California hunters may see rare new opportunities as regulators respond to a booming bear population. Proposals for a second tag and expanded hunting areas are expected to be approved this spring. Insights from Bill Gaines on the Hunterizer Podcast suggest momentum is firmly on the side of expansion.
We sat down with Bill Gaines — 30-year California hunting advocate, lobbyist, and chair of the California Hunting and Conservation Coalition — for a sweeping conversation on the apex predator crisis, legislative battles, bear hunting changes in 2026, the SHARE program, and what every California hunter must do right now.
We sat down with Rick Larnerd — U.S. Army veteran, former Pennsylvania game warden, former Tennessee police chief — for a conversation about wildlife conservation, hunting culture, and the real role of game wardens in America.
In this episode, the Hunterizer team is joined by Rick Brazell — a lifelong hunter, wildlife biologist, and founder and president of the First Hunt Foundation (FHF). FHF is a national nonprofit dedicated to connecting new hunters with experienced volunteer mentors across the United States. Rick shares his passion for mentoring, the foundation’s programs, and why passing on these traditions matters more than ever.