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Introduction to the BowCast Biology Blog PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Chris Roe   
Monday, 25 August 2008
Well, Aneal twisted my arm, and talked me into putting together a blog for everyone in the BowCast community.  ...actually, he didn’t have to do any twisting at all – I enjoyed being able to help out on some of the episodes, and enjoyed your questions and comments, so when he asked if I’d put together a Blog for BowCast, I said “You bet!”

As this is a diverse hunting community with folks scattered across the U.S. with a variety of hunting passions, experiences, and goals, I encourage folks to chime in, ask questions, and spark topics as much as you want!  For my blog entries, I’ll share bits and pieces of my experiences – both in the field as a hunter, as well as a wildlife biologist – regarding wildlife/animal behavior, and how we can use their natural tendencies to our advantage.  As you probably know by now, I live in Colorado, and therefore have a PILE of critters and hunting seasons to chat about.  For those of you out here in the west, I hope you have plenty of opportunities to put my ramblings and thoughts to the test.  For those of you that don’t live out here – no worries – I’ve had the good fortune of growing up in Upstate New York, and living for a while in northern Wisconsin chasing everything from gray squirrels to 300lb monster whitetails; I won’t leave you guys and gals out!  I also just got back from an Africa trip this year!  Oh... we’ll being talking about Africa!!!!

Here’s my thought... as we progress from season to season, species to species, I’ll interject a few ideas, tips, and tactics that I think might help anyone lucky enough to be out there chasing critters and trying to fill a tag.  Since a lot of folks are out on the prairie right now chasing pronghorn with their bows, we just might have to start with that!

I look forward to chatting with everyone, and hope I can add to everyone’s freezer and trophy room!

Chris Roe


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Water,water everywere!
written by fatcoyote, August 25, 2008
Chris with all the rain that has fallen over the past few weeks here in Colorado. Creating alot of small water holes everywhere. Would you recommend placing anything at waterhole to keep antelope from drinking there.
Matt
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written by Chris Roe, August 25, 2008
Hey! No jumping ahead! smilies/wink.gif Dealing with that exact issue was going to be the next blog entry!

As usual here in Colorado, late August into early September usually sees us getting a bunch of rain throughout at least the eastern half of the State. For us, pronghorn season open on the 15th of August, and depending on when the rains come, sitting water holes can be quite productive. If the rains come in during the last part of August, the first week of season usually sees pronghorn congregated around the few shrinking water holes or flowing stock tanks that are left after a long, hot, dry summer. If the rains come early - like they did this year, literally ON opening day through the first three to four days of season - every cattle track and small depression can have water in it. Pronghorn that were once locked into a water hole are now running around like children on the first day of summer vacation! If that wasn't bad enough, late summer rains usually equal another round of "green up" of prairie grasses and forbs, turning a brown, dry wasteland into a giant dinner plate full of groceries!

So now what?!?!?! Can they still be hunted over water? Is it worth hunting while there's water everywhere, or should a hunter wait, or just give up? Is there anything about these critters and their biology or behavior that we can exploit at this time of year? Hmmm... sounds like another Blog entry to me...

Chris
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written by DeRyderM, August 26, 2008
Hello Chris,

As a whitetail hunter I have always been interested with the biology behind white tail forage. By this I mean the certain items like maple leaves have no appeal to dear until they turn and then they eat them up. I believe that this is because as fall nears the leaves go through a chemical change and they are loaded with sugars that deer need to push through the winter. This is similar with certain farm crops and some grasses like brassica I think

Your thoughts on such topics as well as food items for food plots would be appreciated. I have heard things like cow peas are very attractive to deer in the earlier season and with their presence it will divert their attention from other items so your food plots aren't decimated by the time season rolls around, or in the alternative, gives them something to chew on while the other forage is becoming ripe for their liking.

Another topic I would like to hear your opinion on is the 'secret formula' for monster racks, genetics aside, what seems to be vital... water, salts, protein, etc.

Look forward to reading your blog and want to thank you for joining the team and offering your insight.

Mike D
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ELK RUT?
written by fatcoyote, September 22, 2008
Chris
What is the most imporant trigger to the Elk rut? Calander date, tempature, or moon phase.
Matt (fatcoyote)
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written by Chris Roe, September 28, 2008
Mike D - you caught me just before our elk season, so I apologize for the late response. We'll definitely talk about some of that.

Matt, great question, so I put my thoughts on the topic in the next blog...

Chris Roe

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