how better stability leads to greater accuracy and cleaner shots. Afterwards Sam talks with Mike Smith of Rolling Bones Outdoors about helping hunters plan smarter, more successful adventures. They discuss personalized hunt strategies, vetted outfitters, gear consultations, community events, international hunts, and how expert guidance can make once-in-a-lifetime trips more accessible and less overwhelming. Followed up with Grant Jerry sharing an update on Colorado's Amendment 84, which would constitutionally protect hunting, fishing, and trapping while preserving science-based wildlife management. The campaign now heads toward the November ballot and needs everyone's support. Talk then shifts towards the other Rokslide.com gear reviews and a recap of the latest Western news.

Spartan Precision Equipment
Altai Knife
Rolling Bones Outfitters
Yes on 84
Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management






Howl for Wildlife- Take Action
 


Check out Rokslide’s 2025 Best Gear- https://www.rokslide.com/best-gear-of-2025/
 


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 Sam@Rokslide.com

How old is that buck or bull, really? Jaden visits Matson’s Laboratory in Manhattan, Montana, to sit down with lab manager A.J. Stephens and learn how wildlife teeth are used to determine the ages of deer, elk, bears, and other mammals.

A.J. explains how cementum age analysis works, why wildlife agencies send thousands of teeth to the lab, and why the method is especially valuable for understanding the age structure of an entire population. They also dig into the limitations of aging an individual animal and why antler size, body size, trail-camera history, and tooth wear can sometimes fool even experienced hunters.

The conversation includes some wild examples from the lab, including two similar-looking Montana mule deer that were 2½ and 5½ years old, a giant Montana bull that was only six, a bull that lived to 21 and died of old age, and an Alaska brown bear that was still raising a yearling at 40. They also discuss hunter selection bias, whether passing a young animal really guarantees another opportunity, and why age is only one part of what makes a hunt meaningful.

If you want Matson’s Lab to age one of your animals, remove one or preferably both front lower incisors, place them in a labeled paper envelope, and include your contact information. Paper is the key word here. Nobody at the lab wants to open a sealed plastic bag containing a rotten jaw.

Matson’s Laboratory: https://matsonslab.com/

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