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Hunting ain't easy, but we love the challenge, the opportunity and the wild places it brings us. Hosted by California hunter Mike Costello, the podcasts digs into California hunting topics with specific focus on public land deer and bear hunting. We believe that habitat improvement, herd management and predator management are topics that need more attention. Look forward to guests who will 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
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
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 "Sponsors"... (HA!) "2 Dog Lodge" and "Camp Leland". As always I also encourage you to click over to HOWL for Wildlife - and take action!
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Camp Leland – Tiny Cabin for Big Adventure, surrounded by Stanislaus National Forest at 6300’ elevation this cabin in the woods is your perfect outpost for D6 zone hunting, scouting, hiking, fishing adventure and relaxation. Sleeps 2 to 4, plus offers garage access for vehicles, trailers and toys.
Howl For Wildlife – wildlife and conservation success are deeply intertwined with hunter rights and opportunities. As a community we must advocate for our interests. HOWL together to send messages supporting hunting and balanced wildlife management to the right stakeholders so that we can protect the lifestyle and the wildlife that we love to see on the landscape.
2 Dog Lodge – Camp Connell @ 5000’ – Our cabin in the woods off HWY 4 is the best family-friendly and dog-functional cabin you’ll find. With sleeping arrangements for up to 8 guests (including the sofa bed), easy access, year-round plow service and a fenced yard this cabin in the woods is relaxing, fun and located close to 4-seasons full of mountain adventures.
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
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 for wild-life. Species-preservationist: no again. They don't believe humans are part of the natural world and deny any role hunters can/should play which interacts with wildlife.
Non-hunters: yes, we can align values with this group. I believe that absolutely, 100%, the hunting community MUST gain do better to communicate with our non-hunting friends, neighbors, coworkers and family. We will never "recruit, retain, reactivate" our way to a majority position in states like WA, CA, OR and maybe even AZ. The anti-hunting orgs do massive fundraising from West/East coast metropolitan areas, because the population there is disconnected from hunters and wildlife mgmt issues.
We must take over the arena of ideas, dialogue and leadership in wildlife mgmt and hunting - and that means sharing our realness, personalizing and normalizing hunting in the minds of non-hunters.
I believe this conversation with a non-hunter is interesting to you, and opens the door to more of your stories being shared broadly, even where you're not sure they'll be supported.
https://huntingainteasy.podbean.com/
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Friday Jan 20, 2023
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 weight, or anti-hunting orgs who corrupt data and manipulate the hunting community.. or actual "hunters" who think hiding our adventure and success is the way to protecting what we love.
Agree or disagree, let me know.
Want to get involved and support a media campaign that nurtures support for quality wildlife management and hunting as intrinsic human right? LET US KNOW... Join Howl For Wildlife.
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Friday Jan 20, 2023
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 weight, or anti-hunting orgs who corrupt data and manipulate the hunting community.. or actual "hunters" who think hiding our adventure and success is the way to protecting what we love.
Agree or disagree, let me know.
Want to get involved and support a media campaign that nurtures support for quality wildlife management and hunting as intrinsic human right? LET US KNOW... Join Howl For Wildlife.
Saturday Jan 14, 2023
Saturday Jan 14, 2023
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 much better by the Dept and F&G. Meeting Documents linked here.
This 1-hour discussion is a recap of the highs and lows of the WRC meeting, with some commentary on our NEED to show up (here and with F&G) and the NEED to share our hunting stories and values with people who are in the non-hunting camp. If we don't define the conversation, words and values of hunting - then the crazed looney-tunes anti-hunters will define us, and that is not good for hunting, conservation or wildlife.
Biggest Wins: the Dept will bring to rulemaking new regs to close the loophole that enables individual hunters to pull high-point value tags every year, without ever fully going "to the back of the line". "the Grandma loophole will be closed - and our Big Game Draw will be better, more equitable and fairer because of it.
Please consider following or bookmarking these pages:
www.instagram.com/huntingainteasy
www.instagram.com/howlforwildlife.org
https://fgc.ca.gov/Meetings/2023 (2023 Fish & Game meetings in CA)
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
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 Game draw system
- Bear mgmt plan update: we must be listening and contributing to this today.
- Elk mgmt plan update: new zones, more tags, improved opportunity!
One click to send your support for our HOWL petition... "vote - send - share".
Got questions... hit me up via Instagram @HuntingAintEasy let's talk!
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Monday Dec 26, 2022
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, Roosevelt Elk and Rocky Mountain Elk in California?
How does our hunting community support and guide this across the line for a real win??
1) Get informed... check out the links here.
- Dec. F&G Commission Elk Report
2) Get active... join HOWL for Wildlife and become a voice of support!! CA F&G Commission and CDFW are listening, and hunter-advocates are becoming the leaders when it comes to conservation discussions. Join us!
3) Send comments and then attend Jan. 11-12th Wildlife Resource Committee meeting. We need to guide the WRC to support 2021-017; support a 2nd bear tag as part of the 2023 Bear Mgmt Plan; support new Premium deer hunts!
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Monday Dec 26, 2022
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 share thoughts as the hunt evolved. I got to ride out a nice little snow/wind/rain storm, saw a lot of deer and put a bear in my sights too!
Follow along and hope you enjoy the stories.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/huntingainteasy
HOWL for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Sunday Jul 24, 2022
Sunday Jul 24, 2022
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 9-day spring bear hunt, checking and setting trail cameras in 7 different backcountry areas!
Follow along in this podcast as I share my trail-camera journey, from 1 area in a single zone to 7 different areas across 5 different zones in CA. I've officially maxed out my trail camera scouting capacity.
Next up I'll do my best to share the Oregon spring bear hunt, some of my CA deer season strategies and trail camera updates as I check on the cameras in areas I will hunt this fall!
Become an advocate for hunting and conservation @ HOWL for Wildlife !
Thursday May 05, 2022
Thursday May 05, 2022
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, rifle/general or muzzleloader hunt opportunities. Any hunter with 3 to 17 points in California is probably considering hunting or scouting these zones as they offer diverse terrain, high quality hunts and the potential for a truly great California buck.
You can reach out to Dan directly via the Bureau of Land Mgmt, in the Susanville CA office: 530-249-8559 or Email dryan@blm.gov
California Big Game Draw resources are found in the Big Game Digest... we have until June 2nd to put in for the draw, so it's time to study and make some choices.
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Want to protect hunting rights, opportunity and support quality wildlife mgmt across all states and all species - follow HOWL For Wildlife!
#Hunting #MuleDeer #California #Bear #Deer #Conservation #Wildlife