I am going to Hawaii with my wife, our parents and our kids next year. I expect to lay on the beach with an umbrella drink or two, and maybe do some whale watching. I would also like to see what kind of hunting they have there, mostly because I will need to get away from my parents and my kids for a day or two. Does anyone here have any experience hunting the islands? What kind of game is there? What are the open seasons? What kind of guiding is available?

Fast Ed

Fast Ed,

I went to Hawaii last year for my honeymoon, and although I didn't do any hunting I was told that they actually have pretty good feral pig and goat hunting, especially on the Big Island (Hawaii). Unfortunately, I really don't remember what the seasons were like, but I believe that you could get as much guidance as you wanted, depending where you went. Hope that helps a little.

quote:

Originally posted by Fast Ed:
I am going to Hawaii with my wife, our parents and our kids next year. I expect to lay on the beach with an umbrella drink or two, and maybe do some whale watching. I would also like to see what kind of hunting they have there, mostly because I will need to get away from my parents and my kids for a day or two. Does anyone here have any experience hunting the islands? What kind of game is there? What are the open seasons? What kind of guiding is available?

Fast Ed

I went in 1978 for goats. I just went out with some locals who my cousin (who lived there) knew. Things have probably changed since then.
But, if I ever went back, I would look into a feral cattle hunt. I saw such a hunt on "Under Wild Skies." The dude brought his African "stopping" rifle. Looked like a lot of fun. Thick brush and really mean bulls!

Look into a hunt for Mouflon while you are there. I do not know squat about the hunting there, but I did put in an application for one of the Mouflon cull hunts the Volcano Parks was offering. I didn't get drawn, so I still do not know squat about hunting there!

I have heard there are some good Mouflon there ... which island, I do not know.

Next to the Aoudad, I really like the Mouflon for a striking looking trophy.

Do a search for Eugene Yap or Parker ranch in Hawaii (I think it is Parker???)

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Do a search for Eugene Yap or Parker ranch in Hawaii (I think it is Parker???)

I think it may have been Yap who guided for the wild cattle hunting segment on Under Wild Skies.

Fast Ed,

I was stationed in Hawai in the Late 70's, early 80's and the hunting (when taken into consideration of how small the islands actually are!) was fantastic. If you are there in season it shouldn't be much of a problem to organize something. Besides Big Game the Dove Shooting was excellent!

I'm getting senile in my old age, but if I recollect correctly, Moloki had alot of deer but in some of the most unbelivably rough terrain you can imagine. One of the islands owned by Dole had their own meet/greet and take you Deer hunting operations and they had a good reputation & track record also. There were plenty of Wild Pigs on Oahu & the Big Island but you had to have good local connections to make the most of the opportunity.

Perhaps some of our Hawaiian AR folks could steer you the right direction?

I hope you have a great stay in Hawaii. Bless you partner, like myself, I can take laying around on the beach in small doses (20 minutes.....?) myself so I highly encourage you to partake of an unusual hunting opportunity!

Overheard in a gunshop in Oahu "I am going to load up some tonight and go to the range tomorrow if the weather holds."



Doles pineapples, some nice hills and the Pacific.

Did plenty of fishing when I stayed on Oahu last year. Unfortunately hunt opportunities are slim on that island and that was the only one I visited. I have heard there are pigs and goats on that island. Good luck finding someone who will hook you up. You may need a hunter education card to buy a hunting license. So check before you go. I was pretty surprised that I would have needed one. The Parker Ranch is on the main island of Hawaii. I understand the big island is where much of the hunting takes place. Island hop flights are cheap so look into it. They have Axis deer, pigs, Mouflon sheep and Spanish goats (and others probably). I believe all their turkeys are Rio's. Turkeys have a season the rest I believe are available year round.

I was in Maui last fall and hunted with Rodney Perreira of Maui Hunting Safari. He hunts pigs with dogs and also feral goats in the Kaupo area of Haleakala. I really enjoyed hunting with him and another guide Harry. I shot this 25" goat with a borrowed JC Higgins .243 at about 180 yards. He also does taxidermy so I'm having it mounted.



If you are going to Maui I would recommend him. I know there is also Axis deer on Maui.

Maui Hunting Safari

I've hunted there a number of times, but always on private land or on control hunts, never with a guide. If you don't have a Hunter Safety Card, you MUST have one to hunt there. Your idea of a break from the beach is a very good one. Do a search for my posts on hunting there, then let me know your specific questions.


Okie John

Aloha Ed,

What island will you be vacationing on? If you let me know this info I will try my best to get info to you about the hunting available.

I also work on a cruise boat that do whale watching tours so if you come to Oahu let me know.

Savage- Nice pic, Youre just outside Wahiawa town heading toward the North Shore the clouds are covering Mount Kaala the highest mountain on Oahu and the hills in the background to the Right Of Kaala is the Mokuleia Forest Reserve some good hunting there for pigs and goats.

Aloha!!!

UltraMag: Likewise I am vacationing with the family in Hawaii next August on the Big Islnad. I am extremely interested in hunting opportunities also.

Would also like hunting info that you will pass along to Ed.

I appreciate it.

Mike Smith and I have twice hunted (shot?) with Geoff Hashimoto who posts under the name of "Geoff" on A-R. He arranges hunts on the "Forbidden Island" of Niihau, west of Kauai. It's 60+ square miles of private island, owned by one family.

Unless it's changed, one day trophy hunts for pigs and feral sheep are available, or a limited number of 3-day "cull" shoots are avaialble, which is what Mike Smith and I have done.

Talk to Geoff about what is on the menu. It's not cheap but you get your money's worth.

RECENT ARTICLE FROM THE HUNTING REPORT:

I just returned from an enjoyable hunting trip on the island of Lanai Hawaii. Spending time in Hawaii in the middle of winter is a treat, but add world-class big game hunting to the mix, and the trip becomes truly memorable.

The hunt was hosted by The Lodge at Koele, owned by Castle & Cook Resorts ( www.lodgeatkoele.com (808) 565 3981). The Lodge is a five star resort property boasting every amenity one could desire from a traditional vacation, including horseback riding, mountain biking, archery, sporting clays and shooting range, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, and beach activities in association with the sister property, Manele Bay Hotel, as well as a golf course that is consistently ranked as one of the ten best in the world. But the hunting operation is what sets this operation apart from other Hawaiian resorts.

Situated on the old Dole pineapple plantation, The Lodge properties are ideal habitat for upland birds, specifically pheasant. Both the ringneck and blue species abound here, and with the occasional francolin rising from a point, the bird hunting is fantastic. But the big game opportunities are what caught my attention. Lanai has an abundant population of both mouflon sheep and axis deer that inhabit the thick terrain of the volcanic mountains, and the hunting can be a real challenge.

Introduced over one hundred years ago, mouflon and axis were used as a source of protein for the workers of the pineapple fields. When Dole moved its operation to the south Pacific, the free-ranging animals numbers grew to a point where sport hunting become a necessity to protect the rare flora of the island. Today, The Lodge offers an attractive package that is likely to satisfy not only the hunter, but the spouse as well.

As about seventy percent of the island is privately owned, hunting is open year round. Trophy mouflon sheep are always available, however, most axis bucks cast their horns by December, so the best time to look for a big deer is June through November.

The hunter should be prepared for a physical challenge, as this is a much different experience than most “exotic†hunts in the U.S.. Deer and sheep inhabit the sheer cliff and deep valleys left by volcanic upheaval. Depending on the wind and the sun, the hunt is either conducted from the “top downâ€, valley floor glassing high, or the “bottom upâ€, glassing from the edge into the canyons. Either way, it is spot and stalk, and you may be in for some serious climbing. As the igneous rocks are relatively new and sharp, quality mountain boots are a must. Top-flight optics are an absolute necessity, and a quality spotting scope and rangefinder can come in handy also. Camouflage clothing and a long range rifle in 270 caliber or higher, topped with a premium scope are also advised. In a nutshell, approach this as a sheep hunt, and you will be fine; less preparation could spell trouble.

The three day hunt is $3500, and includes three nights’ accommodations for two at The Lodge at Koele. A spouse or friend can come along as an observer, or perhaps, sleep in a bit and enjoy the resort facilities while you are hunting. Breakfast and a field lunch are also provided in the package, but the evening meal is the hunters’ responsibility. The hunt includes 1 x 1 guide service, island transportation, and field and trophy preparation.

Success has been 100% on both species, with the trophy quality of the mouflon being very good, as many horns are in excess of 30 inches. Bigger axis bucks can be found in Texas and Florida, but the largest antlers recorded on Lanai are 38 inches, with many heads in the 30 inch range. The $3500 fee is for either animal, and if you tag out early on your sheep or deer, the second species can be added during the remaining hunt for an additional trophy fee of $1000. Also, half and full day pheasant hunts can be arranged for one or more members of your party. A non-resident Hawaii hunting license is $112.50, and you must have a hunter’s safety card to make application.

This hunt is not for everyone. Theses species can be had elsewhere for less money. But for those of us who are interested in a first-rate hunting opportunity under the guise of a family vacation, it would be hard to find a better place than Lanai, and The Lodge at Koele.

Enjoy!

Steve Scott

I write ad copy for a living, and I must say this is pretty good work. I see only one flaw -- all the mandatory information about the hunt and the resort is there, but there's no mention of the hunt itself. Would any hunters you know blather on for 750 words and not describe the hunt? Say nothing about the rifle and load he used? Fail to describe the head(s) he took?

I'm sure these folks deliver, but you can hunt Mauna Kea self-guided for a month for $3,500, including airfare, food and rental Jeep.

Apples and oranges, I guess.


Okie John

John:

Appreciate the kind words. You are correct. It is not much of a hunting story, but that is what HR wants; the details of the operation, but absolutely no "hero story" of any kind. We simply report on the operation and leave it at that.

But since you asked...

I took a fine 32" free-range mouflon ram @ 275 yards with a 330 Dakota shooting a 200 grain Swift A Frame and topped with a Swarovski 4x16 scope. The ram fell 250 feet down the mountain, but we still had to climb 200 feet, mostly straight up, to recover him. It was truly a fun hunt.

Going back in June for free range axis.

I hunted with Pat Fisher on Parker Ranch on Kona. I had a great time and Pat is a heck of a nice guy!

BTW the pheasant and chukkar were great on the grill that night!