My wife and I are in Kauai (I know AGAIN) because it is easy to get here from Alaska. I spent two days earlier in the week hiking and bowhunting goats and pigs along the Napali Coast Trail.
Super TG Moderator Doug Campbell and wife Karen joined us today and Doug and I have our packs loaded and ready to hit the trail at first light
We will be out there for three days and two nights giving the critters heck.
Be watching for some pics and tales but it may be a few days.....
Here is a shot of the Napali Coast from about Mile 7 looking west.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/NapaliCoast_Feb2010.jpg)
I'll be waiting and watching. :coffee:
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Camp_Feb2010.jpg)
Here is a shot of my favorite camp site on a historic terrace where the Hawaiians of yesteryear grew taro.
I could hear pigs walking feet away thru camp at 5:30 am while I swung in my hammock.
The hunting was tuffer this trip than in the past but the trail is in great shape.
I had to really work hard (relatively) for shots than on past trips.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Goat_Feb2010.jpg)
I actually made my first shot dead on (pun not intended?) on his young billy. He slid a long ways downhill and I am trying to keep from sliding down the talus slope in this photo.
I went up the hill on an extremely steep ridge and shot a nanny that pitched off into the depths below.
I went back to camp and decide I would hunt back to a valley I normally bypassed that was closer to the trailhead.
I blew a chip shot at a nice tender meat goat. Dang it....
By this time decided I would try and make it off the trail that day and save my energy for Doug and my trip later in the week.
I did locate a nice moab of goats with a couple nice billys on the way out and slipped in for a shot on an unsuspecting billy. He became aware that I was close by and tensed up. I shot and tried to squeeze an arrow past a branch but the arrow deflected.
I tried to cross the valley and intersect the trailon the other side of the stream but it "cliffed out" on me so I had to back track...I HATE backtracking.
I made it back to the trailhead right before last light and called my wife to come pick me up early.
Most excellent adventure, indeed!
Thanks, Steve.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Hawaii2010028.jpg)
Doug's (left) pack and Steve's (right) pack ready for the trail!
---to be continued---
That looks like a terrible...TERRIBLE time. I feel for you and will pray that your suffering will end and you get back safely to an airport with a Starbucks and a Sbarro.
This is getting off to a truly fine start!
Thank you for sharing Steve!
Very much looking forward to the rest of the story....
Safe travels!
Shoot straight, Shinken
Yeah, Steve! Nice work, again!
That has to be fun. Nice shooting.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=074385#000000
Here's a link to my last Kauai trip.
Ben: G-day Mate!
Very Nice Keep the pics coming
Back in about 3 days. I'll keep reminding Doug to keep his camera handy.....
Have fun guys, play safe.
great stuff. hawaii looks like a great hunting destination. pigs, goats, axis deer!
That's just not right! It should be against the rules to post warm pictures in February! Have a great hunt guys!
I am very, very, jealous! :banghead:
This is going to be good. I can't wait.
Jack
This is going to be a great one! Good friends sharing hunting time in one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth - can't get any better than that!
Your past stories have planted a seed in my mind that I would love to see sprout someday.
Will be waiting for your return....
QuoteMy wife and I are in Kauai (I know AGAIN) because it is easy to get here from Alaska
Another good reason to move to AK! ha That migbe enough of a reason to get my wife to make the move.
Great pics and story, thanks
Thanks for the update on round one Steve, looking forward to hearing about round two. You did remember to leave some for me right????
Good luck and we will look forward to the stories.
Great story so far, can't wait to here the rest.
"You did remember to leave some for me right????"
I'm more worried about you having left some for US DHR!
Soaking coffee and getting up and at 'em. Sound ugly out there with lots of rain, goina be a mess when we get back!
Good stuff Steve, looking forward to a lot more...
Hunting partners don't get any better than Doug :campfire:
Take lots o pix!!
Steve,
Looks nice and for sure warmer than home. When you get home, please give me the name of your AL counselor, because I need advise on how to coordinate my vacation schedule!
Talk to ya soon,
Dave
The mostest awesomest place in the whole wide world! I LOVE the Na'Pali coast and only wish I was a hunter back when I camped there (a month!)
Get some "Tabi" shoes at an ABC store in Hanalei and I promise your slipping on red dirt days are over - you'll outrun the goats with those on!
GOOD LUCK!!
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve H.:
[QB] "You did remember to leave some for me right????"
I'm more worried about you having left some for US DHR!
Oops,I'm pulling for you guys....really! :pray:
I'll be watching this one. I love these threads. make sure you have plenty of camera room to bring us along. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Steve, Always look forward to your adventures. Thanks for taking the time to take pics and share with us. :clapper:
This is going to be good ... Kauai is our favorite vacation spot. Not sure I could get my bow packed for that trip though, good job guys :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Really looking forward to more. A couple of years ago I had no idea I was so close to such an awesome adventure. I just kick myself for not bringing my bow along :banghead:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/bmnash/IMG_1431.jpg)
Great stuff Steve good luck.
Your legs pale in comparison to the excitement I feel waiting for the rest of the story. :bigsmyl:
Were back but don't expect pics and tales too soon.
Hungry, thirsty and real dirty....
Here on TG we never expect stories or pics fast.. LOL!! Looking forward to them when you get 'em. :thumbsup:
Soooooooo....
Who drew first blood on this excursion?
Doug or Steve?
I'm bettin' on the man from Montana!
Shoot straight, Shinken
Can't wait ...
:campfire: Must be a warm adventure. It would be nice to go there once. keep them coming :coffee:
Looking forward to reading this one :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Alright, we've gotten a good nights sleep and several pics uploaded but Karen and I have to catch a plane back to Oahu before long. It was a great time on the NaPali Coast, a couple more goats died and we survived a Tsunami ;)
I'll throw a little critical advise out here right off the bat. Don't wear hard soled hiking boots and cut you a good walking stick from the small bamboo patch at the beginning of the trail...
I wore some old reliable boots that have been all over the country but the soles are a little on the hard side. It had rained a fair amount, common here, the night before and the red mud was like walking on up hill ice for the first three miles. That and the 80ยบ temp/100% humidity about did this Montana boy in the first day...
OK here's Steve at the trail head and doing guide duty.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics033.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics035.jpg)
This is the first creek crossing about two miles in along with a warning to be careful. The number of drowning deaths are marked at the bottom of the sign, I think it's at 82. That should be enough to sober you up on getting to the water.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics040.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics038.jpg)
More later...
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Doug_395.jpg)
...and here's a shot of Doug hiking thru a jungly section of the trail on day 1.
Doug and I first hunted together in SE Alaska for black bears about 12 years ago and it had been a loooong time since we had teamed up for more than Montana gophers and rattlesnakes.
About 4 1/2 miles into the trail and we had seen a few goats but all up high in precarious cliffs. We continued on and I spotted several goats down below us in a steep draw heading toward some cliffs.
We saw that we could safely work down to the cliff edge and peek over. I motioned for Doug to get in from of them and I then noticed a small spot I could get to in case they held up. The goats were right below Doug and he pulled back and shot right over one's back but a second arrow quickly found its mark in a small billy about like mine from earlier in the week.
Here is a shot of Doug glassing immediately after his shot.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Doug_Cliff_408.jpg)
The goat went down in some nasty cliffs that was too steep to safely follow so we didn't get a hero shot
A quarter to half mile further down the trail and we located a group of four goats with a really big billy but it was just too steep to safely stalk to them. Here is a pic of that billy.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Billy_BIG_410.jpg)
For those of you that have followed my earlier Kauai hunts you may recognize my favorite camping site.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Doug_Camp_426.jpg)
Doug and I hunted separate sides of Hanakoa Valley that evening but the goats were all hanging out in pretty inaccessible spots.
Right along that first creek grows wild sweet potatoes and that creek is full of fresh water shrimp and limpets called "Opihi". I had some of the most incredible meals camping there... If only I hunted then! That's it, I'm going back!!!!!
NCH: I remembered you tlling me about those shrimp so I looked a couple times but no too hard Also tried finding a good pair of tabys to try but only found junk ones.
Just went back and read the last years thread. Looking forward to the rest of this story for sure. Could you give us an idea of costs etc.. for license/tags. Not that I'll ever be able to do this but would love to know. Thanks Skippy
For sure you had a double joy:runaway the North winter and good hunting in shorts.Thanks for sharing.
Airfare, rental car for $350 or a bit more per week plus/minus, $95 NR license, $10 per night camping fee. I usually have at least a couple nights of hotel at about $100 per night coming and going.
If you take wife/family you'll have lodging the whole time plus a bunch more expenses, cha-ching!
Restaurants are a bit pricey if you're not careful.
I also did two more of these Kauai hunts on TG before last year but not sure if any of them made it to the yearly archives or not?
I also have a bunch of Hawaii stuff like his on the PBS website.
Well Doug it looks like life is wonderful in Hawaii too!!!! Great adventure!!! :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve H.:
NCH: I remembered you tlling me about those shrimp so I looked a couple times but no too hard Also tried finding a good pair of tabys to try but only found junk ones.
They have highly reflective eyes. Walk up the creek at night with a flashlight, you won't miss 'em!
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Steve_413.jpg)
Here's a shot of yours truly with a bit of scenery.
Oh, and the tabys ARE junk... It's just a sock with a felt pad but believe me, they work!!!
There's all sorts of cool things to be seen and you never know what you'll discover next.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Centepede_425.jpg)
MAN WHAT A VIEW!!
Those bugs will make you sick as a dog! That bite hurts like the Dickens!
Have I ever mentioned that this trail and the area is a end of the road kinda place for some real interesting characters? You'll see people you thought were only in airports out on the trail. Guess what the standard for currency out there? Doug found some hidden in plain site.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Herb_430.jpg)
So day 2 we take off from camp and intend to hunt from our camp at 6+ mile toward 8/9 mile. We got to a huge deep valley at about 7 mile where I had shot my billy earlier in the week and were just coming out of the valley when a string of people appeared and said helicopters landed at Kalalau Beach and that there was a 8.9 earth quake in Chile and that there was a tsunami warning and everyone needed to get to higher ground!
One thing I regretted not taking was the zip-off legs for my shorts. Several areas that looked huntable were just too painful to get thru. Here's a pic of one of the nasty things growing in profuzion, (sp?) everywhere.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics085.jpg)
When you look closer this is what will get you and there are areas where the dead leaves are literally feet deep...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics086.jpg)
Believe me Steve's legs were perty to begin with but you should see them now ;)
Doug and I decided to NOT do our normal thing and play it safe so we back traced to higher ground and sat on a spiny ridge at about 800' elevation and waited for the mother of all waves!
We had a great show with a LOT of humpback whales breaching down below us. A few hours later and nothing spectacular happened so we wandered back into Hanakoa Valley to look for some goats.
My best hunting has always been between 7 and 9 miles and we just had that section of the trail taken away from us which probably really influenced the number of opportunities we had at goats.
We went back to camp and packed up and decided we would hunt our way back to a valley at 5 mile or at 4 miles and hang our hammocks for night 2.
One of the non-hunting highlights for me was all the whale action. They would literally keep you awake at night... The humpbacks were everywhere, when one of these big baby breechs it sounds like a large cannon shot, sometimes rapid fire cannon shots. Sorry for the crappy pix but there were probably a half mile out...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics072.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics075.jpg)
We continued to find some goats but they were always in locations that were unrealistic to get to including one old long horned billy up in the cliffs. We eventually found some big trees and stretched or hammocks for the night. Breaching whales kept Doug up that night. Doug's snoring kept me up that night, lol.
Something tells me that Zip-Off Nylon Pants would have helped very much against THAT Stuff!! Unless They Be Canvas that is!! Or Leather! :scared: YIKES!! :scared: :scared: Makes our Wild RoseBushes and Other "Briars & Brambles" look like CornStalks!! :eek:
The true essence of hunting, adventure.Thanks fellas.
Yep my wife tells me I'm a world class snorer, haven't really noticed myself ;)
We actually seeing and hearing lots of goats but it just wasn't feasible or safe to go after them in the cliffs. There were thousands of areas where you could fall hundreds of feet into the ocean, (if you were lucky).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics060.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics079.jpg)
If your hunting the cliff areas like we were forced to after the tsunomi warning it doesn't matter what kind of shot you make it's often going to be sketchy whether you'll retrieve your goat or not. You just have to keep in mind that your doing you part to help the environment by killing the nasty ol non-native goats... ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics094.jpg)
Glad to see you guys are safely back, I was somewhat concerned when those tsunami warnings came out. Looks like a great adventure in one of the worlds most beautiful places. Cool shots of the whales!
That nasty stuff looked alot like our saw palmetto. Be careful!
Steve, The pic of the big billy is something else. I would have been afraid to fall to my untimely demise!
Love the pics and thread....keep it coming!
Okay Doug, I see why Texas had to wait-this year, that is. We'll expect you back in '11. Hope you had as much fun as it looked like you did and got off the mountains safe and sound. :biglaugh: Grant
Excellent adventure Doug and Steve, thanks for sharing.
I am really enjoing these thread with pics.
Before we headed back to the trailhead on Day 3 we heard a goat bleating so we went down the trail and caught up with it.
Here's Doug with the goat facing away.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Doug_Preshot_432.jpg)
It wasn't the World's largest goat but Doug made a good shot and saved some plants.
By the way, we just got back from droping the Campbell's off at the Lihue airport and they are making their way back to Honolulu and Oahu where they are staying with family.
Here's another one of Doug on the hike out.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Doug_Trail_438.jpg)
...and one last shot of Doug just after we crossed over the 2 mile stream. (Daniel, I showed Doug where you were siting in the photo with you, our wife, and goat head, I bet I was within feet!)
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/SteveHohensee/Doug_Hana-Beach_439.jpg)
We met a lot of people on the hike including folks from many states, and the countries of Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Pakistan.
The Pakistani kid named Fez asked if he could shoot one of our bows so Doug gave him lessons while I took his picture, unfortunately just with his camera.
We met another couple from Oregon, Brian and Juniper. Brian was thinking of trying archery\\/bowhunting but I think we just may see him appear on TradGang after our encounter. We'll see if he tracks us down! Brian, you there?
Great thread guys. This is why I love TG!
Yep Grant, TX had to wait, the wife is a little happier this way ;)
Here's my final pic just after we crossed the last creek coming out, (where we should have looked for those fresh water shrimp...) ;) We were running a little ahead of schedule so stopped to cool our feet. After almost twenty miles thru plenty of rugged terrain in he last three days it felt real good as you can tell from Steve's expression ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsNapaliCoastPics097.jpg)
It was a great time in a great place with a great friend reguardless the complications. Looking forward to the next trip Steve!
Thanks All for following along.
Looks like it was a very memorable trip with the whale activity really adding some quality to the overall experience!
Of course, there was the tsunami threat that could have added some additional excitement....
Thank you for sharing with Trad Gang!
Safe travels!
Shoot straight, Shinken
Great hunt! thanks for sharing
Sweet Hunt in a beautiful place with good friends. Doesnt get better than that. Good thread.
Thanks for sharing the pictures and the hunt!
Thanx fellas! :clapper:
Glad to see it all worked out guys. Got a little worried about the weather for a couple hours,but it all seemed to settle down. Great pics!! :wavey:
Thanks guys. It has been a great read as usual.
Jack
What a special trip that was!
Thanks for taking us along on yours, but someday I dream of doing that one myself..... :pray: :pray:
Great trip guys, thanks for sharing.
Guys, great stuff. I've NOT been around mountains too much and some of those cliffs would have had me crying for my mommy I'm afraid. :) Looks like beautiful country. Maybe someday.
Great job Bill and Ted.. I mean Steve and Doug!
Some of you may have noticed a disparity in the amount of shooting between this trip and others I've done in the same area. I know I did.
For some reason I/we weren't getting the repeat good opportunities as in the past. We had many people tell us "oh, we just saw a whole bunch 2 miles back" and similar tales so it may have just been random bad timing?
I know the goats are more visible from the point we turned around due to the big tsunami warning as that part of the trail is more desert-like and open.
Oh well, at least we each got a couple of goats!
Looks like an awesome trip!
Great stories and pics Guys-Thanks!
Thanks again for sharing your adventure guys!
That sure looked like a fun adventure, thanks for taking us along.
Steve, I can't remember any mention of your packing any weapon other than your bow, so was there ever a time that you wished you had a little extra "protection"? I ask because of one photo in particular and your mention of some interesting characters met on the trail.....
Nice of you guys to give Fez some shooting lessons, that trail is definately a place to show non hunters what it's all about.
you never know, maybe the goats got the tsunami warning too and headed for their caves :cool:
What a place for a bowhunt! Thanks for taking us along to Paradise :campfire: .
Claudia
Awesome pics and stories guys! Yet another place to add to my list.
Thanks yet again for a super adventure. I have just got to get back there to hunt. I think I can sell this one real easy to the wife. Here is a picture of my lovely bride on the trail....
(http://burnhamphotography.com/galleries/nature/photos/landscapes/napalicoastkauai.jpg)
I think Steve is in the air headed home right now but I'll answer Jeff. Out of all the folks we saw on the trail there was only one that turned up his nose up at our hunting gear. Don't know if he was or not but he had NY City Police logo on his t-shirt and looked like he'd been weaned on lemons anyway ;) Overall literally everyone else we met was very amenable and friendly.
We spoke with some folks that had been to the end of the trail where the "question-ables" lived and I think they were more disgusted with the living conditions and cleanliness that worried about safety. Steve and a couple others on here have been to the beach at the end of the trail and may have more to add but that's my take....
Doug, Your old pal Mark Baker is down here chasing semi tropical pigs with us. Given the fact that the temps in MT and Florida this week are about the same, I bet he wishes he was in Hawaii too!
Wow, what a great trip! Thanks for taking us along. That is definitely something my wife would do...maybe! Doc
Yea Jeff, I think Mollie might like it over here ;)
Wish I could be two places at once Don...
Just Hurry up and finish what yer doin and get back to your CELL.....Doug (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/IronBull_/Smileys/out-1.gif)
Back home on the Kenai Peninsula after a long red-eye flight home.
Yes, the "hippies" are mostly pretty friendly ("kum-by-yaish"), just not the most sanitary people you'd ever meet.
That looks like an awesome trip and is really sounding good now as winter is winding down
Steve H., I can't believe you let Doug call you "air headed"! At least that's how I read his post.
Anyway, be watching your mailbox for the thumb drive.
Very awesome! Thanks for sharing!
WELL Steve is in AK and Doug is in Hawaii :saywhat: Who's What?
Iron Bull,
Are'nt you suppose to be on the cookie thread?
OOPS..... (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/IronBull_/Smileys/excuseme.gif) (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/IronBull_/Smileys/scared0018.gif)
:biglaugh:
Congrats on a great trip :thumbsup:
With the local currency, un sanitary Hippies, A NY police guy that had been weened on lemons :wavey:
Good stuff, gents.
"un sanitary Hippies"?
Is that a double negative, lol?
Hello Steve, makes me want to see Hawaii now. I see you're having a heck of a time, as usual.
Neven
Finnaly got to catch up on this one...great stuff as always guys....thanks for sharing!!!
And Congrats on your goats! :clapper:
looks like a fun trip....no wondering I cant ever get ahold ya! lol
Absolutely great thread! I've only seen the Na'Pali coast from the air and by boat. I love seeing the character of the land. Thanks for taking us on the hunt!