Nic Barca
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- May 19, 2006
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Well, my hunting gear finally got here after shipping it from Kauai to the Big island like I do every break, and after three weeks of doing nothing, I really had the itch. So I got up at 4:00 AM this morning packed what I thought I would need, and drove my truck up saddle Road to around 6500 feet elevation to the Powerline road. I was to hunt the upper Waiakea Forest Reserve: 1 pig, one sheep, and one goat per hunter per day, open every day of the year.
It was very very cold so I waited for some horizon light before heading out away from my truck. That way, even though I would be cold at first, the air would warm me up as it got later. But wow, I didn't realize how cold it really was. Must had been 35 to 40 degrees. My gun felt like an ice cube. I walked with my hands in my pockets and when I tried to film with my video camera, I couldn't talk right because part of my mouth had gotten a little numb. But after walking in a little ways along the lava flows, I made it to some kipukas of older forests where pigs would be. These Kipukas are islands of older substrate that the lava flows had missed or flowed around. The one I went over too caught my eye because of the large Koa trees in the canopy. I knew the place would have lots of food, so I headed over to it. My first impression was not good. I saw very little pig sign but as I walked a little further in, I would tell they were there. The ground wasn't rooted up like you usually see, but pigs were definitely in there. After walking about 100 yards slowly with the wind in my favor, I spotted something move. It was a hen Kalij pheasent and apparently there was a whole flock of them. I had never gotten one of these before, despite seeing them all the time, so I propped my video camera along the side of the gun so that I could catch the shot on film and waiting thinking that they were working in my direction. I should mention they were only ten yards away. The flock started making a lot of chirping noises as they talked to each other and I soon realized they were staying where they were. Just as I was preparing to take the first step closer, the pheasants freaked out and three black pigs darted out of the depression. One kept going strait ahead and slowed down about 50 yards away but the other two just ran 20 yards ahead and to the left. I waited hoping to get a shot but none presented.
It turned out the pigs were bedded down in the depression, just under the crest where I couldn't see. They had knocked down and had eaten the core of a Hapu'u tree fern, after which they probably were full and were bedded. The pheasants came in and started eating the Hapu'u as well. The pigs must have caught a whiff of me.
After waiting a moment, I tried flanking slowly to the left but there was very little noise made by the pigs. I could only guess where they might be due to where I last heard them. I moved in about 20 yards and started to notice the black fur of a pig but as I moved into position for a possible shot, I could see that the black blur behind he brush was part of an ear and the snout. Being that it was only 20 feet away, I figured it would be hard to go wrong. I aimed at where I’d expect the head to be and fired. He dropped flat on his belly and his buddy ran off through the semi open forest floor without stopping. 10 seconds went by and my pig fell onto his side and started kicking. It turned out, I hit him in the head, just behind the right eye. The 20 gauge slug shattered much of his skull, went through half the brain and down into the right shoulder.
I tried to make a video showing a method of skinning and deboning that I learned over here but my camera was low on tape and batteries at the time. But while cleaning the pig, the pheasants came back. I heard them on either side of my chirping, calling back and forth. And after I while, I wondered, are they right there again? so I slowly got up and peaked over a big fallen log between us. Two young pheasants were on top of the Hapu'u feeding away at the core like they never had a care in the world. I grabbed my gun and launched a round of buckshot at them taking out both with one shot. Ten minutes later I herd another and looked up to see a mature cock pheasant feeding on the same log. Same thing, I put the camera on the side of the gun, peaked up and popped him one with the buckshot. This time, I had to chase after him and I never got a good picture of that one but he on the bag.
So I got about ten pounds of pork and a quart of pheasant meat. Gonna try pheasant noodle soup and throw the pig in with the next batch of smoked meat. Pretty good for a quick morning hunt.
It was very very cold so I waited for some horizon light before heading out away from my truck. That way, even though I would be cold at first, the air would warm me up as it got later. But wow, I didn't realize how cold it really was. Must had been 35 to 40 degrees. My gun felt like an ice cube. I walked with my hands in my pockets and when I tried to film with my video camera, I couldn't talk right because part of my mouth had gotten a little numb. But after walking in a little ways along the lava flows, I made it to some kipukas of older forests where pigs would be. These Kipukas are islands of older substrate that the lava flows had missed or flowed around. The one I went over too caught my eye because of the large Koa trees in the canopy. I knew the place would have lots of food, so I headed over to it. My first impression was not good. I saw very little pig sign but as I walked a little further in, I would tell they were there. The ground wasn't rooted up like you usually see, but pigs were definitely in there. After walking about 100 yards slowly with the wind in my favor, I spotted something move. It was a hen Kalij pheasent and apparently there was a whole flock of them. I had never gotten one of these before, despite seeing them all the time, so I propped my video camera along the side of the gun so that I could catch the shot on film and waiting thinking that they were working in my direction. I should mention they were only ten yards away. The flock started making a lot of chirping noises as they talked to each other and I soon realized they were staying where they were. Just as I was preparing to take the first step closer, the pheasants freaked out and three black pigs darted out of the depression. One kept going strait ahead and slowed down about 50 yards away but the other two just ran 20 yards ahead and to the left. I waited hoping to get a shot but none presented.
It turned out the pigs were bedded down in the depression, just under the crest where I couldn't see. They had knocked down and had eaten the core of a Hapu'u tree fern, after which they probably were full and were bedded. The pheasants came in and started eating the Hapu'u as well. The pigs must have caught a whiff of me.
After waiting a moment, I tried flanking slowly to the left but there was very little noise made by the pigs. I could only guess where they might be due to where I last heard them. I moved in about 20 yards and started to notice the black fur of a pig but as I moved into position for a possible shot, I could see that the black blur behind he brush was part of an ear and the snout. Being that it was only 20 feet away, I figured it would be hard to go wrong. I aimed at where I’d expect the head to be and fired. He dropped flat on his belly and his buddy ran off through the semi open forest floor without stopping. 10 seconds went by and my pig fell onto his side and started kicking. It turned out, I hit him in the head, just behind the right eye. The 20 gauge slug shattered much of his skull, went through half the brain and down into the right shoulder.
I tried to make a video showing a method of skinning and deboning that I learned over here but my camera was low on tape and batteries at the time. But while cleaning the pig, the pheasants came back. I heard them on either side of my chirping, calling back and forth. And after I while, I wondered, are they right there again? so I slowly got up and peaked over a big fallen log between us. Two young pheasants were on top of the Hapu'u feeding away at the core like they never had a care in the world. I grabbed my gun and launched a round of buckshot at them taking out both with one shot. Ten minutes later I herd another and looked up to see a mature cock pheasant feeding on the same log. Same thing, I put the camera on the side of the gun, peaked up and popped him one with the buckshot. This time, I had to chase after him and I never got a good picture of that one but he on the bag.
So I got about ten pounds of pork and a quart of pheasant meat. Gonna try pheasant noodle soup and throw the pig in with the next batch of smoked meat. Pretty good for a quick morning hunt.
