Hunting Ain't Easy

Mike Costello
  • 5.0 (46)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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!

  1. 04/15/2025

    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 Meeting Agenda 4/16: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=229367&inline FGC Meeting Documents 4/16: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=229385&inline HOWL Community Call 4/28 - Let's get organized for bear regs updates. RSVP here. https://www.howlforwildlife.org/california_community_call_wildlife_resource_committee_planning  AB 1038 & SB 818 - Bear & Lion legislation, and how to enter your support through the CA Legislative Portal (video directions) https://youtu.be/xtFcqZfKOQc?si=nxG3DJXHBkq4jQc-  HOWL Action on AB 1038: send your email here!  https://www.howlforwildlife.org/cabearab1038  HOWL Action on SB 818: send your email here! https://www.howlforwildlife.org/calion-sb818  HOWL Letter regarding Wolf Mgmt Plan: add your name to the HOWL letter! https://www.howlforwildlife.org/cawolfplan  *** #california #hunting #elk #bear #blackbear #coyote #bearhunting #deer #muledeer #deerhunting #californiahunting #waterfowl #wildlife #conservation #antelope #elkhunting #howlforwildlife

    47 min

  2. 03/24/2025

    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 wolves. It is time to identify the risks that subsidized wolves present to human communities, the economy of California and all taxpayers, and to ecosystems wherever wolves live. It is time for the CDFW to present a realistic report on the health of our mule deer, elk and antelope herds in CA, and how do those herds support 3 unmanaged apex predators sustainably?  https://www.howlforwildlife.org/cawolfplan HOWL with us. HOWL as one. When we HOWL - our voices are amplified, our message is heard and we can be effective. When we HOWL we can lead dialogue and create positive outcomes that value entire ecosystems, human communities, and wildlife. Sign on to the HOWL letter today. Take Action here --> https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  Sign on to the HOWL letter today. Take Action. Call upon the Commission and CDFW to proactively lead California out of this crisis. https://www.howlforwildlife.org/cawolfplan  *** #greywolf #wolf #wolves #california #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #conservation #ecosystems #predatorhunting #predatormanagement #elk #muledeer #tuleelk #antelope #hunting #sustainability #wildharvest #californiahunting #howlforwildlife

    51 min

  3. 03/11/2025

    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 everyone! Time to step in and help here... this will be a long campaign where we are approaching the 2nd gate, of about 7 if we are to take this all the way.  Every inch of progress is a win, and gets us closer to the next steps for improved wildlife management in California.  Take Action: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/cabearab1038  Join the HOWL Pack: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/memberships  Share this BLOG about bears. https://www.howlforwildlife.org/why_california_needs_better_bear_management   #bearhunting #blackbear #wildlifemanagement #conservation #californiahunting #blacktaildeer #muledeer #elk #rockymountainelk #bears #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #ecosystems #sustainable #wildharvest #hunting #deerhunting #elkhunting #predatormanagement #predators

    24 min

  4. 03/09/2025

    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 Retreat - Facebook  Headwaters Retreat - Instagram

    59 min

  5. 02/02/2025

    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 at the F&G Commission thinking that coyote (nongame species) need special regulations developed for hunting.  Whooaaaaa nooooo they do not. Not when we have limited resources, limited time, limited staff and there's huge pressing issues such as bear, deer, elk, bobcat and wolf management plan updates!  Mad thanks to the Bowmen Hunters in California. They're involved at the front lines right alongside HOWL for Wildlife!  Even if you're not in California you can HELP us get in front of this issue. We need to stop it, right in its tracks... there's other work to do.  Take Action. Share the podcast and the Action to your community. Advocacy works, and your voice is needed.  HOWL Pack Membership  California Bowmen Hunters - check them out HOWL Action Center  *** #coyote #hunting #california #predatorhunting #predatormanagement #ranching #livestock #depredation #predatorcontrol #coyotehunting #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #wildlife #advocacy #howlforwildlife #woolgrowers #cattle #sheep #californiacattle #lamb

    1h 9m

  6. 01/14/2025

    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 population growth in California. The known wolf population nearly doubled in California in 2024 and is now reaching past 70 animals, with 9 packs acknowledged and several additional "areas of wolf activity" identified. California could trend towards 300+ wolves in CA by 2027. Wolf numbers may grow faster than management practices and policies can evolve, and a wildlife and ecosystem crisis could be the result.  This Townhall will be a forum to learn from experts who know their way around wolf issues - including policy and practices of management. This is the beginning of several deep dives into one of the most contentious and complex wildlife issues we have in California, and really throughout North America.  Our goal at HOWL is to build deeper education into this topic, and broaden support for successful adaptive management which supports both wild and human ecosystems. The wolf management plans for California are nearly 10 years old and need to be updated. Wolf numbers may soon warrant a delisting from "endangered status", or at least down-listing in California. Plan updates and ESA/CESA changes will surely take 1-2 years to complete, during which time the wolf population in CA could grow 3-5x from current numbers. The time to start discussions that lead to plan updates is now.  After RSVP you'll receive an email with an link to the HOWL membership page and to the CDFW Gray Wolf information page. This is a members only event, please join HOWL for Wildlife.   We look forward to sharing this conversation with you, and look forward to working as a community for the success of wild ecosystems! ** #wolves #wolf #graywolf #hunting #california #conservation #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #wildlifemanagement #livestock #ranching #elkhunting #bearhunting #muledeer #deerhunting #howl #howlpack #wolfpack #howlforwildlife #colorado #oregon #washington

    4 min

  7. 01/06/2025

    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 guarantees a long fight, unresolved conflict, and more work for lawyers.  So... how do we bring stakeholders together to build effective, sustainable and adaptive mechanisms which can drive success for everyone?? We need to start talking, working together, finding shared goals and building towards those objectives.  Is California on the way to an ecosystem crisis, with more wolves than native and wild habitat can support?  Does the 9-10 year old Wolf Mgmt Plan need an update, before we are in crisis mode?  Listen in to this first of several discussions about the complex and too-often, too-emotional topic of wolves.  John Marchwick (California Wolf Watch) and I have a productive discussion, minus the hyperbole and hysterics.  HOWL For Wildlife - JOIN California Wolf Watch - Facebook  CDFW / California Dept of Fish & Wildlife - Wolf Mgmt.  HOWL for Wildlife - Instagram  ** #California #wolves #wolf #whaleback #hunting #wildlife #conservation #endangeredspeciesact #wolfrecovery #wildlifemanagement #predator #predatormanagement #wildlifeconservation #elk #muledeer #howlforwildlife

    1h 36m

  8. 01/02/2025

    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 wrong here in California, in a newly published New York Times Magazine article (Jan 2025).  NYT Magazine Article Malcolm Brooks - Substack HOWL for Wildlife - Join the Pack  ** #mountainlion #predators #hunting #california #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #predatorhunting #wildlifemanagement #predatormanagement #coexist #livingwithlions #mountainlionfoundation #cdfw #fishandwildlife #advocacy #malcolmbrooks #colorado #antihunting

    1h 20m
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5
out of 5
46 Ratings

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, 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!

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Costello
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Hunting Ain't Easy