Big Island---last night's hunt

[doccherry]

I set up in the open bedding area within the heavy brush and coffee trees. I had my back to a small opening in the tall grass and had a good view of another dozen points where pig trails led from the tall grass and brush into the open area. There was considerable evidence that pigs had been rooting, rolling, and rubbing in this small [20 by 75 feet maybe] area and had been doing so recently. I sat still for 30 minutes and didn't hear a thing. Then it began to rain and it rained harder and harder until a tropical downpour was in full fury. I couldn't hear a thing other than the rain beating down on the coffee trees and the wind swaying the tall grass. At 7:00 PM I felt a bump against my back and turned to see that a huge clump of tall grass had been pushed over onto me and the big black boar had done the pushing. He had come to a screeching halt about 3 feet behind me. He was scooting along a trail and in the rain and wind didn't smell or hear me and almost ran into me. He then let out a snort and did a 180 and that was that. All those trails leading into the opening and he chose the one I was sitting in. I'm convinced that boar is the reincarnation of somebody I thoroughly pissed off sometime in the past. He's getting even by tormenting me.

By now it is getting dark and the rain is coming down in buckets. I got up and walked through the clearing and then down into the coffee trees. A pig "freeway" runs through the coffee trees and it is heavily used. I sat in the trees for a couple of minutes but the rain made it impossible to hear and the mosquitos were taking donations for the local blood bank so I called it quits.

There's always tomorrow.

I attached 2 photos. The first photo is of the clearing. The tree in the middle is heavily rubbed. Heavy brush and grass is on all sides. The second photo is of the pig freeway through the coffee trees.

 

[doccherry]

This is the pig freeway through the coffee trees. I may sit off to the side in the shadows one evening next week and see what comes along the path. The hardest thing in hunting here is that you get no advance notice that a pig is coming. Everything is in close and suddenly a pig appears and usually they are trotting along. They are surprisingly quiet while they are moving, a lot quieter than I am when I walk these trails.

I was sure that I'd get a pig yesterday evening but Mother Nature has a way of tossing a monkeywrench into the best laid plans.

Aloha for now.

 

[beastslayer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (doccherry @ Jul 6 2006, 10:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

At 7:00 PM I felt a bump against my back and turned to see that a huge clump of tall grass had been pushed over onto me and the big black boar had done the pushing. He had come to a screeching halt about 3 feet behind me. He was scooting along a trail and in the rain and wind didn't smell or hear me and almost ran into me. He then let out a snort and did a 180 and that was that. All those trails leading into the opening and he chose the one I was sitting in.[/b]

Only in Doc's hog hunting heaven!

 

[doccherry]

Oops!!! I goofed. These two photos are of the opening, one earlier before the rain and on later, during a lull in the rain. The second photo shows the tree that has been rubbed a bit. The freeway through the coffee trees is too blurry to post as is the photo of the tall grass. I'll work on my photos skills and post some more shots later.

I was driving past the Mormon church the other day, and it's right in town on the main highway. The grassy area out in back is completely rooted up. Then I was driving past the high school and the grass out in front is rooted up. Then I was driving past the cemetary down south and the grass there was all rooted up. There are pigs everywhere around here and their population is exploding.

 

[Orso]

I'll be on the Big Island in December/January...If I bring a shotgun and my bow, that should do it, yes? Shots are fairly short....????

I need to send you an email and get some suggestions from you. Do you know anything about the Kohala Ranch?

 

[One Track]

Doc: Could you hang a treestand in that area. Might be fun.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

I cant wait to read your

future book Doc,( BIG ISLAND WILD PIG HUNTING by Doccherry)

......tra

 

[larrysogla]

Yeah Doc, jot down the hunting adventures in a diary and then write a book. I will buy it. So much piggie excitement right in people's backyard. 'Nuff said.

 

[Cabowhntr]

TRA is right DOC... You really have a gift for being able to paint a picture with your words...
I Actually look for your posts just for a little getaway. Keep the great stories coming Doc....

 

[doccherry]

Orso:

I know nothing about the North Kohala Ranch. If you bring a firerarm to Hawaii, you must register it with the police department within 48 hours. That's quite a deal. You need to be fingerprinted, have a background check, mug shot, and fill out some paperwork. It takes about an hour. If you hunt with a guide, you should be able to borrow a gun. Where I hunt, shots are very, very close, seldom exceeding 30 yards, even when I'm rifle hunting. If you come over in December/January, notify me a couple weeks in advance and you can go hunting with me. I'll supply the firearms and I can just about guarantee a pig or two. The bird hunting then is also very good.

To all others who commented, thanks for the flattery re: the writing. I wrote feature articles for years for such magazines as Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Alaska Magazine, Western Outdoors, etc. Maybe I'll get back into that business again. Basically, I'm just too lazy to write anymore and would rather spend my time actually hunting and fishing than writing about hunting and fishing.

Aloha for now. I may try hunting again this evening if the weather is nice. I got soaked the other night but it wasn't a cold rain. Small craft advisory warnings are in effect for the Kona Coast so I'm reluctant to go out in my skiff. I guess that means I need to mow the lawn, weed, install some anti-virus software, go for a long run, work out, and do a few other chores that the wife says need to be done.

 

[Orso]

Thanks Doc... I'll definitely be in contact... And I think I'll leave the shotgun at home and just bring the bow.

I received a funny email from my Aunt and Uncle yesterday... She was telling me she had spoken with one of her friends about hunting and trying to get me on some property... When I replied I mentioned about bird hunting and listed some of the birds, turkeys being one of them...She emailed back saying no shooting the "house turkey" and attached some photos of a wild turkey in their house. Apparently it roosts above their house and one day it followed a cat in the house... She said turkeys are all over.

I can't wait. This is going to be my Hawaiian Safari!!

 

[rtbx15]

Yeah Doc, I vote for a book of your hunting paradise adventures. I'll buy two copies!!!! Keep up the good reporting for us poor slobs trapped here on the Mainland, Bob.

 

[larrysogla]

Thanks Doc. You' da' man. Awesome!!!! God Bless.