Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Other Big Game => Topic started by: jackelope on June 30, 2009, 01:20:47 PM

Title: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: jackelope on June 30, 2009, 01:20:47 PM: the wife and kid and i are headed to Hilo next year in june, maybe again in august, and i wanted to start looking into the options for a hunt there. we have family there that may know a little something about it but are not hunters...does anyone have any info or advice they're willing to share? i know there's pigs and some cool feral goats...not sure about what else.
i will have a vehicle and don't mind driving, also not too picky on what we would hunt with whatever means as in bow, rifle, muzz, etc.
thanks in advance
JB
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: NRA4LIFE on June 30, 2009, 01:37:12 PM: Don't know the seasons on them but I know there's quite a few turkeys. Most of them that we saw in February were in the farm land in the central western region of the island. And we seen some of the goats about half way up Mauna Kea I did not have my binos that day so they could have been stock, I'm not sure.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on June 30, 2009, 01:38:15 PM: There's wild sheep as well as goats and pigs. Here's a link to their season summary:

http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hunting/hawmammregs.html (http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hunting/hawmammregs.html)
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: Ridgerunner on June 30, 2009, 01:42:19 PM: Look at the parker ranch.

I do know you've got to get approved before you can buy a license, I had to submit my hunters ed info months before heading down there. From what I hear the seasons and bag limits are quite liberal.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: cackle on June 30, 2009, 01:48:18 PM: looks like you can pretty much hunt year round I think i need to go to hawii
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: jackelope on June 30, 2009, 01:53:57 PM: Quote from: Ridgerunner on June 30, 2009, 01:42:19 PM
Look at the parker ranch.

I do know you've got to get approved before you can buy a license, I had to submit my hunters ed info months before heading down there. From what I hear the seasons and bag limits are quite liberal.

ridge-did you hunt parker ranch? we went there last time we were there for a tour of the place, but thats it.

the kona side is lousy with those goats. we almost ran a couple over on the highway leaving the airport.

thanks for the tip re: license approval.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: Ridgerunner on June 30, 2009, 02:06:27 PM: I was all set up to do a half day bird hunt on the ranch and then got the flu and wasn't able to make it or reschedule. MAJOR BUMMER! :bdid:
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: huntnphool on June 30, 2009, 04:07:43 PM: Quote
not too picky on what we would hunt with whatever means

You're going to a tropical island, how about thong bikini's with a zoom lens :twocents:
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: jackelope on June 30, 2009, 04:10:54 PM: I don't need a zoom lense to get good bikini looking time in :twocents: . besides there aren't that many great beaches on the big island and we will not be in the touristy areas.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: Clipboard guy on June 30, 2009, 04:57:24 PM: When in Hawaii do as the Hawaiian do and go after the pigs with a knife. I copied this photo from http://www.mauihuntingsafari.com/client_gallery_i.htm
:o
Makes firearm hunting seem too easy.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: satchel3006 on June 30, 2009, 05:04:51 PM: this might help
http://hawaiisportsman.forumotion.com/index.htm
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: p-ohana on June 30, 2009, 05:12:17 PM: Don't know too much about hunting on the Big Island, If you where going to Maui that would be a different story. I grew up hunting on Maui. I've killed everything huntable on Maui and freediving off Maui. I hear there is very good hunting on Parker Ranch but my impression growing up was it was for the rich tourists or If you knew someone who worked for the ranch who could get you on the property.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: Dakota Dogman on June 30, 2009, 06:12:34 PM: Heard getting a gun on the Island can be a pain... anyone know?

Couple of knife guys on the Island would love to sell you genuine pig stickers... Vince Evans lives there again, and I believe Ken Onion is on the Big Island.

God Bless,
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: p-ohana on June 30, 2009, 09:01:37 PM: Never had a problem getting a firearm to HI. I just put it in a hard case and checked it. My dad hunts in Montana regularly and hasn't had any problems.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: starbailey on July 01, 2009, 09:07:59 AM: A buddy and I hunted on the Big Island last Nov. We were mainly there to hunt for mouflon sheep. The game dep. personell were very helpful finding areas to hunt. We wish we could have stayed a few more days. It is a pain to bring a rifle to the islands as you have to get a permit from the local police dept. It took us at least a hour to get the paperwork and fingerprinting done.(yes, fingerprinted) I think the nonres hunting license was $100 and be sure to have proof of a hunter safety class. Hunting season is 365 days long for pigs,sheep,goats. No tags required. Bird season started in Nov when we were there.
We took an extra cooler with us and shipped(fed ex) our horns and capes home.
We were told there were hundreds of goats/sheep on the military areas but, they were bow only!
My suggestion would be to get the numbers of the game dept and start calling.
Bryan
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: jackelope on July 01, 2009, 09:11:33 AM: thanks Bryan,
any pic's of your hunt? did you harvest a mouflon? public land DIY?
my brother in law and sister in law live on the Hilo side, so the hunting will likely take place over there.
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: starbailey on July 01, 2009, 09:31:10 AM: We were part of a special program to controll the number of sheep in the park. Yes we were able to do our part in controlling numbers but, it was not a trophy hunt. You had to shoot at what you found. We were able to take some rams and my buddy shot a couple good ones. They were the flightiest animals I've ever seen. Most shots were at running animals and they aren't that big of a target! We think they have been shot at a lot!
We had a game dept escort(drove the truck) but that's all he did as he was on duty.
The game dept guy told us about the hunting outside the park and how it was a lot better with more animals that were hunted a lot less!
I'll try to find a pic.
Bryan
Title: Re: hawaii(big island) hunting
Post by: Muzzynbow on July 01, 2009, 10:15:21 AM: I have read all the replies, so far, and I think you have received some good advice on hunting the "Big Island". We lived on the Big Island for several years and we enjoyed the hunting the Big Island had to offer: (sheep, goat, wild pigs, turkey, pheasant, chucker,quail and, oh yea......and there's also wild donkeys running around, also....) Lots of sheep and goats on Mauna Kea Mt. and Mauna Loa Mt.
If you are interested in hunting on the Parker Ranch, I might suggest that you go to the Ranch Headquarters in the little town of Kamuela - I'm sure you can find answers there. Also the Dept of Fish and Game, in Hilo, can answer your questions on seasons, hunting areas, license info. etc.
If you want a guided hunt - there's a few 'outfitters' on the Island.
Another little bit of advice......wear 'good' boots. That lava rock is hard on the feet!
Good Luck on the hunt...... Enjoy the Island.