Isla Mona, PR

gringol · January 03, 2013, 08:45:00 AM

Anyone hunted Isla Mona, PR? I've got some family down there and I might need to squeeze a hunt in with a visit...

Tater · January 03, 2013, 09:00:00 AM

You might check with Jay Campbell, there is a story in "Longbow" about hunting Isla Mona.

Kc kreger · January 03, 2013, 09:25:00 AM

Jay Campbell is the only one I have read about hunting down there. If I was in better shape I would be up for it!

Best of luck if you do get to go. Would love to hear how it goes.

Jay Campbell JD · January 03, 2013, 10:06:00 AM

As far as I know, my group is the only one from the mainland to ever hunt Isla Mona. Steve Hohensee, Rick McGowan, Jose Demoya, Dennis Harper, T. J. Conrads, Scott Van Arendonk and a few others. We made three excursions. it's a complicated trip, but was worth it, all three times. There are two Isla Mona stories in the book, Longbow. Jay Campbell www.campbellsquest.com

gringol · January 03, 2013, 10:11:00 AM

Ok, looks like I'll be reading your book real soon, Jay. Then I'll pick your brain apart for all the logistical stuff. From the little I've heard, it sounds like it's an unguided experience (which is just fine), but how much money should I be expecting to shell out?

Izzy · January 03, 2013, 10:32:00 AM

Puerto Rico, Cuba,,, looks like 2013 may be an interesting year for Trad Gang. And just when you thought we'd run out of untapped adventures. Good luck to you, Id love to go as well and will follow your progress.

killinstuff · January 03, 2013, 11:13:00 AM

I was searching the net in early fall about Mona Island (I'm not bilingual) and I'm glad to see that Jay has been there because I didn't think anyone had. Guess I'll have to buy Jay's book now also.

Pic can you post a few pics of the Island please?

CJ

Jay Campbell JD · January 03, 2013, 11:15:00 AM

Well, Luke (Gringol), that's hard to say (by the way, we're both in tampa (jaycampbelljd@gmail.com). I live on the water near Westshore. Flight to San Juan ($350), Rental car to Bouqueron ($300), Three hotel nights minimum, one in San Juan waiting to get the permits in person, one coming off the boat in Boqueron, one more in San Juan before the flight home ($450), Boat from Boqueron to Isla Mona ($1600), Food/Water ($200 per person), Certificates, licenses ($100). So, that gives an idea you can add up and divide by 4, which is as many folks as you can cram in one hotel room and car. The boat can hold10 or so. It's camping on the beach. 4 days of actual hunting, probably 8-9 days total trip. It is one of the wildest, coolest places in the world, visited by Columbus, Captain Kidd, Taino Natives, Guano farmers, smugglers, Eiffel (built the now-crumbling lighthouse on the island). But it is one of the most dangerous places I have been - and I've been to a few. :-) www.campbellsquest.com the e-book is on Amazon as well. There are some folks trying to put together a trip for next fall. - Jay

bfrbmj · January 03, 2013, 11:24:00 AM

Any hunting on the main island? I am heading down there for 2 weeks with my family in Feb. Jay- Why was it so dangerous on Isla Mona? And, yes I will get your book- it sounds great. Thanks, Brian

Jay Campbell JD · January 03, 2013, 11:27:00 AM

Killinstuff - I can try to post pics a bit later, but there is a gallery at www.campbellsquest.com with a few pics of Isla Mona, and also some pics at www.jaycampbellphotography.com, gallery 2, longbows, password "Buffalo" capital "B". There are also some color pictures of Mona in the e-book version of "Longbow: A Hunting Life" and some black and white pics in the paperback version. - Jay

gringol · January 03, 2013, 11:30:00 AM

Thanks for all the info, Jay.

Izzy · January 03, 2013, 11:38:00 AM

Get the book Luke, great isla mobs stories. It was also in tbh magazine a while back.

Jay Campbell JD · January 03, 2013, 11:41:00 AM

Brian: Mona's lagoons are white sand, blue water, but slip outside those and its a long trip on swift currents to Costa Rica if the sharks don't carry you off. There are more biting insects and stinging plants than anywhere but Australia. The island is a cliff and cave system, and the climbing is tough in tropical heat, with NO water on the island. Get lost, and thirst is a real problem. About one person dies on the island each year from one thing or another. The caves open up through the high surfaces without warning: step into one of those holes and its a 10-20 yard trip down and broken bones. There is no real lifeline, its 50 miles off of the mainland. There is a small detachment of armed rangers who are a bit hostile, and the island is a busy waypoint for armed smugglers of cocaine and humans from south america. The cliffs are a 200 yard drop straight into the ocean. There is a centipede that will kill a dog with its bite, and one of those put our 6'4" minister, Scott Van Arendonk, on his back for a couple of days. The thorns are longer, stronger, and at every level more than anywhere I've been. They lance through any boot. Falls and split heads were frequent, and our surgeon, Dr. Demoya, sewed up our troops a few times and brought medicine that we needed. So it's this weight of so many things to watch for, all the time, without much backup. To get pigs and goats, you climb. To climb, you get hot, tired, and thirsty fast. And you carry 3 gallons of water (24 pounds alone) or risk the consequences. Truly, the Tiwi islands in Australia were more dangerous with Brown Snakes, Red spiders, green ants, buffalo, and salt water crocodiles, but there were camp guides there. On Mona, you're on your own. :-) - Jay www.campbellsquest.com

Biggie Hoffman · January 03, 2013, 11:45:00 AM

Anytime you have to take a Minister and Dr. with you to bowhunt a place.......

As for Hohensee and McGowan, they're nuts enough, but how did you get someone as intellegent as Jose to go along?

Jay Campbell JD · January 03, 2013, 11:57:00 AM

Biggie, I'm a lawyer ... I lied. :-) - Jay
www.campbellsquest.com

kill shot · January 03, 2013, 02:15:00 PM

I heard there are vampires on that island.

Jay Campbell JD · January 03, 2013, 02:32:00 PM

Funny, Killshot. OK, Here's the opening paragraph of "Isla Mona" from the book Longbow. And she was right!

ISLA MONA

"The stewardess smelled like sweet smoke and her eyes were the color of island coffee. When she leaned in her blouse strained against its buttons, and if I wasn't already going to Puerto Rico I would have changed my flight just to follow her home. She asked where I was going, but pushed me away when I told her: Isla Mona. "Vampires on that island," she snapped, and turned her considerable Latin heat toward the next man in line." Www.campbellsquest.com - Jay

Jedimaster · January 03, 2013, 02:42:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Jay Campbell JD:
Biggie, I'm a lawyer ... I lied. :-) - Jay
www.campbellsquest.com

That made my day! You must be a superb lawyer at that!

gringol · January 03, 2013, 03:06:00 PM

Is it legal to take the chupacabra on Mona? How much bow do you think I need for that?

Ralph S · January 03, 2013, 04:19:00 PM

I downloaded Jay's book on my ipad and read half of it as soon as it downloaded. It is excellent! Thanks Jay! The story on Isla Mona is one of the best in the book and makes this ol man want to take an adventure hunt. It would be a great primer for anyone wanting to hunt that island. Check it out and I bet you'll agree.