Januray 2009 : Semi-Live on Kauai'

[Fletcher]

Hey Steve, don't stop now!  Great seeing/hearing about you and Ben running around again.    

[Over&Under]

Great story and pics!!!  Bring on the rest, if it was not for you taking the time to share, some of may never see parts and animals from other parts of the country.  Thanks alot!

Jake

[Steve H.]

The group my billy came from had a second billy about the same size and they weren't too spooked so Benny went after them.

A few hundred yards up Benny got a shot and the billy made it into some thick and hairy cliffs far below the trail.  Benny has been on two mountian goat hunts in Alaska with me and does good on the cliffs and he eventually was able to pick his way down to the billy.  It wasn't the other big billy but a respectable one none-the-less.

[Steve H.]

Ok, I'll add a bit more.....

[Steve H.]

The next day Benny goes back and relocates the other big billy and arrows him too and once again the goat gets in the really nasty steep stuff.  Benny picks his way out into a REALLY steep section.  The photo shows a bench but above and below, I assure you is cliffs!

[Steve H.]

Benny was by himself for that last billy.  Hmmm, I wonder what Steve was up to during that time?  

Maybe sitting in camp?

Taking a nap under a tree?

Hmmmmm?

[Steve H.]

Hey Saltwater Tom.  The folks I refered to above were from Homer.  Tall skinny guy in his 30's and his wife and her brother.  The tall guy is a bird tour guide.  Don't recall their names.  Sound familiar?

[Steve H.]

There also exist Polynesian pigs on most of the Hawaiian islands including Kauai'.  These pigs are probably a mix of pigs brought over from Europe by explorers and some asian varieties.  I had seen pigs on about two occassions per trip and had muffed a shot on my last trip when my bowstring caught a sleeve.  There was a lot of rooting in the jungle areas so I wanted to make sure I was in one of these areas during late afternoon.  I bumbled around a bit and eventually bumped what sounded like a big pig in a thick area.

[Steve H.]

A lot of fruit exists along the trail and what is ripe depends on what time of year.  During January not much fruit is ripe but we did find a few guava, a few liliqui (can't spell today) which is the passion fruit.  No avocados, mangos, or mountain apples were ripe.  The pigs had to probably work a bith harder this time of year to keep themsleves fed.

[Steve H.]

Just before last light I heard pigs routing and worked in as quietly as I could.  Dang it if I didn't pull back and proceed to miss a pig!  

Crap.

[Steve H.]

But, I had another arrow.  I ALWAYS have another arrow when I am on Kauai', lol!

[Steve H.]

...and this time I didn't miss!




I backed off and tracked by flashlight about an hour later and found my sow under a big boulder about 75 yards uphill after a good blood trail.

The next day Benny and I hiked out and late that night caught a plane back to Alaska.

*** Next Up:  Alaska Muskox ***

[turkey522]

Thanks for sharing,great pics.Can't wait to hear about the Muskox and Bear story.Hope there will be lots of pics to see.

Terry

[bretto]

A great story!! Thanks

[steadman]

Great Steve! Saw the other hunt somewhere else   :D  Looking forward to the stories. Thanks!

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

Oh man do I miss Kauai. Na Pali coast is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, and to hike the trail with bow in hand would be a dream come true. I live through you, brother... POST ON!!!!

[paleFace]

man that is a bruiser of a pig!  thanks for sharing now i'm really looking forward to a return trip, only this time with a bow.

Steve i'm sure this pic looks familiar:
 

[SKYLER W]

Awesome Thread....We've gotta start saving $$$$$

[Steve H.]

RB, I am sure I passed there many times, maybe even slipped on the mud and fell down there too!

She was big framed but real lean.

[paleFace]

O' got some good mud pics. we started the day clean and ended red.  that is one beautiful place and to hunt there has just got to be awesome. a must do! Skyler let me know when your ready to go.