PODCAST · sports
Hunting Ain't Easy
by Mike Costello
Hunting ain't easy, but we love the challenge, the opportunity and the wild places it brings us. Hosted by California hunter Mike Costello, we focus on California hunting topics (#DzoneHunting) with specific focus on public land deer and bear hunting. We believe that habitat and herd management are topics that need more attention, so look forward to guests that can shed light on what we can do as hunters and conservationists, to put more animals in the woods. Mike is an "adult onset hunter" and the score card going into 2021 seasons is: Deer 0, Bear 1. We're going to follow Mike's misadventures, scouting tactics and success. "Big buck down" is coming in '21!
Episodes
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Big (good) changes in California - Bear, Deer, Elk, Wolves and More
Hey there... there's so much coming at us in California, and a lot of it is GOOD. SHARE this podcast with your community - LET'S LEAD. First: Please SHARE the podcast so everyone is updated, informed and ready to act. Show notes: many links below that need your action, attention and advocacy. FGC...
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Leading the Call for Wolf Mgmt Plan Updates
Complaining isn't working, but advocacy will. It's time to lead... It is time to call upon the California Dept of Fish & Wildlife, and the Fish & Game Commission to refresh the 10-year old Wolf Mgmt. Plan, establish a practical and sustainable roadmap to delisting and long-term management of...
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What world are we in??? Progress with Calif. Bear Legislation, use of hounds!
AB1038 brings hounds back to the bear woods in CA, and it gives the Commission and Dept the tools needed for effective black bear management, increased harvest where warranted and more effective conflict reduction. This is a nationwide call to action - because a win in California is a win for...
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Headwaters Retreat - X6A Zone Habitat Project Update
Get involved and help us WIN - let's bring back the use of HOUNDS - for bears, support AB 1038 - for mountain lions, support SB 818 ** Headwaters Retreat - follow along and let me know if you want to reserve some time at the camp! AirBnb Link: http://airbnb.com/h/headwaters-retreat Headwaters...
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Ep 54: F&G Commission is considering coyote regulations, and what you can do?
Welcome to Hunting Ain't Easy... listen, share & take action here! . https://www.howlforwildlife.org/cacoyote The backstory on this issue is shared via Chriss Bowles (California Bowmen Hunters) and Charles & Mike (HOWL). Bottom line is that bad optics and complete lack of context has some folks…
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Jan 28th Virtual Townhall: Wolves & Lessons for California
Join HOWL for this Virtual Townhall Event: Wolves, Lessons for California HOWL for Wildlife welcomes Justin Webb (Executive Director of the Foundation for Wildlife Management) and Jessi Johnson (Government Affairs Director, Wyoming Wildlife Federation.) Wolves are on the cusp of exponential...
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Ep 52: Wolves in California - with California Wolf Watch
Join HOWL's Jan 28th "Wolf Lessons Learned" Townhall featuring Justin Webb (Foundation for Wildlife Mgmt) and Jess Johnson (Wyoming Wildlife Federation).... MEMBERS ONLY so join today! Wolves are here, and they're not going away. Planting flags of extreme support, or extreme opposition, only...
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Ep 51: Malcolm Brooks "A mountain lion attacked my nephews..."
Please... Listen and Share Malcolm Brooks is the uncle of Taylen and Wyatt Brooks, the young men who were enjoying a day of shed hunting, scouting and outdoors recreation when they were attacked by a mountain lion. Malcolm shares the story of the attack, and wildlife management policies gone…
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Rally & Support! CDFW Bringing New Hunts, More Tags
Use these links to follow along: - WATERFOWL Recommendations - BIG GAME Hunt Recommendations - Email Support and feedback by end of day 12/9: [email protected] - HOWL for Wildlife... JOIN THE PACK! - Message me on IG for Q&A - HuntingAintEasy Quick summary... CDFW is bringing regulations update...
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CWD "Emergency Regulations!" in California
This conversation is in regards to the 6/19 Commission meeting. Join the meeting via ZOOM if you can... hunters' voices are NEEDED in this forum. Short notice but dig in and listen if you can. The Commission is proposing "Emergency Regulations" in response to 2 detections of CWD (Chronic Wasting...
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Call To Action: Calif. Bear Conservation Plan COMMENTS
This is an opportunity to proactively influence a management plan document that will impact bear hunting and ecosystem management for the next 10+ years! The Calif. Dept of Fish & Wildlife has provided a (draft) 2024 Black Bear Conservation Plan for public review and input. Here at HOWL we have...
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Ep 47 California Marine "Hunting & Angling" - proposed closures, need for hunting community to rally!
Nearly 150 MILLION Americans live within 2 hours of an ocean... so the concept of "hunting the coastal waters" is something that we all need to be aware of and support. Just like hunting, angling opportunity is part of the basic human experience, and as a community we need to be concerned about...
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Ep 46 Calif. Coastal "hunting" threatened - AllWaters.org needs support
Nearly 150 MILLION Americans live within 2 hours of an ocean... so the concept of "hunting the coastal waters" is something that we all need to be aware of and support. Just like hunting, angling opportunity is part of the basic human experience, and as a community we need to be concerned about...
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Ep. 45: Howlcast Update Feb 2024 ~ Colorado attacks hunting AGAIN, Washington is a hot mess and more!
In our first syndicated HOWLCAST Update of 2024 we focus on two of the hotspots that need nationwide attention and support from the hunting and outdoors community: Washington State and Colorado. Because the anti-hunting industry uses their nationwide fundraising, legal and political power to…
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Ep 44: Where do our TAG $$$ go??? Plus - deer & bear mgmt. plans on the horizon.
"The steal our tag funds and squander them away on BS that does nothing for wildlife!!!!" This is THE rant we hear too often... but is it true? Listen in on this episode where Mike talks with the #1 expert on big game hunting regulatory process and topics in Calif. He's a hunter and has been...
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Ep 43: ”Headwaters Retreat” X-Zone habitat project...for muleys and more?
Habitat matters. Nothing else matters about wildlife populations and management if the underlying habitat isn't robust and healthy. On the bet that enhancing and restoring the forest and riparian areas of a chunk of burned land can add value and improve things for mule deer and other critters, I...
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Ep 42: Don’t call them animal rights activists. Winning the non-hunter mind. Consumptive or not, we love critters.
The attacks from a global anti-hunting (anti-human) industry are ever present. They have incrementally shifted minds and hearts by defining words while our community was not looking. Now we must enter the arena, fight to share our stories, values and the success of hunting as a sustainable tool…
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Ep 41: Vantage Point Archery, talking advocacy, single bevels + a new handgun accessory
The team over at Vantage Point Archery reached out to talk shop and we went down all the rabbit holes. Listen along as we discuss the importance of advocacy, HOWL for Wildlife, archery and of course their lineup of premium American made broadheads. Are you a hand-gunner? You'll want to learn…
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Ep 40: California mule deer hunt / last week + alpine zone + winter weather = mental grind.
Calif. end of season mule deer hunting... chasing the buck after a cold and snowy fall storm, hoping to catch them on the way towards their migration routes. I talk about some of my winter gear setup, the mental break that I had and subsequent "quit" on the hunt. Some thoughts about staying in…
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Ep 39 2023 Calif. Mule Deer Hunt Part 2
Apologies for the scratchy sound!! In Part 2 I talk through hunt days 4 through 7, with a lot of focus on a doe that I watched for nearly 9 hours and then the 7+ hour spot and stalk on a mature buck high up in an alpine basin. Everything came together in textbook style. This hunt validated so…
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Ep 38 2023 California Mule Deer Hunt - Part 1
We're back!!! 2022 and 2023 have been tough on the podcasting schedule, but this hunt is a perfect reboot for the podcast and will lead into several hunting stories, and advocacy topics that hunters here in CA need to stay engaged on. In this episode I share a little background about my new...
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Ep 37 A Conversation with a Non-Hunter
Non-hunters, anti-hunters and species-preservationists... can those of us who VALUE resource for successful wildlife management rely on any of these groups for support and alignment? Anti-hunters: no, we cannot. They would rather critters and habit fail, than have hunters participate in success…
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Ep 36 (part 2) What Irks Mike, with Charles from Howl For Wildlife
There are some things that really piss me off. This Part 2 of 2... Charles (Howl For Wildlife) is often on the receiving end of my texts, calls or emails where I'm just a bit triggered by what I consider BS in and around the hunting community. Whether it is legacy NGOs who don't pull their…
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Ep 35 - (part 1) What Irks Mike, with Charles from Howl For Wildlife
There are some things that really piss me off. This Part 1 of 2... Charles (Howl For Wildlife) is often on the receiving end of my texts, calls or emails where I'm just a bit triggered by what I consider BS in and around the hunting community. Whether it is legacy NGOs who don't pull their…
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Ep 34 Calif. WRC Meeting Recap - Crazed Anti Hunters, Small Wins for Hunting
The Wildlife Resource Committee meeting with the F&G Commission and CDFW this week brought out the WORST in the anti-hunters, and they showed up in numbers. The hunting community didn't show up in the numbers we hoped, but our voices are unique, diverse and respectful - which means we are heard...
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Ep 33 The Calif. Jan F&G meeting needs YOU: More tags, modernized draw process, improved opportunities statewide.
On Jan 11th and 12th there is a Wildlife Resource Committee meeting that needs you. How can you contribute? Email before Jan 5th. Attend in person (Sacramento). Attend via zoom! What's in play? Well here's the Agenda - Petition 2021-017: 2nd bear tag, new premium hunts statewide, modernized Big...
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Ep 32 100+ new Elk tags in CA?? Is this real life?
Hey friends, yes the CDFW and Fish & Game Commission is listening. We have a new Elk Biologist taking the lead and progressive NEW opportunities to hunt elk are coming our way. 3 new elk zones, modified seasons, increased bull and anterless tags - improving opportunities to hunt Tule Elk…
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Ep 31 2022 Backcountry Deer, Bear in CA Mountains
2022 was a tough year for my hunting - not so much because of critters, or weather, or mountain conditions. Work, family, priorities, decisions and distractions made time in the wilderness short - but it was SWEET. This podcast features my mountain musings, as I recap each day on the mountain and...
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Ep 30: WRC Committee & my trail camera journey + a mixed bag of catching up
It's been TOO MANY WEEKS since the last podcast. I've had more ideas and conversations rattling around in my head than I can count, and I should've captured those and shared them. Spring and early summer were consumed with all-the-things we try to balance and stay sane: work, family, scouting, a...
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Ep 29 (Part 2) California Mule Deer Zones (x5a/b, x6a/b, x7a/b) with Dan Ryan
Part 2 of 2. Dan Ryan is an avid hunter and outdoorsman with a profession that allows him to get to know land and habitat all over California. In this 2 part podcast Dan and I get down to talking about 6 of the most popular and accessible "draw zones" which require a Premium tag for archery,...
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Ep. 28 California Mule Deer Zones (x5a/b, x6a/b, x7a/b) with Dan Ryan, Part 1
Dan Ryan is an avid hunter and outdoorsman with a profession that allows him to get to know land and habitat all over California. In this 2 part podcast Dan and I get down to talking about 6 of the most popular and accessible "draw zones" which require a Premium tag for archery, rifle/general or...
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Ep. 27 What’s wrong with SB 856 ”the wild pig bill” - It’s a TRAP!
Charles Whitwam and I jam on the issues, problems and outright threats embedded in SB856. This California legislation has some shiny and attractive bait to attract hunters' attention, but the boring sections of the Senate Bill are NOT GOOD for California hunters, outdoors enthusiasts, farmers and...
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EP 26 Fuel The Hunt with Kyle Alton - fitness, nutrition and fueling your body through the seasons
No matter what the game is you're chasing, your overall fitness is going to limit you or it will power you. Fitness is a year-round pursuit, just like hunting. There's scouting seasons, planning seasons and hunting seasons. Keeping your body in mountain ready condition requires seasons for…
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EP 25 HOWL for Wildlife, with the creator of HOWL, Charles Whitwam
Wouldn’t it be great if the hunting community had a single platform where we could voice our support for conservation, wildlife management through hunting, and hunting rights & opportunities? What if there was a place where we could #GuardTheGate? Heck yes!! Charles Whitwam has created HOWL For...
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EP 24: John Stallone pre-AZ hunt call, post-hunt recap
As a deer hunter I'm intrigued by opportunities beyond our great state. Neighboring and nearby Western states offer habitat, terrain, tags and wildlife populations that are uniquely different, and enticing, compared to what we have available. I love big mountain back-country hunting, but the...
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EP 23: California hunting regulatory changes you can (and need to) support!!
Listen. Share. Discuss. and Support!! It's not often the hunting community can get behind hunting regulation changes with enthusiasm, but I bring you this podcast with hope and genuine optimism. For most of the last few decades it seems as though California has not evolved hunting regulations,...
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EP 22 Public Land Closure Tag Returns - Oct Fish & Game Commission meeting recap
Quick recap on the Oct. meeting of the Calif. Fish & Game Commission discussing a proposed regulatory change to provide Elk, Deer, Sheep and Antelope hunters some recourse when public land closures impact their hunts. This is a big move from CDFW and F&G to both acknowledge an issue impacting...
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Ep 21: Chasing migratory bucks after the ”bomb cyclone” - final days of DZone CA General Season
Once in many years CA gets the kind of storm that pushes migratory deer out of the high country before the end of the season, and thousands of hunters race to the hills trying to figure out where these bucks will be as they parade down from loft 10k foot basins to their 3500-4500' wintering...
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Ep 20: Buck down, hunt breakdown, mea culpa - Trail cams vs. scouting, other post-hunt thoughts
Buck down!! I should be on cloud 9, stoked, yeah? I can no longer say I'm 5 seasons in without a buck down. Many lessons learned this year, especially as I'm finding the difference between "trail cam" scouting and hunt scouting. They're not the same. Trail cams yield good intel and huge amounts…
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Ep 19 Mountain musings - live daily recaps from a short California D-Zone backcountry buck hunt
Leading into the California D-zone general season opener I ventured into the backcountry for a day of scouting and then what could have been up to 3 days hunting. Thursday night hike in, a day of scouting, glassing and checking cameras on Friday and then a solid hunt day on Saturday - with…
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Ep 18 CA Wildlife Resource Committee meeting ”Prep call - Zoom recording”
Ok so I'm hijacking the podcast platform to get a Zoom recording out so that more hunters can get a sense of what the upcoming Wildlife Resource Committee meeting (9/16/21) is all about. I'm hosting these pre-meeting calls to help hunters learn about the rule making process, and how to get…
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Ep 17 Mark Sasser ”california_tradbow_hunter” Traditional Bowhunting
After I broke my bow sight on a recent backcountry hunt, one of my first thoughts was "Mark is gonna tell me that this wouldn't happen if my bow didn't have a sight on it"! Ughh... and he did say that! Mark Sasser and I get to chat about trad-bow (aka t-rad-bow, or traditional bow hunting) life…
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Ep 16 (reposted) Backcountry solo archery mule deer - California DZone Hunt
10 days of backcountry, DIY, OTC, solo, public land, archery, mule deer hunting - turned into 6 days of adventure! Ok what can we add in to make it more difficult: wildfire smoke, haze & a drought year? In this episode I piece together 7 segments recorded while on the hunt in the central Sierra...
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Ep 15: Calif. August Fish & Game Commission Mtg Recap + prep for Sept. Wildlife Resources Committee
In this short episode I give a quick recap of the August California Fish & Game Commission meeting, where a small group of citizen hunters without any official affiliation spoke during Public Comments. It is unusual for the hunting community to join these meetings to speak of their personal...
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Bear Series Part 6 (finale!) - Bear down, 2020 Archery Bear Success
Putting a cap on the Bear Series I go solo on the podcast, the same way I hunt! In this episode I touch on how I approach purchasing new equipment and gear, get into the ups and downs of self-learned lessons of archery and bow hunting and I share a handful of bear and deer encounters that took...
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Bonus Episode: Saying hello to the California Fish & Game Commission
This episode is specific to some planning I'm doing around the 8/18/21 Fish & Game Commission meeting. While the specific date will eventually pass, the content and reason for this episode is timeless and we will do this again - so please listen up. 8/18 is the next Calif. Fish & Game Commission...
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Ep 11 Access to hunt Wildlife Refuges, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers in California
For this episode I talk with Devin O'dea from the California chapter of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. While BHA is known to stir controversy and division at the national level, the work they're doing in CA is worth a good look and I believe deserves the support of the California hunting...
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Bonus Episode: Bear Series - Bear meat care, from the shot to the pot.
From the shot to the pot, California black bears offer more than a great hunt! Meat care is of utmost importance when it comes to closing out your successful hunt, and then enjoying the harvest in the weeks and months after killing. For many experienced hunters bear meat is the #1 protein for the...
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Ep 10 Black bear series part 5 with Brian Kyncy, 4 decades of NorCal bear hunting and guiding
For Part 5 of our Black Bear hunting series we feature a great conversation with Brian Kyncy ( https://kyncyguideservice.com) a guide, hunter and fisherman with over 4 decades of experience in the woods of Northern California. Brian is passionate about bears and all their crazy quirks, possibly...
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Ep 9 California D-Zone Deer Hunting with Doug Dreher, aka The Sierra Stalker
CA deer season is coming in hot and we're all getting the itch to glass up bucks in the high-country! Doug Dreher is one of the most consistent (and persistent!) hunters in California. He's a self professed DiY, public land, OTC DZone hunter, and a weekend warrior on 9 out of 10 hunts! He...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hunting ain't easy, but we love the challenge, the opportunity and the wild places it brings us. Hosted by California hunter Mike Costello, we focus on California hunting topics (#DzoneHunting) with specific focus on public land deer and bear hunting. We believe that habitat and herd management are topics that need more attention, so look forward to guests that can shed light on what we can do as hunters and conservationists, to put more animals in the woods. Mike is an "adult onset hunter" and the score card going into 2021 seasons is: Deer 0, Bear 1. We're going to follow Mike's misadventures, scouting tactics and success. "Big buck down" is coming in '21!
HOSTED BY
Mike Costello
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Hunting Ain't Easy have?
Hunting Ain't Easy currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Hunting Ain't Easy about?
Hunting ain't easy, but we love the challenge, the opportunity and the wild places it brings us. Hosted by California hunter Mike Costello, we focus on California hunting topics (#DzoneHunting) with specific focus on public land deer and bear hunting. We believe that habitat and herd management are...
How often does Hunting Ain't Easy release new episodes?
Hunting Ain't Easy has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Hunting Ain't Easy on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Hunting Ain't Easy?
Hunting Ain't Easy is created and hosted by Mike Costello.
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