Hawaii - Wild Hog Hunting

[Bantams]

I just found out that I was accepted for an internship at a farm for 3 months on the Big Island of Hawaii!  I'll be leaving in a month.
After I calmed down a bit from learning the good news, I realized that I'll be cooking for myself - on a budget.  And that there are a lot of nuisance feral pigs...
A quick search online revealed that the out-of-state license is $95, the daily bag limit for most areas is 2 pigs, 1 goat and 1 sheep, and the season is year-round, no tags.  Sounds good to me!

My questions are:
Have any of you hunted pigs on Hawaii (Big Island) before?
What should I expect?  I will be scoping out the nearby Forest Reserves, NOT hunting on the farm.
What shot distances are pigs usually taken from?  I am most comfortable with my 12 ga shotgun with a scope and rifled barrel. 

I hope in my time there I will make some connections and find a hunting partner - I'm pretty much a beginning hunter.  But for now I can at least research and plan on packing what I'll need.
I took my first deer last year, but I am a pro at gutting, skinning, and meat cutting! 

Thank you!!!
Kelsey

[carpsniperg2]

Sounds like a good time to me I have not hunted over there "yet " I have heard some great things and in the right areas there is lots of critters. You should be able to keep some meat in your freezer Best of luck to you, make sure you share some pics

[jackelope]

Hawaii's fish and game website has some good info on it.
Especially make sure you know the rules on bringing guns. They're not normal or what you might expect.
 
kill some goats. Not sure if people eat them much but they're everywhere on the Kona side.

[Bantams]

Sounds like I'll need to send in the Letter of Exemption for proof of WA hunter registration.  And that I need to register my gun within 2 days of arriving, at a police station.
Is this correct?

Thank you - and I sure hope I have some fantastic photos in a few months to share!! 

[mrmoskillz]

I have a couple friends from there and on their 13th bday they had to kill a hog with a spear as a right of passage so you should do just fine with a gauge

[Skyvalhunter]

My wife grew up over there. Just like in the states the hogs are a pain in the rear. When they went in and planted trees after the sugar cane buisness went tits up the hogs went wild. rooting everything killing trees, etc. They are pretty much happy to get rid of them and getting people to pay to hunt them is a bonus.

[nwwanderer]

Most of the cover that holds hogs is at best a jungle, at worst a can not see your hand in front of your face tangle.  This is why the Hawaii state dog seems to be a pit bull to run them down, hold them and allow you to catch/stab the beast since you can not see them at a safe distance to shoot them.  It is not unusual to catch them, worm and feed them for a while before consumption.

[Ranger91298]

Bantams, I think nwwanderer is spot on with his remark. At best you will be hunting them in a jungle. The areas you will be hunting in will more than likely be extremely steep and the brush will be out of control. The preferred method to hunt them is with dogs as they bed up in the thick stuff during the day. They seem to do most of their movement first thing in the morning and right before dark. They will move around in the day but not much. Hawaii is different on how they manage their hunting areas. Stateside the entire state is divided into Hunting Areas as where Hawaii has pockets of hunting areas so you need to know where your at and pay attention to the "Safety Zones". I personally have not hunted the Big Island yet but I should be out there next month so I will look more into it. From everything I have heard there are far more pigs on that island than Oahu. I have talked with a guy on the Big Island that has offered to take me out if I get over there; just got to make time for it. If you have any questions I can try to answer them the best I can. Scott

[NRA4LIFE]

For what it's worth, there are quite a few turkeys on that island too. 

[gallion_t]

I am very jealous! As funny as it may sound the 2 animals I most want to hunt that I havent already are hogs and squirrels. In hawaii seems just seems like an awesome place to do that.

Also, if you dont mind me asking what are you doing for your internship?

[Bantams]

Thanks, guys!
nwanderer - that's helpful to know.  I've never been to Hawaii so I have no idea what to expect.  But hopefully I'll be there long enough to find someone to show me the ropes.  Maybe someone who has dogs?  I'll bring a good knife in any case ... 
Scott - I'd love to hear if you do end up hunting there - besides the DLNR website, I can't find much info on actually hunting hogs, besides the regs and hunting boundaries. 
gallion_t - the internship is at a goat dairy that produces some of the best chevre and feta in the country.  I'll be taking care of baby goats, making cheese, and doing lots of cleanup! 

[shredneck666]

The big thing about hunting pigs in the jungle on the Big Island is there can be a hole in the ground anywhere.  Meaning, The jungle is dense in many areas.  We lived there for a few years and the ground cover is sometimes so thick that you cannot see the ground.  The way the lava fields cure into rock over there there can be air vents or thin crust layers that can break off easily and you can fall into a hole from 1 foot deep to who knows.  Not trying to scare you, just make you aware.  some people disappear forever, so let someone know where you are going.  Stick with trails.  In many of the forest reserves there are hunting registration stations at the trail heads.  These are good places to start and are safer because of the trails system.  Good luck and wwatch your everystep.  oh ya, there is a huge valley with all kinds of wallows and large hogs running wild.  Its a bit a hike, all day, to get there but its a beautiful beach to campout on and usually aren't many people there.  Its called Waimanu valley and the hike starts at a very popular canyon on the big islands north shore.  Good luck and let us know how it goes.  mahalo

[Rhinoron247]

Have hunted hogs and goats there many times.  There is a lot of variation in terrain on that island and hogs can be found everywhere.  Problem is in the open country they are nocturnal.  Your best bet is to net work and make friends with the locals.

The guns laws there are tough so might think about taking up archery.

Btw the feral sheep are tasty.

[KenPCPilot]

I was in Maui last July.  I scouted and looked in areas I thought looked good.  Forests farms and did not see a thing until I was on the south side that is very arid and brown vegatation.  Saw a small group about ten of various color and size.  They were not  far from grazing cattle and cliffs of the beach.  I was just surprized they were in such a dry area.  Granted it is probably the least habited section of the island.  Saw goats in a lot of places.  Saw signs for deer crossing and saw a lot of fresh tracks and dropping but no real deer.