Mauna Kea boar---I'm embarrassed!!

[EvBouret]

Shhhh....Doc's gonna get the whole hunting population of California to move to the Big Island...

 

[Uncle Ji]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (doccherry @ Feb 16 2007, 09:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

larrysogla:

Uncle Ji, if you're reading this, is there a way to say "God Bless" in Hawaiian? Now that I spend more time looking over my shoulder at the road behind than I do looking at the road ahead and now that my yesterday's far outnumber my tomorrow's, maybe I better start cleaning up my act.

Good hunting to all.

Aloha.[/b]

Aloha Doc, The closest I can think of to "God Bless" is "Akua Ho'omaika'i" akua meaning "god" and Ho'omaika'i literally meaning "to make right" or "make good" so Akua Ho'omaika'i should carry the same thought as "god bless".

Doc, the way you describe the hunting there it sounds better than 25 years ago when I lived there. Back then you had to call in early to secure the reservations at Laupahoehoe or Piha, list almost always got filled up quick usually by 10 a.m. wednesday for the following Saturday or Sunday. Even with the size of the forest reserves you almost always saw someone else hunting in there. And back when I was young my fellow hunters were also my age so maybe we all grew old together without the ranks being filled under us.
The only youngsters I hunt with now are mainland immigrants. Good to see Ev & Nic filling the ranks here but could use more.

Hey Doc, I finally got my Gibbs 45-70 in I dubbed her "Smelly Nelly" smelly as in SMLE SHort Magazine Lee Enfield, and Nelly to honor my pops Nels though i'm not so sure he'd feeled honored without an explanation. I have the 405 hardcast bullets and both 3031 and 4064 powder, just waiting on brass and dies. I'd REALLY love to pop a vancouver pipi with Smelly Nelly, what do you say?

I gotta bring you some Maui venison.

 

[doccherry]

Uncle Ji:

The bulls still require a 5 hour roundtrip hike over unpleasant terrain. Not really tough, but muddy and slippery in parts. After that, it's real easy hiking, looking around the river area for the cattle. Lots of pigs, too. As soon as you feel your back is up to that kind of hike, I'm ready for the bulls. I'll lead the way. If Nic goes, all you'll see is his backside for about 30 seconds and then he's gone.

Laupahoehoe doesn't fill up at all anymore. I now go on Sunday only, since I often see one or two other hunters on Saturday. On Sunday, there is nobody, ever, just me, and the pigs are moving about all day. The hike at Laupahoehoe is much easier than the bull hike.

Mauna Kea is by far the easiest hunting for pigs. Other than during the spring gobbler season from March 1 thru mid-April, the pigs are wandering around the road right before sundown. You drive or spot and stalk and sneak up on them and "Boom!!" I doubt if you'd have to hike 300 yards altogether.

Keep me posted and thanks for the info.

Aloha.

 

[hogwild757]

Ev- Uncle Ji,
you're right about doc gonna get a bunch of mainlanders. I guess since I live here but a waianae boy from maile beach. I'm currently in awe because I got my hunter exemption but the timing is not working out how I'm gonna making over some where to hunt kaui or Big island. I met couple other bradas on the big island that know a nephew of mine in Hilo whom happens to be a Butcher. But they hunt pigs only with dogs. Belive me there is nothing wrong with that, but i'm interested more in hawaiian sheep with my bow and if a pig get within 40 -50 yds its dead meat. Trying to flip a coin on location.

Doc,
Great tips on location of where too's and what species in location. What kind of rates for hotels or motels Gonna check motels .com.
Mahalo
Pat
Btw Doc,
That zodiac hs a inch of dust on it do you ever take it out for squiding or something?

 

[ozstriker22]

As always, a fantastic tale of high adventure... Hey hunting is hunting. Sometimes it's hard and not too often, it's easy.

Heck at Tejon this May and last, while some of us were hiking our feet into bloody nubbs loosly attached to the bottoms of our ankles, there were a couple guys that shot boars from the hoods of their cars while driving TOOOO their hunting spots!!!

Doesn't matter how easy or hard, it's still good to hear about!!!


Funny Story... 4 years ago in deer camp... everyone is up WAAAYYYY before sunrise. Hunted our bunz off. Mr Drunk sleeps in and wakes up at 10am to take a leak. He unzips his tent to see a nice 4x4 buck taking a drink from the pond 40 yards from camp. He quietly turns, loads his rifle, and shoots the deer while sitting on his mattress, in his long-johns and socks, with his boots outside the tent and the flap half way open. He then proceeds to put on his boots, go take a leak, turn on some coffee, and dress out his deer. We all return exhausted from hiking 3 miles and he's frying up bacon with a deer hanging and an evil, satisfied grin on his face.

I love that story almost as much as the hard-luck ones. Keep 'em coming.

Jesse

 

[EvBouret]

Pat, if you ever come Kauai I'll take you on a spanish goat/boar hunt with archery gear down the Na Pali. All it'll cost you is a plane ticket, camping permit, and a ride to the north shore. It is almost a 100% success rate for goats if you spend a night, and I'd give a 30% chance at a hog...better if you play your cards right and catch them getting to their beds.

 

[larrysogla]

Awesome!!! Awesome!!! With Doc, Uncle Ji, Ev, Nic, and all the wild hogs, goats, sheep, bulls, birds that get smacked with shotguns, slugs, 45-70's, 30-'06, arrows, knives & dogs, it just gets better everytime. Amazing!!! I have a co-worker who was born and raised in Hawaiia(Molokai Island). He said in the early 1950's his Dad would shoot deer from the hillsides at the back of the village and wild boar would go inside their yards. He said that his Dad fed the family with deer and wild boar meat. It seems that hunting in Hawaiia has come full circle to where it was in the 1950's with game in abundance. I think no other state in the U.S. has such wild game in such numbers. Well thanks again to Doc, Uncle Ji, Nic and Ev for sharing their amazing adventures. God Bless, y'all.
P.S. Doc, it always amazes me how we can use the curse words "God d.....'mmit" like water spitting out of a firehose and yet it is just as easy(or easier) to say God Bless and turn our speech from cursing to blessing. We are all, young or old, one heart beat away from meeting the One who loves us the most. Well anyway............'Nuff said.

 

[Uncle Ji]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (doccherry @ Feb 20 2007, 08:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Uncle Ji:

The bulls still require a 5 hour roundtrip hike over unpleasant terrain. Not really tough, but muddy and slippery in parts. After that, it's real easy hiking, looking around the river area for the cattle. Lots of pigs, too. As soon as you feel your back is up to that kind of hike, I'm ready for the bulls. I'll lead the way. If Nic goes, all you'll see is his backside for about 30 seconds and then he's gone.

Mauna Kea is by far the easiest hunting for pigs. Other than during the spring gobbler season from March 1 thru mid-April, the pigs are wandering around the road right before sundown. You drive or spot and stalk and sneak up on them and "Boom!!" I doubt if you'd have to hike 300 yards altogether.

Keep me posted and thanks for the info.

Aloha.[/b]

Aloha Doc, My last Functional Capacity Evaluation I met the criteria for my job description so my employer (State of Hawaii) has started increasing my work days every 2 weeks so should be back to a full schedule by end of March which means I may be ready to hunt pipi sooner than later, I guess i'm worried the state may shut this hunt down without notice, closest I'll ever get to a Cape Buff hunt. I better make sure i'm ready though just to be safe.
Several years ago I reserved a cabin at the Mauna Kea State Park a couple nights and hunted the perimeter of Mauna Kea, myself, my buddy Aaron and 2 bro-in-laws. We rented 2 Jeeps, had radios, and drove the upper 4x4 trail all the way around the perimeter of Mauna Kea searching mainly for sheep but saw more pigs than anything else with 2 of them easily being the largest boars we had EVER seen both easily over 500 pounds. First one we spotted while glassing it being about 1/2 a mile down the slope from the trail. At first we thought it was a black cattle it was so huge but after glassing it was indeed a HUGE boar. We stalked our way down towards where we thought we saw it last but I ran into a 150 pound boar instead so decided not to pass this up and popped it. After getting back to my vehicle with deboned pork we drove on and just before sundown I come around the corner, and there in the middle of the 4x4 trail was another HUMONGOUS boar which looked like a black rhino. He turned and started running down the 4x4 trail but not in a extreme rush more like a jog all the time staying on the 4x4 trail. I was driving and my buddy Aaron frantically searched for a round of ammo while we bounced down the 4x4 trail hot on the heals of this HOGZILLA. I'll never forget his humongous rump giggling as he ran ahead of us. He must of ran that trail for half a mile just as Aaron found a 30-30 round bouncing on the floor of the Jeep the boar took a sharp left turn and ran into an open field and stopped at about 50 yards giving us a perfect full side view and glared back at us as I turned the Jeep directly at him and turned on the highbeams in the dimming light giving Aaron a perfect shot. Quickly he jumped out and chambered a round into his Savage 170 pump 30-30 with red-dot sight. The Boar just stood there and waited for us to do something. Aaron placed the red-dot right on the boar's chest and squeezed... CLICK! IT WAS A DUD, A FACTORY AMMO DUD! At the sound of the click the boar snorted in disgust and trotted off into the bushes while Aaron frantically searched for another round. Both these boar were MONSTERS. I'm guessing there may be some decendants of these Hogzillas still roaming the upper trails of Mauna Kea. A Mauna Kea glass-from-4x4-trail Hogzilla hunt would be just as fine and maybe more realistic for a former invalid than a 5+ hour pipi hike/hunt with 75 pounds of meat on my back. "Smelly Nelly" is restless to go hunting for anything but will see how she likes 405 hardcasts as soon as my brass gets here.

I shall keep you posted! MAHALO!

 

[Uncle Ji]

PS. You sure got a cute wife there Bruce, we should start a club.
Here's my wife Vandi holding Lucille when a baby.

Lucille a year later...

 

[BelchFire]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (doccherry @ Feb 16 2007, 03:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

"I like boar hunting. It's almost as much exercise as drinking a beer."[/b]

 

[snoopdogg]

I'm sure I've said this before, but Doccherry--you suck!! LOL That goes for Nic, EvB, Uncle Ji, et al... Aw, I'm just jealous of your posts/stories and general tomfoolery (including your fishin' tales).

Good read fellas. Thanks again for your continued posts and pics.
One of these days...

 

[Nic Barca]

I know I haven't been saying much lately and have just been reading along but if anybody is going to go on a cow hunt in there again, I like go! I can at least help pack meat.

Doc, sorry I haven't gotten that video to you yet. It turned out it is too big for me to email so I would have to put it on a cd and give it to you.

As far as hunting pressure and game abundance goes, my two cents is the following: There are a few trends I see. 1. more hunters because population is increasing dramatically in Hawaii. 2. less percentage of the population hunting and low recruitment. 3. Crackdown on Land access by private landowners due to tresspassing problems.

Supposedly, there are far more people hunting the hilo watershed now than there was 20 years ago. In fact I didn't really notice it at first because I was either hunting Waikea FR on the weekdays when there wasn't many people out there, or I wasn't there near the road in the time of day when one would encounter others. I would simply park in the dark, hike all day to deep areas, and come out in the dark. But A LOT of people bowhunt in the Pohakuloa Military Training Area and adjacent Kipuka Ainahou Nene. I'm talking 100 to 200 hunters in any given weekend in Pahakuloa. Mauna Kea, from what I hear, used to have loads of hunters before the sheep were culled. I hear they took 40000 animals off the mountain in the first year but I'm not sure how accurate that information is. Much of Pohakuloa was also fenced off for rare plant reasons. Hawaii was very laid back until recently. Just 15 or 20 years ago, you could pretty much walk right across anybody's strip of private land and get to the forest beyond. Now, it's hard for many people to get to those same areas they have been hunting for many years, if not their whole life. Everybody is worried about getting sued and the hunters are worried about getting charged for tresspassing and many people just don't have the whole asking permission deal down. Plus a lot of new land owners are from out of state and don't know that a popular hunting trail might have ran through the lot they bought. But all in all, the other islands have much less pigs than they did before. Sheep and goats on the Big Island are not as numerous as they once were. Ryan Kohatsu was showing me all the horns of big rams he has taken and said that it's getting hard to find big trophy sheep these days let alone a big herd. Pigs are still very very plentiful on the BI. Some people say that now that the sugar industry is out, small farms and orchards are starting up intheir place resulting in more food for pigs and more pig problems. As for young people not hunting, some do but from what I see they don't hunt on public land and many just go occasionally with the few young hunters who own their own pack of dogs. That's what I see. Most the young people I know don't hunt but instead are in the party & surf crowd but thats probably just because I grew up in that crowd. Very few of those hunters have licenses. Actually, I don't think any do and therefore, they are not likely to go on public land.

 

[doccherry]

Nic:

I'm a Ready Freddy about another cow hunt, as long as we go in on the Morita Camp Trail and as long as you slow down to about 7 or 8 MPH. I hiked in a couple months ago and it was about 5 hours roundtrip. If we leave at 6:30 AM or so, we'd be at Morita Camp by about 9:00. We'd have to leave by about 4:15 PM or so to get back by dark. The nice thing about that area is that the hiking is so much easier once you get to the river and to where the cattle are. We'd have a good 5 or 6 hours of solid hunting back there, considering I'd need a couple of hours at the river to rest and pop my heart pills. I could sleep and you could run thru the forest chasing bulls. If I hear gunshots, I might even wake up and go give you a hand. Then again, I might just roll over and go back to sleep. How about early April? You up to another go with The Old Fart?

 

[forkehornreggie]

Alright, Doc and Nic fix me up with some public land hunting. I am there April 12th. I am going with Jon Sabati first but then I want to go on my own. We are staying in south Kona. Is there any public land near there?

 

[Nic Barca]

April 12th is fine by me. Sooner would be better. But I still think Morita Camp trail is more difficult than hiking up the river. Any time, I'm down to go. We should bring radios this time so we can split up. GPSs would be helpful too but you might have a hard time getting a good signal in the woods.

 

[hogwild757]

Nice pig

 

[larrysogla]

Doc,
Your freezer must be still full. Haven't heard the latest from your high adventures lately. We are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in your Hawaii Hoof Hunts. Don't forget your appreciative audience out here in the Mainland. Clue us in your latest Boar, Billys, Bulls and Bird hunts. We are starving for those hunt tales if you leave us clueless for a few weeks, you know. As always, God Bless and take care. 'Nuff said.

 

[Tominator]

Hmmmm, I wonder if the big island needs another surveyor....