Happy Holidays, Trad Gangers!
In 2014, my wife and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. We are thinking about planning a big vacation. My wife would love to lounge on a tropical beach for a week, but I would get bored. We are strongly considering Kauai, because I could also hunt while we were there, but it is expensive and far away. Being in Michigan, and closer to the east coast, vacations south of Florida in the Atlantic and Caribbean are way more affrodable. So, I'm wondering whether or not there are any tropical paradises in those areas that have bowhunting opportunities?
I was about to start a Google search, but figured I'd ask here first. Do any of you know of any bowhunting destinations among the Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, or any of the other islands between Florida and South America?
The only thing I've hunted in the Caribbean is Lion Fish and unless you are a diver that's out.
IMO stick to your wife's wishes and go to Hawaii. Yes it is more expensive but it is afterall your 20th anniversary. Further - yes, but it's only just a plane ride. You don't have to go to the most expensive island (Kauai) as I believe they all have hunting. Been to Maui several times but visiting and diving were on my agenda at the time not hunting.
Having done a vacation in the Caribbean and in Hawaii. I would trade 5 Caribbean vacations for one Hawaii vacation, it was incredible and I didn't even hunt.
I just got back from Kauai a week ago. It was the best Hawaii island for me so far, green and lush and slow pace. Small towns and pretty laid back. You better like chickens and not mind crowing roosters though. There are feral chickens everywhere, and I mean EVERY where. Myself I like and have chickens though and a crowing rooster doesn't phase me. I think many of the locals run dogs on the pigs with knifes from my limited research on hunting there.
I think that much of the hunting in Hawaii is done on the lesser islands. I wouldn't hesitate going to Kauai for your special year.
I see a chicken hunt in the making!
You can hunt on Barbuda which isa small island off of Antigua. I remeber an article about it in TBM. I think he was hunting goats and boar.
I would echo the Hawaii votes. I have been lots of places in the Caribbean, and they are nice, but I don't know of any hunting opportunities.
Hawaii, though, is on my bucket list for goats/pigs.
check out the Hawaii forum and you'll be hooked, I'm guessing.
Most of the islands in the Caribbean hold little wild game other than Iguanas. The wild inhabitants are mostly feral cats, goats and donkeys. Dominica and St. Vincent are very mountainous and may give an opportunity at goats...but that's what they are, goats. Puerto Rico could have something west of San Juan or in the mountains south, but it would be unlikely. Haiti and the DR could be possibilities, but your wife wouldn't have a very good time as they are by no means paradise island once away from the coastal resorts. Either way, there would be little to compare with sheep and hogs in HI.
OPINION.
Tim
Isla Mona, part of Puerto Rico, is the only serious hunting in the Caribbean. Pigs and goats, white sand beaches, tropical jungles, caves, pirate legends, Columbus, Captain Kidd, Eiffel's lighthouse, wild 5 foot iguanas, snorkeling .. the list goes on. There are 2 stories on it in our book Longbow: A hunting life. Some pictures at www.campbellsquest.com. (http://www.campbellsquest.com.) On here, Steve Hohensee, Rick McGowan, TJ COnrads, Scott VanArendonk, and a few others went on the 3 expeditions. We are the only folks I know of who had gone back then. I have hunted quite a few jungle islands, including Molokai. None really compare to Isla Mona. But, for a vacation, Molokai might be better. :-) - Jay Campbell
Goats on Isla Mona. 300 foot cliffs, deserted island. - Jay
(http://i.imgur.com/0e58R.jpg)
I appreciate the info guys. Thanks!
You could take bowhunting to sea.
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x200/demmery/bowfishing036_zpse8322924.jpg)
I know of a few other carib spots after hundreds of hours research but they would be experimental spots and would take some cash and risk....
Mona is a serious logistical nightmare but awesome. Limited open season in Dec.
Hawaii is more reasonable, have hunted all the main islands sans Oahu.