The MeatEater Podcast — Ep. 808: A Costa Rican Immigrant on Hunting In America

Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Steven Rinella
Guest: Pablo Escobel

Episode Overview

In this vibrant and engaging episode, Steven Rinella welcomes Pablo Escobel, a Costa Rican immigrant whose journey to becoming a passionate American hunter is full of grit, humor, and cultural adaptation. Broadcasting live from Birmingham, Alabama, this “flop” episode traces Pablo’s childhood forays into illegal hunting in Costa Rica, his move to the United States, and his hard-earned success in Alabama's hunting woods. Pablo’s story is as much about the process of learning and perseverance as it is about embracing new opportunities and traditions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction to Pablo and the “Flop” Format (03:16–05:47)

• The episode opens with a festive, live-tour energy.
• Steven introduces Pablo as a local ticket holder whose past podcast appearances and compelling personal story grabbed the team’s interest.
• “I thought, man, we’re down here. I want to meet you and have a chance to talk to you and introduce you to our listeners to hear some about some of your hunting adventures.” — Steven Rinella (03:57)

2. Childhood Hunting in Costa Rica (06:25–14:14)

• Illegality & Approaches:
  • All hunting is illegal in Costa Rica, so Pablo’s introduction to hunting came clandestinely, using slingshots and homemade blowguns.
  • Resourcefulness: crafting blowguns from hardware store rods and molding clay pellets by hand.
• Methods & Challenges:
  • Pablo describes collaborative, youthful expeditions, targeting birds and small mammals, and cooking everything brought home—even with limited kitchen supplies.
  • “It was hunting with a slingshot and blow guns… As kids, man, you develop your interest for slingshots, blowguns, and things like that, because you have resources all over the place.” — Pablo Escobel (06:53)
• Community Attitudes:
  • Hunters in Costa Rica are viewed negatively—“People grow with the mentality that the hunter is the uneducated… the savage.” (13:02)
• Fishing:
  • Improvised fishing gear from bottles and heavy line, from creeks rather than big-game opportunities.

3. Immigration to America and Adjusting to Southern Life (14:14–29:39)

• Mother’s Journey and Pablo’s Transition:
  • Pablo’s mother marries an American (Rick) and moves to Alabama. Pablo stays behind as a young teen for several years, then abruptly receives news of a U.S. embassy interview and, within days, moves to the U.S. at 22.
  • Culture shock: “The idea that you get from the States is like big cities… I was like, where’s the city? She said, ‘Son, well, do you remember where you at?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, Alabama.’ She said, ‘Yeah, there’s no big cities in Alabama.’” — Pablo (18:05)
• First Impressions and Goals:
  • Rick, his stepfather, sets strict rules: get a job, learn English, get a car, a license, and an apartment in 90 days (20:43–22:07).
  • Pablo’s hustle: secures work at a Mexican restaurant despite no English, where he soon meets his future wife.

4. Love Story: Meeting and Marrying His Wife (22:07–37:17)

• Persistence and Cultural Clashes:
  • Pablo’s courtship meets resistance; his future father-in-law is intimidating and unpredictable — from silence to violence to a bizarre “blessing” involving a kiss on the mouth at gunpoint (31:34–34:52).
• Integration and Independence:
  • Overcoming obstacles, Pablo completes all of Rick’s requirements and starts a new life with his wife.
  • “At the end of the 90 days, I had all the requirements that Rick wanted. Plus I was moving in to the apartment with my current wife.” — Pablo (37:33)

5. Becoming an American Hunter: Obstacles and Lessons (38:48–60:53)

• Initial Struggles:
  • Early misconceptions and the challenge of regulations; Pablo’s first years mimic TV hunters with little success. He even soaks himself in deer urine, disastrously misunderstanding hunting scents (47:24–48:12).
    • “I go to Walmart… Can I get some sand deer Sin… She gives me a big bottle, man… And the first pump I was like, God almighty. I said, this crap is stout.” — Pablo (47:24)
• Journey to Proficiency:
  • Mentorship from neighbor Tony Myers is pivotal, teaching Pablo to read signs, identify food sources, and understand deer behavior (53:16–54:21).
  • A slow build: three years of hunting before his first close encounter and miss, resulting in frustration—then eventually, success.
    • “I'm not going to lie, I cry like a kid that day.” — Pablo (55:33)
    • His first harvest is a small 8-point buck—proudly shown off to Tony and celebrated.

6. Breakthroughs and Big Bucks (60:53–62:03)

• Persistence Pays Off:
  • Pablo breaks his personal best twice in one hunting season—both on Alabama public land.
  • He shares photos and celebrates with the MeatEater crew on stage.
• Mindset and Community:
  • Steven reflects on the universal divide among hunters: those lamenting lost opportunities vs. those energized by the abundance around them.
    • “Everywhere you go, there’s two kinds of guys… The guy who says it all sucks now… And next door is the guy that can’t scratch the surface, he’s so excited to be alive… and you’re that guy.” — Steven (62:46)

7. Community, mentorship, and Giving Back (63:22–66:22)

• Mentors:
  • Pablo credits a supportive network (Tony Myers, Michael Perry, Jamie McCain, and more) who helped him master the subtleties of American hunting.
  • Key lesson: “Don’t think that you’re gonna just go out there and shoot one of these [big bucks]… You got to put some deer under your belt.” — Pablo citing Tony Myers (63:59)
• Learning Through Experience:
  • Many mistakes—including misunderstanding sighting in rifles!—are now humorous milestones on his path.

8. Reflections and Gratitude (67:48–69:41)

• Renewed Enthusiasm:
  • Pablo’s story is an inspiration, his infectious joy a reminder to savor every hunting experience.
    • “The enthusiasm is both like jealousy inducing and motivating… I sometimes find myself [thinking] I should be more excited in this moment. I just got to kill another beautiful mule deer buck in the mountains, and… I don’t have the enthusiasm that you’re experiencing.” — MeatEater Crew Member (68:01)
• American Welcome:
  • “I want to welcome you to America, man.” — Steven (69:37)
  • “Thank you, man. Thank you.” — Pablo Escobel (69:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

How Pablo started hunting in Costa Rica:

• “It was hunting with a slingshot and blow guns… And then, you know, you start kind of like getting a little bit more curious. Like, I'm wondering if I can take that bird down with this rock. And next thing you know, you start becoming efficient.” — Pablo (06:53)

Culture shock arriving in Alabama:

• “I was like, where’s the city?... ‘Yeah, there’s no big cities in Alabama.’ I was just looking down like, oh my God, what I got myself into.” — Pablo (18:05)

The surreal blessing from his future father-in-law:

• “This dude comes out running, flashing a gun... Now he's crying. He started doing the, you know, the Hispanic blessing... grabs me by my mouth and kissed me in my mouth... I froze on time right there. And I said, hell no, man. That ain't no blessing.” — Pablo (31:34–32:05)

Misadventures with hunting gear:

• “That was a really rough lesson that day. I was like, don't spread this crap on yourself, you know what I mean?” — Pablo (48:12)

Reflections after his first deer miss:

• “I'm not going to lie. I cry like a kid that day.” — Pablo (55:33)

Celebrating his best season:

• “This year, the biggest book ever of my life happened on Halloween. And little did I know, three weeks later, I was gonna kill the biggest book ever. You know, I broke my pb… two times.” — Pablo (61:04)

On hunting attitudes:

• “Everywhere you go, there’s two kinds of guys… And you’re that guy [who’s excited].” — Steven (62:45–63:18)

Episode Flow with Timestamps

• 03:16 — Live show intro; meet Pablo Escobel.
• 06:25–14:14 — Growing up hunting and fishing (illegally) in Costa Rica.
• 14:14–22:07 — Moving to the U.S.; starting a new life in Alabama.
• 22:07–37:17 — Romantic exploits; adjusting to Southern and Mexican-American family culture.
• 38:48–60:53 — Learning to hunt in America; struggles, funny mistakes, and eventual success.
• 60:53–62:03 — Achieving major milestones: personal best bucks.
• 62:45–63:18 — Philosophy of hunting and outlook on life in America.
• 63:22–66:22 — Community, learning, and the value of mentorship.
• 67:48–69:41 — Reflections, gratitude, and a warm American welcome.

Tone and Language

The tone is energetic, often humorous, deeply personal, and celebratory of the American hunting tradition. Pablo’s candid storytelling, accented by cultural misadventures and heartfelt gratitude, conveys the possibility and reward of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and embracing a new country’s traditions. Steven’s genuine warmth and curiosity amplify the podcast’s characteristic blend of irreverence and deep respect for the outdoors.

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