Hunting Ain't Easy

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…

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 -->…

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…

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

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 -…

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…

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.…

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

Use these links to follow along: - WATERFOWL Recommendations - BIG GAME Hunt Recommendations - Email Support and feedback by end of day 12/9: fgc@fgc.ca.gov - HOWL for Wildlife... JOIN THE PACK! - Message me on IG for Q&A - HuntingAintEasy Quick summary... CDFW is bringing regulations update package for Commission review and discussion (and decision!). It all adds up to more hunting opportunity, science-based wildlife mgmt decisions. Let's rally some support for this work, while we lean into the other hot topics that are coming up in 2025.

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…

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…

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 -…

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 -…

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 -…

"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…

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

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

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 about the new compensator from Vantage Point Armory!! Click through, comment, follow and engage! Vantage Point Archery - IG Vantage Point Archery - online HOWL for Wildlife - your fast & effective hunter advocacy portal Camp Leland - D6 Zone Adventure Cabin 2 Dog Lodge - Camp Connell, D5 Zone Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt #archery #vantagepoint #americanmade #hunting #bowhunting #howlforwildlife #conservation #deerhunting #bearhunting #muledeer #2A #handgun #broadheads

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 the game instead of giving myself an "out" from the grind of wind, snow and cold. Let me know your thoughts @ Instagram "HuntingAintEasy" #muledeer #californiahunting #backcountryhunting #nationalforest #deerhunting #muledeercountry #muledeerhunting #publiclandhunting *** 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. https://camp_leland.staydirectly.com/ https://airbnb.com/h/camp-leland Howl For Wildlife – wildlife and conservation success are deeply intertwined with…

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 many lessons from master muley hunters, it was incredible to experience and replay - and this hunt will form the basis for many future adventures I have new levels of confidence in the skills and tactics that helped it yield success. Please visit the sponsors below :) ** 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. https://camp_leland.staydirectly.com/ https://airbnb.com/h/camp-leland Howl For Wildlife – wildlife and conservation success are deeply intertwined with…

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! ** 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. https://camp_leland.staydirectly.com/ https://airbnb.com/h/camp-leland 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…

Non-hunters, anti-hunters and species-preservationists... can the communities who value hunting as a tool and resource for successful wildlife management rely on any of these groups for support and alignment? 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…

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. Hunting is Human Hunting Ain’t Easy Howl for Wildlife Take Action Here

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. Hunting is Human Hunting Ain’t Easy Howl for Wildlife Take Action Here

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…

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!

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 Meeting Video - 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!

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/

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 ! HuntingAintEasy @ Instagram

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. Follow Hunting Ain’t Easy on Instagram Want to protect hunting rights, opportunity and support quality wildlife mgmt across all states and all species - follow HOWL For Wildlife! #Hunting #MuleDeer…

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. Follow Hunting Ain’t Easy on Instagram Want to protect hunting rights, opportunity and support quality wildlife mgmt across all states and all species - follow HOWL For Wildlife! #Hunting #MuleDeer…

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 ranchers. OPPOSE SB856.

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 building strength, seasons for building endurance, and seasons for performing. No matter what season you’re in, the fuel you put into your body will affect the outcome. Food, water, nutrients, supplements need to be sync’d to your training plan and your goals. I got to spend some time with Kyle Alton to chat about hunting, and fueling the body for optimal performance. Kyle is an experienced hunter and personal trainer (10+ years), and he’s merging these passions with a food/nutrition/fueling coaching program to help hunters achieve their goals and maintain the edge that good fueling can provide. Find Kyle on instagram @ Fuel the Hunt Thanks again for your support, feedback and engagement with the Hunting Ain’t Easy…

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 Wildlife to do exactly that. Charles is a hunter and guide, a wildlife advocate and conservationist. You may know him as ShadowTrekker Adventures. I sit down with Charles to learn about HOWL, his inspiration and goals for the site. We talk about our need to energize and transform the communications power of the 15 MILLION hunters in the US. We talk about the outright lies and misrepresentation of facts that anti-hunters use to manipulate people’s emotions and actions. Friends – go to HOWL and check it out. Take Action, Share the Site with fellow hunters and your non-hunting friends who value balanced wildlife mgmt.. Hit me up at HuntingAintEasy to follow along, comment or ask questions. #Hunting #Conservation…

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 reality is that wilderness beauty and backcountry adventure isn't limited to high-alpine basins. The desert offers a starkly different experience - and there are some big bucks cruising the palo verde and cactus. In this episode I get to chat with John Stallone of Days in the Wild for a quick podcast call, and to pick his brain on what to look for when it comes to mule-deer rut, habitat and habits in the Southwest corner of AZ. If you're heading to AZ or even the southern deserts of California you'll benefit from John's Days in the Wild podcast - he has been sharing stories and experience of coues deer, mule deer, javalina and coyote hunting in AZ for many years! A trip to hunt AZ in December or January will sharpen your…

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, seasons, administrative practices, tag allocations or wildlife management in a way that supports hunters or hunting opportunity. Other western states are far more creative, proactive and progressive - and both the hunters and wildlife in those states can benefit. This episode we get into 2 specific items on the 12/15/21 Fish & Game Commission meeting agenda. Item #13 - is the CDFW proposed regulatory change related to tag returns, point reinstatement and refunds, in response to widespread public lands closures. Item #15 - features a HUGE petition for regulatory, administrative, tag allocation and season changes or creation which will spur a ton of debate and hopefully be a new beginning for how CDFW approaches problem…

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 thousands of hunters, and then to move forward with long-term regulatory changes which impact affected hunters in a positive way. This is a short episode, but there is a lot of material that you should review - become informed and communicate to F&G what you think about these regulatory changes. Finally - thank Backcountry Hunters, California Deer Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Wild Sheep Foundation for their support of these regulatory changes. Call to action: read the proposed regulations and let Fish & Game know what you think. If you‘re in support, they need to know. If you are not in support, they need to know! EMAIL Fish & Game Commission

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 grounds. Oct. 2021 dealt us one such storm, with ”the most precipitation ever recorded in a 24 hour period” for most of the state, followed by 2-3 feet of snow in the high elevations! So when I headed out to hunt west-slope mule deer (blacktail hybrid deer by some people‘s standards) I wanted to test some theories as much as I wanted to hunt. Do the old codger bucks stay up high ”until they‘re pushing snow with their chest”, or does the entire herd drop elevation and start munching on acorns in the foothills? This episode recaps my 4 day hunt in CA central Sierra, part high country, part middle-elevation forest... and as always I got some adventurous scouting in that will add layers of fun and new terrain to future hunts.…

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 of data, fun pictures and a decent idea of what wildlife is in the area. However a number of hunt experiences have shown me that the time it takes to place and retrieve trail cams might be better spent actually scouting for deer with the same techniques you use to hunt. I break some of the intel that went into the successful hunt down, and then I get into some details of the hunt that leave me dissatisfied, even disappointed. Just goes to show, that even when a great buck walks right in front of you, there‘s luck, skill and patience that need to come into play - otherwise Hunting Ain‘t Easy. More stories and pics online @ www.instagram.com/HuntingAintEasy Hit me up with your thoughts, questions, comments.

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 several ”first time ever” events that made it a uniquely special day. I‘ll say this... Hunting (still) Ain‘t Easy, no matter how much success you‘re having, public land ”OTC” hunts take work, dedication, time and some luck to bring it all together. Did this hunt go the way it did because of luck, because of accumulated knowledge, skills learned through hard (losses) lessons in the mountains? Probably all of the above. Check out the pics at IG: www.instagram.com/huntingainteasy

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 involved and informed so that hunters can have a stronger voice, and become the leaders of wildlife mgmt dialogue in CA. Drop me a DM at Instagram ( www.instagram.com/HuntingAintEasy ) if you want me to send you some of the resources for this 9/16 meeting and to learn about future opportunities to learn and get involved. The hunting community can become a powerful voice and leader for improved wildlife management, and to protect and enhance our hunting opportunities - but it'll requires each of us being informed, and participating. 9/16 WRC Meeting Agenda 9/16 WRC Meeting Documents HOWL For Wildlife #Hunting #Conservation #Wildlife #Muledeer #California #Habitat #Blackbear #BearHunting #HSUS #DeerHunting #ElkHunting…

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 and hunting - how these simple bows create a more complex shooting and hunting experience. Mark has taken nearly a dozen bucks in CA with a traditional bow, 7 of them at less than 15 yards! So not only does trad-bow hunting require more time slinging arrows to become one with the tool in hand, but it requires a hunter to get really close. Is trad bow life for you? Give this a listen and maybe you‘ll be inspired to check it out! Mark Sasser www.instagram.com/california_tradbow_hunter https://www.bwanabows.com www.instagram.com/cbh.saa.big.game.club

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 Nevada, chasing mule deer bucks. The mountains dished up all the expected mental and physical challenges, plus a few surprises - a badger, a peregrine falcon in full dive, and a honey-blonde bear at sunset! Listen in as I share some of the ups and downs of this hunt. Seriously I was lucky to get this hunt in as 9 of California‘s National Forests were closed during the first week of archery, and within days of getting back from this hunt ALL of the NF land in CA was closed down. Images from this hunt and more @ www.instagram.com/HuntingAintEasy

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 interests and priorities related to hunting. The Commission expressed appreciation and welcomed our presence, and our contribution. Looking ahead the F&G Commission‘s Wildlife Resource Committee will meet on 9/16. This is an important committee and meeting for big game hunters to be familiar with, and to engage on a regular basis. The WRC is where mammal hunting regs, habitat priorities and fire/drought resilience plans are created. I will host 2 pre-WRC meetings to help hunters new to the F&G Commission process, where we will discuss how public comments work and how new regulations can be supported, opposed or created by citizen input. The Hunting Ain‘t Easy meeting-prep sessions will be shared on my instagram @…

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 place over a 3 weekends of the 2020 archery season. Check out some of pics of the skull, and a quick video of the bear before I nocked an arrow, at www.instagram.com/huntingainteasy Are you ready to hunt bears?? They‘re plentiful in CA, and the meat is fantastic if you take care of it after harvest - go for it!! Learn more about bear zones & seasons in CA online @ https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Bear Archery bear season in all bear zones opens August 21, 2021, and runs through September 12, 2021. General bear season opens concurrently with general deer season in the A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 deer hunting zones and extends through December 26, 2021. For zones X1 through X7b, the general bear season begins…

8/18 is the next Calif. Fish & Game Commission meeting. There‘s nothing super controversial on the agenda, so it‘s an ideal time for hunters who want to become educated and active, to see, learn and join the process. Kevin Vella (NWTF) and I will host a pre-game planning session on Monday 8/18 so to help educate everyone on how these meetings work, what to expect, what not to expect and how we will join the meeting and participate. The best part about this is that we can introduce ourselves in public comment, let the Commission know that the hunting community is part of the ”social” and the ”science” that they need to balance. If you want to join us for this meeting or future pre-meeting prep sessions just message me on IG instagram.com/HuntingAintEasy Commission meeting schedule and agenda are here: https://fgc.ca.gov/Meetings/2021

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 community. You don‘t have to be a member of the BHA to follow the work they do and put your voice behind the public land hunting initiatives they support. Better yet, if you‘re in the Southern California area there‘s a good chance their boots-on-the-ground effort to inventory and renovate hundreds of guzzlers could directly benefit your hunting. Give this a listen and get to know the local efforts that affect California hunters.

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 entire family. Yet too many people say that bear meat is stinky and gamey and gross. How is this? It all comes down to meat care, and starts with skin off, guts out, 4 quarters broken down and the meat cooled down ASAP. Thanks to Brian Kyncy of Kyncy Guide Service for hanging on with me to talk about the importance of meat care after a successful bear hunt.

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 because he was charged by a black bear way back when he was just 11 years old. In spite of having the opportunity to hunt with hounds taken away over a decade ago, Kyncy Guide Service continues to bring clients into the woods to find mature bears, slowly, quietly and effectively by patterning them around food, water and cover that bears stick to. During our call he shares stories and tactics that are sure to entertain you while putting some new tools into your how-to-hunt kit. We get into wallows, water, bear senses (the nose knows!) stand and ambush hunting techniques and how to tune into some of the critters that‘ll alert you to predators when they come into your stand area. Check out Brian and his family on IG @…

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 generously shares his scouting and hunting on Instagram (www.instagram.com/the_sierra_stalker). We chat about Doug‘s approach to scouting throughout the summer and early archery seasons, and we dig into his perspective on buck habits as the summer turns into fall. Doug shared a GREAT story about his 2019 hunt - not just the fact that he and his buddy Kirk knock down a DOUBLE on opening day as a September snow storm is rolling in - but also the backstory about this little honey hole where he found the bucks. Based on Doug‘s experience, don‘t forget to pack your KARMA when heading into the deer woods. Follow the podcast on www.instagram.com/HuntingAintEasy