Hilo Watershed

[HIhunter]

Just wondering if Doc, Nic or Evan has any info about how to hunt the Hilo Watershed. Do you have to call in, should I start in the afternoon before and then camp? Some friends and I want to go up the mountain and camp out for a few nights, and I'd like to get some hunting in. Is it a better idea to go over on your side Doc, and camp along the hunters road?
I went up to Laupahoehoe over thanksgiving, and didn't see, hear or smell one pig. I was pretty bummed out until I saw that someone had shot a cow along the side of the road outside of the hunting area, and the pigs were going nuts eating it.

I guess most of the pigs from that area were there as I saw about 20-30 in the general area. I didn't believe they ate meat like that, but they sure were going at it this time! I had forgotten my camera, so no pics.

 

[EvBouret]

It's doable as a day hunt. Spending a night would be better but keep in mind it's not legal .

Just give yourself about 2.5 hours on the way in and at least 3 on the way out. The trail is pretty confusing the first 2 or 3 times you hike it so you might want to give yourself more time. I flagged the trail pretty well through the kipukas but someone ripped some of them down. Not sure how many are left.

Study the maps, it's very possible to get lost up there. Even with the help of a GPS. the area you hunt is the riverbank and north side of the river heading northwest towards the ranch land at the top. You are boxed in by a river northeast and south of you. So if you ever get lost just head northeast to the stream or south to wailuku river. the two intersect a 1/4 mile or so below the trailhead.

And keep in mind that the animals back there are very dangerous. Make sure you're not undergunned, and be prepared to have a 1000lb bull charge you...it does happen. Make sure you're shooting big heavy bullets, I'd recommend a giant game caliber or shotgun with magnum slugs. Either gun should be capable of quick follow up shots to increase your survival chances. The chances of helos finding you through the overstory is pretty slim so even rescue attempts would be extremely difficult up there.

Every time I hunted it we would walk up the river a bit and then cut into the forest on the north side. We'd very slowly creep uphill towards the pastures for a few miles, then hike east and come back down parrallel to where we went up. Just creep a long real slow, Once you start seeing fresh sign slow it down even more. Take ten slow steps and stop and listen for 10 seconds, then take ten more steps etc...Step on logs, rocks, roots if you can and try not to break and sticks or step on piles of leaves.

Good luck up there and be safe! Take plenty pics and post em up.

 

[Huntr Pat]

Good luck,I might try it feb 09 not wild bulls just pig maybe But mouflon for sure.
Not sure how mouflon tasted never had goat or sheep neither.

 

[EvBouret]

mouflon is great

goats stink like their pee

 

[doccherry]

Ev:

I flagged the trail really well the entire length. It's much harder to lose the trail now.

HIhunter: Legally, the only way you can access the wild cattle is off the Saddle Road, which means Morita Camp Trail or following Nic Barca as he hops along the slippery, snotty VW Bug-sized boulders in the Wailuku River and sprints upstream to where the Morita Camp Trail hits the river. That's a brutal hike, particularly if you try to keep up with Nic, which is like putting on your Nike's and trying to keep up with an antelope that's been hitting a crack pipe and is chugging along on all 4 cylinders. After trying to keep up with Nic for 14 hours on one particularly horrendous hike, I came to this conclusion:

Nic ain't human.

All the cattle are on the north side of the river. When I was in there a few weeks ago, I saw cattle on the river and along the river but nothing way back in, although I saw a lot of sign. One sleeper area is due north of the camp area, maybe 400 yards in. It's a huge meadow that's loaded with cattle and pig sign.

A one day in and out hunt is really tough, particularly if you get a cow. It's much better to set up a really light camp and spend the night. I've done that 4 or 5 times and although it's not legal, I've never had a problem. If you get busted [by whom, I don't know], just tell them that you accidentally stepped on your pecker and needed the night to recuperate before hiking out. I use that excuse all the time.

As far as a weapon, like Evan says, use a heavy rifle. Those bulls are huge, and some of them probably top 1300 pounds. I had one bellow at me, drop its head, shuffle its front hooves, and I clobbered it between the eyes before it charged. Shots are close, with nothing beyond 50 yards.

I said I'd never go back in, but I already miss the adrenaline rush. Maybe if I bust my butt and get into really good shape, maybe one or two or three or four more trips. But that's it and I'm really serious this time.

I think I'm serious, but I'm such a fanatical hunter that I'm probably just lying to myself again.

Good luck. Let us know what your plans are.

 

[EvBouret]

It's funny how Nic...maybe 135lbs soaking wet can outhike and outhaul anyone else. A 60lb pack of meat is almost half his weight while most others its only a third of their weight. Kinda trips me out sometimes.

Oh, I forgot to mention...headshots, headshots, headshots. No more vital shots for this guy

I think the only regulations are that you need a hawaii hunting license and have to complete a check in form and put it in one of the check in boxes on either side of saddle road on the way out. You can get the forms inside the check in boxes on the way up. It just asks you where you hunted and what you shot.

 

[HIhunter]

Thanks for the info guys. I didn't realize that you weren't supposed to camp out there, so I probably won't invite my friends when I go. Any of you guys would be welcome, but I am not sure when the next time I am going to be over there. I'm traveling to the mainland for work and then after the holidays I have to find another ship, so it'll be a while. I'm guessing 30-30 isn't enough gun by what you guys said, what about a 338 federal? Feel safe behind one of those?

 

[EvBouret]

Im not familiar with the 338 federal but do know that it is a pretty giant round. I would probably recommend it for bulls and boars. The 30-30 is definitely not enough. The cattle eradicators like Doc's friend might tell you otherwise, but they strictly took headshots. Look at my thread from when me and Ed got charged...then rethink going in there with a 30-30. I definitely learned by lesson, hopefully you won't the same way.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/index....howtopic=167021

Doc: check out the December issue of Hawaii Fishing News...Ji and I made the cut!

 

[Nic Barca]

...actually, 60 lbs IS half my weight.

30-30 is a little light for vital shots and is only good for head shots, unless maybe it were a smaller bull (<600 LBs).

I used 20 ga standard 2 3/4 inch foster slugs and never had any problems, but I don't think I ever made a marginal shot and the biggest bull, I put two into the boiler room. I dont have much experience though; two were head shots, one was a calf, and that leaves me with only one instance of shooting a big bull in the vitals and I actually shot him twice. Best to use the .338.

If you go, pick up one of those slips from the hunter's checkin box, fill it out and set it on the dash of your vehicle. Part of the reason is so if your car gets visited by a game warden, they can tell if you are missing/lost from the day before.

I think doc is correct about camping. ...I think. We sometimes write "overnight stay" on the hunters checkin sheets on Kauai and have never been hastled. I suppose you could get a camping permit, maybe, but it would be even less likely in Hilo's "restricted access watershed".

 

[Bulleye]

Hey if you need a hunting buddy come January let me know. I will be visiting family in Kona for a week or so.

 

[HIhunter]

Hey Bulleye,

That might work out well, but I don't know yet. I'll have to see when I leave for work. I'll definitely be over there again in the spring sometime.

HIhunter

 

[Bulleye]

Just send me an email when your ready. I live in Cali but my family is on the Big Island and I get to visit a few times a year.