Boar on the Big Island

[beastslayer]

EvBouret,

I bet you shot that goat through the hole in the foreground branch (lol).

What a beautiful sight. I envy you, doc and uncle ji for having regular access to your piece of paradise.

 

[larrysogla]

Ditto!!!!!!

 

[doccherry]

Uncle Ji, Ev, and all the rest:

Heading out at 4:30 AM Saturday from my home in Kona to the NE slopes of Mauna Kea to hunt for piggies. The area is Laupahoehoe [La-pa-hoy'-hoy], which is up around 6000 feet or so in the old-growth hardwood forest areas. The limit is 2 pigs per day. Who knows, maybe I'll limit out but I'm really going on a scouting trip since I've never been there. I talked to the wildlife biologist, Joey Mello, and he estimated that the success rate for a one-day hunt is about 50%, more if you work at it.

Uncle Ji suggested open sights or low-power scopes since the encounters are at close range. I'm bringing a Winchester 100 semi-auto in .308 with a 3X scope and a Winchester 94 in .356 with an original Lyman tang sight. The tang sight folds down and I can then use the regular open sights but at my age [57] I can't focus on both the rear sight and the front sight at the same time. The rear sight is a blur. With the folding tang sight, I just look thru the big aperature and concentrate my attention the the front sight, which I can see. If it's really thick in there, I'll tote the Winchester 94. If it appears to be more open, like some of the CA oak forests I've hunted in, I'll bring the 100. Ideally, I should hire a caddy and have him haul around 12 or 15 different rifles in a golf bag. I snap my fingers and he hands me the appropriate thunderstick. I'd be the Tiger Woods of the forest.

My wife and I went mountain biking yesterday, up thru the green prairies of the Parker Ranch. We saw dozens of turkeys, dozens of francolin, ringneck pheasant, and smelled something really musky and sure enough, just over the next rise, was a herd of Spanish goats. Pig tracks were all over the gravel road.

I'll post some photos of the trip, regardless of whether or not I get a pig or two. I should also mention that if any of you reading this are interested in hunting over here, it would be very economical. You do need proof of completing hunter safety, but an annual non-res license [for everything that moves, no additional tag fees] is about 115 bucks. Aloha Airlines has regular special fares from Orange County or Oakland directly to Kona for 99 bucks each way. You could actually hunt for turkeys, francolin, quail, pheasant, goat, sheep, and pigs, and collect most of them during a 5-day hunt. The amount of game here is unbelievable. Heck, if you buy the beer after the hunt, I'll take you with me.

That's it for now. Report coming up Sunday, success or no.

Doc

 

[EvBouret]

Both rifles should work fine, and Ji was right about the action being close up. I've never taken a shot over 50 yards at a hog.

Oh! My friend Nic shot a 200lb sow yesterday with his 12ga and slugs. I'm not sure what part of the island he was hunting. He called me right after the shot though, I was talking to him while he tracked and found the hog. I'm living the dream through him .

 

[Franklin3]

Originally posted by EvBouret@Nov 18 2005, 07:48 AM
I shot the same goat right here. If anyone is coming to Kauai winter time I'll take you here.

I'll be on either Maui or Kauai for 10 days from the 18th.-29th of January maybe we can hook something up?

 

[Family Tradition]

I was on Maui last Jan and rode my bike UP haleakala, That was cool. Thought the slopes by the lava flows looked good for goats but didnt' stop to look for any.

We like to rent a beach house in Paia, how far would hunting be from there?

I went to watch the MEN surf Jaws and could swear I saw Hog sign in the pineapple fields.

 

[EvBouret]

Ill be on Kauai only from december 11-30...but I could give you some tips and gurantee you get some hogs or goats, ill even draw you out maps

 

[Uncle Ji]

Originally posted by Franklin3+Nov 19 2005, 09:06 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Franklin3 @ Nov 19 2005, 09:06 AM)</div>

<!--QuoteBegin-EvBouret

@Nov 18 2005, 07:48 AM
I shot the same goat right here. If anyone is coming to Kauai winter time I'll take you here.

I'll be on either Maui or Kauai for 10 days from the 18th.-29th of January maybe we can hook something up?[/b]

I'll be on Oahu for the whole month of January for some major back surgery (L4.L5,S1, ectomies galore) and recovery, and out of hunting commision for several months afterwards undergoing PT etc., hopefully it's a success this time and I don't have to give up hunting.
My old hunting buddy Richard (top photo) who still lives on Big Island wants to do a Laupahoehoe pig hunt again for old times sake sometime after my surgery, if that happens i'll certainly post it here.

 

[doccherry]

Went pig hunting in Laupahoehoe yesterday [Sat] but got there late and had to leave at noon due to my wife getting me into a social commitment. I didn't get a pig but saw several, two small herds jumping up at my feet and scurrying away before I could get a shot. I actually think and over/under loaded with buckshot my be a good bet. Pig sign everywhere. Never saw that much rooting and tracks anywhere before. I started out hunting in the hardwood meadows, but the grass was as tall as 3 feet with lots of downed timber hidden beneath, so it was tough walking. Part of the forest is a jungle, just like you see in the Tarzan movies. All sorts of exotic birds making all sorts of racket and small groups of Kalij pheasants, gaudy looking things that are a blue-black color. After getting beaten up in the jungle, tearing my way through tangles and vines and finding nothing, I went into the conifer forest. That area looks exactly like the rainforest around Sitka, Alaska, huge cedar-type trees and very little undergrowth. Oddly, that's where I began to find the pig sign and the pigs. Once I learned where the pigs are feeding, it was time to leave. Very little ripe fruit this time of year. I only saw two other trucks parked along the hunting area and the area next to it [Piha], but I heard 4 rifle shots while I was there, so hunters who know the area and know the pigs were probably having some luck.

I think I'll try again next Saturday or the weekend after. By the way, Uncle Ji, when you used to go there did you take the Mana Road off Saddle Road or out from Waimea? Also, when you were there was the grass in the Ohia trees really tall like it was when I went? It is almost impossible to wade through that stuff. It grows intertwined and was up to my waist, hiding all sorts of rocks and branches and fallen timber. The cedar trees were much easier to navigate through.

Uncle Ji, good luck on your back surgery. Hope to see you out in the field soon once you're all healed. I'm going through physical therapy myself due to a traffic accident a few months ago. I'm down to shoulder problems now but everything else has healed. It can be frustrating but be patient and do all the work your PT tells you to do, even the stuff that is uncomfortable.

 

[Franklin3]

Originally posted by EvBouret@Nov 19 2005, 10:40 PM
Ill be on Kauai only from december 11-30...but I could give you some tips and gurantee you get some hogs or goats, ill even draw you out maps

Looks like she's gonna have me on Maui not Kauai.

 

[EvBouret]

Cant really help you on Maui....dont know the island too well and have never hunted there.

 

[Uncle Ji]

Originally posted by doccherry@Nov 20 2005, 09:15 AM
I think I'll try again next Saturday or the weekend after.  By the way, Uncle Ji, when you used to go there did you take the Mana Road off Saddle Road or out from Waimea?  Also, when you were there was the grass in the Ohia trees really tall like it was when I went?  It is almost impossible to wade through that stuff.  It grows intertwined and was up to my waist, hiding all sorts of rocks and branches and fallen timber.  The cedar trees were much easier to navigate through.

Uncle Ji, good luck on your back surgery.  Hope to see you out in the field soon once you're all healed.  I'm going through physical therapy myself due to a traffic accident a few months ago.  I'm down to shoulder problems now but everything else has healed.  It can be frustrating but be patient and do all the work your PT tells you to do, even the stuff that is uncomfortable.

I'd get to Laupahoehoe/Piha 99% of the time via Mana Roan off the observatory access road from Saddle road with just one trip from Waimea end. I've hunted there dozens of times but this was over 15 years ago and I don't recall the tall grass nor the cedar trees you mention. Is this nearer Mana road close to top of forest reserve? All I recall is the banana polka vines (passion fruit) covering everything including the fallen Ohia trees these being a constant PITA trip hazard. Did you enter the reserve on north border? Did you try and walk down the north fenceline before entering the reserve? We found hunting pressure less, and game more numerous the farther down we went. Pretty awesome how the pigs flush so close eh? Buckshot could be pretty effective at point blank, just that when you're armed with a shotgun the pigs flush farther away, Murphy's Law you know. I found my .44 mag levergun a great compromise. Give the shotgun a try and let us know how she works out. I have an older SxS made in USSR Baikal with sling swivels that I would love to try as a poors mans double rifle using 3" Brenekke slugs.
Thanks for the words of encouragement concerning surgery, i'm looking forward to no more pain and being off pain meds though i'm sure more potent stuff is in store post surgery while healing.
Keep us posted on all your Big Island hunting escapades.

 

[Uncle Ji]

Originally posted by Family Tradition@Nov 19 2005, 10:28 AM
I was on Maui last Jan and rode my bike UP haleakala, That was cool. Thought the slopes by the lava flows looked good for goats but didnt' stop to look for any.

We like to rent a beach house in Paia, how far would hunting be from there?

I went to watch the MEN surf Jaws and could swear I saw Hog sign in the pineapple fields.

Did you ride a 10 speed road bike up in the National Park or a mountain bike thru the State Park? If you rode the dirt 4x4 trail thru the state park you were in hunting unit C Kula forest reserve. When heading out towards Hana from Pa'ia there is a large public hunting unit B along the highway with several check-in stations with access heading inland but these places are very dense in plant growth so most hunt this area with dogs. The better place for visitor hunters would be unit C of Kula forest Reserve above the tree line glassing for pigs and goats. Check out the attached regs, especially pages 37 thru 40 pertaining to Maui.
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hunting/...egs_Chap123.pdf
And, yup those were pig signs you saw in the pineapple fields leading to "JAWS" alot of pig along that whole coast that are very acustomed to humans in the area.

 

[larrysogla]

Uncle Ji,
My prayers for your successful surgery and may the healing hand of the Good Lord be upon you and the Lord grant wisdom and presence of mind to all the doctors, nurses and attendants on your surgery and recovery so that there will be no complications. God Bless.

 

[Uncle Ji]

Originally posted by larrysogla@Nov 24 2005, 09:18 AM
Uncle Ji,
My prayers for your successful surgery and may the healing hand of the Good Lord be upon you and the Lord grant wisdom and presence of mind to all the doctors, nurses and attendants on your surgery and recovery so that there will be no complications. God Bless.

Aloha Larry,
Mahalo for the prayers, and words of encouragement, i'll take all the help I can get. I'm hoping I can get a few hunts in (pig, goat, deer) before I go under the knife, if I meet any success i'll certainly post it here. Thanks again, and best wishes.

 

[PIGIG]

Originally posted by Franklin3+Nov 19 2005, 09:06 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Franklin3 @ Nov 19 2005, 09:06 AM)</div>

<!--QuoteBegin-EvBouret

@Nov 18 2005, 07:48 AM
I shot the same goat right here. If anyone is coming to Kauai winter time I'll take you here.

I'll be on either Maui or Kauai for 10 days from the 18th.-29th of January maybe we can hook something up? [/b]

We are going to be out that way end of the month too! Maui problly around Lahina no set plans yet, Hell we could make this an event!!

 

[BGH831]

HAHA Sorry about that PIGIG is not going to be but I am. Hey PIGIG you forgot to sign out after you left my place. Franklin Maui end of the month we might have to get together.

 

[PIGIG]

Originally posted by BGH831@Nov 28 2005, 09:05 PM
HAHA Sorry about that PIGIG is not going to be but I am. Hey PIGIG you forgot to sign out after you left my place. Franklin Maui end of the month we might have to get together.

HACKER

 

[Franklin3]

What the?

You guys swapping again?
So you get a little tired of the same old thing day after day and you think hmmmmm?
I'll just let him use mine and I'll use his and everythings fun and games.........?

Until someone loses an eye!

 

[BGH831]

yeah yeah yeah, he was lazy and didn't sign out, or distracted watching his wife pluck turkey

. I was lazy and didn't relize I wasn't signed in twice on this site, It's all the money I spent on his Ebay account that could be a problem