Hunting Ain't Easy

Mike Costello
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Hunting Ain't Easy

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!

  1. 18 JUN

    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 Disease) in CA.  I want the Commission and Dept. to treat other known and pre-existing "existential threats" to deer herd success with equal response. Where is the concern for deer herds being decimated by unmanaged apex predators statewide?   And IF this is a crisis... why are we only focusing on the few zones where we know CWD exists? What about the rest of the state?  Finally, the Dept is proposing "mandatory testing" without any indication of penalty for non-compliance and without significant resources in place to support the hunter sample turn-ins.  The dept is not ready to execute a good plan, and the Commission should be taking a higher level view of overall deer herd health, success and start implementing policy across the entire ecosystem.  CWD Proposal Document  Commission Meeting Agenda for 6/19  w/Zoom link Complete set of Meeting Documents

    26 min

  2. 12 JUN

    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 developed no less than 78 comments, questions and recommendations for this plan.  In this episode of @huntingainteasy I break down the core issues related to the Black Bear Conservation Plan and call upon you for fast-action to add your voice, add your HOWL so that the CDFW knows how passionate our community is about Black Bear Conservation and the use of hunting as tool which benefits bears, ungulates and humans!  Listen. Share. Take ACTION at www.howlforwildlife.org  starting Wednesday 6/12!  Resources and links:  HOWL @ IG HOWL for Wildlife website  CDFW Black Bear Conservation Plan  ** #california #bearhunting #blackbear #conservation #predatorhunting #predatormanagement #bearconservation #wildlifemanagement #deerhunting #elkhunting #muledeer #blacktaildeer #bear

    27 min

  3. 11 MAR

    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 habitat quality, access and opportunity.  Nearly 1200 pages of petitions have recently been submitted to the Calif. F&G Commission, most of them attempting to severely limit your opportunity to "hunt coastal waters" in California. Just like protecting the mtn lion hunt in Colorado, we need to become informed, and rally to support angling opportunity when it is arbitrarily threatened.  Please listen in follow the below links and and help us take action... **We need to stop these MPA expansions and closures in order to maintain angling access and opportunity in our coastal waters**  - Email the Calif. F&G Commission: fgc@fgc.ca.gov  - Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif. - Action Item - AllWaters.org - online - AllWaters.org - Instagram - Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif - IG  - HOWL for Wildlife - Action Center  #marine #angling #spearfishing #california #fishing #offshorefishing #surfing #sportfishing #surffishing #hunting #advocacy #backcountryhunters #bha #allwaters #howlforwildlife

    45 min

  4. 11 MAR

    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 habitat quality, access and opportunity.  Nearly 1200 pages of petitions have recently been submitted to the Calif. F&G Commission, most of them attempting to severely limit your opportunity to "hunt coastal waters" in California. Just like protecting the mtn lion hunt in Colorado, we need to become informed, and rally to support angling opportunity when it is arbitrarily threatened.  Please listen in follow the below links and and help us take action... **We need to stop these MPA expansions and closures in order to maintain angling access and opportunity in our coastal waters**  - Email the Calif. F&G Commission: fgc@fgc.ca.gov  - Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif. - Action Item - AllWaters.org - online - AllWaters.org - Instagram - Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif - IG  - HOWL for Wildlife - Action Center  #marine #angling #spearfishing #california #fishing #offshorefishing #surfing #sportfishing #surffishing #hunting #advocacy #backcountryhunters #bha #allwaters

    29 min

  5. 8 FEB

    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 attack at the local and state level, it has become crystal clear that hunters, anglers and supporters of true wildlife conservation need to rally together. The threats that face WA and CO this year can and will surface in dozens of other states - either by forcing changes to predator management, methods of take, taking away trapping or removing your ability to hunt/trail/track/retrieve game with sporting dogs & hounds.    HOWLCAST and HOWL For Wildlife is a resource for our community. In line with the conversation in this Feb. 2024 update, please follow and share the following online resources and social media:    HOWL for Wildlife - join and take action with us.   Save The Hunt Colorado - follow, share and donate today.  Howl - on Instagram Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt - on Instagram    ** Looking for a GREAT 4-season adventure cabin in the Sierra Nevada?  Check out "2 Dog Lodge" and "Camp Leland". Both of these dog-friendly cabins offer year-round access and are within minutes of some excellent deer and bear hunting habitat.  Bring the family and enjoy some mountain time, or use the cabins for base-camping while you're chasing critters during the day.    #Colorado #Washington #trophyhunting #wolves #mountainlion #California #hunting #elk #elkhunting #deerhunting #muledeer #bear #bearhunting #blackbear #advocacy #wildlife #conservation

    1h 24m

  6. 28 JAN

    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 working as a lobbyist to represent hunters and conservation groups in Calif. for many years. Listen in and tell me what you think.  ALSO: coming up in 2024 and 2025... expect new bear and deer mgmt plans. These are going to be EPIC projects that will certainly spur some big debate, but should advance wildlife management AND balance opportunity with sustainable populations of the critters we love.  Resources:  Hunting Ain't Easy - like, follow & share!  HOWL for Wildlife - join, take action and win for hunting and wildlife conservation!  CDFW - Big Game Mgmt Account  CDFW - SHARE program  California Fish & Game Commission Calendar - get involved!  Cabins in the woods... "2 Dog Lodge" and "Camp Leland"    #california #wildlife #conservation #hunting #deerhunting #bearhunting #citizenadvocacy #blackbear #muledeer #elkhunting #blacktaildeer #californiahunting #howl #howlforwildlife

    58 min

  7. 22/12/2023

    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 just bought myself a habitat project!  Listen in and follow along... as this multi-year project is just getting started!  "Plumas Headwaters Retreat" on IG HOWL for Wildlife online  Camp Leland - Tiny Cabin for Big Adventures @ 6300'  2 Dog Lodge - Camp Connell @ 5000'    #conservation #habitat #dixiefire #timberstandimprovement #riparianhabitat #fireremediation #muledeer

    33 min

  8. 15/12/2023

    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 for wildlife success and conservation.  In this episode:  - Winning the minds of non-hunters - Don't call them animal rights activists  - Consumptive and non-consumptive users have the same goals.  How to engage and participate as a hunter-advocate - go to HOWL for Wildlife Looking for an amazing cabin to explore, relax and have fun in the Sierra Nevada... check out "2 Dog Lodge" and "Camp Leland".  Want to support hunting rights in Colorado in 2024... donate to Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt.    #trophyhunting #hunting #conservation #colorado #deerhunting #bearhunting #mountainlion #animalrights #wildlife #howlforwildlife

    37 min
See All (49)

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 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!

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Costello
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Hunting Ain't Easy

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