Aloha All --------Great to be ALIVE!

[bigislandmark]

Aloha Gang,

Just had to share one small kine story. Two days ago a friend invited me to shoot some pigs tearing up a neighbors yard.

We got there late afternoon and after a small scout of the area, decided to wait on one their trails.

Well after two hours with no action, we decided to do some still hunting.

We located the pigs and set up infront of them playing da wind. It was text book until Murphy decided to join us. Pigs would have walked within ten yards of us but at 20 decided to vear off to the right and angle towards us. As they got closer, the lead winded us. They blew and balled up twenty five yards away under a guava tree. The dominate boar rushed us and stopped at 15 yards. I whispered to my friend Richard to take um. The boar turned and ran fifteen yards off to da side and stood under some guavas. He then made another charge at us and again stopped ten yards away. I waited for Richard to draw on him but when he didn't, I drew. I waited for da boar to turn to give me da shot but woudldn't. After what seemed like forever, the boar finally broke and ran. I didn't want to take the chance on a running shot and let him go.


You might ask why I didn't shoot the first time when we had the shot---- Richard has never shot a pig with his longbow and I wanted for him to take um. Would have been a good one too. I think da boar would have easily gone one fifty plus.

Hopefully they will return and I will be able share some pictures of a successful hunt with da gang.

As my drill sgt. would say GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE DELTA COMPANY-----GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE!

Wishing you and yours a Melekalikimaka and Haolimakahiki Ho! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)

       Mark

(After reading, I think this should have been posted in Hunting Stories----- sorry.)

[Dirty Bill]

Sounds good to me. Do it again..  

[Gatekeeper]

Great story!

Nice of you to take a backseat and let your friend have a go at the boar. Keep us posted with your adventures and don’t forget the pictures…. we like pictures.

By the way what is the pucker factor when a 150lb boar charges you and stops only 10 yards away? Did he have tusks?

[Kevin Bahr]

Great story, Mark.  As I'm sitting here reading it in the dark early morning, it is snowing sideways with a steady 40 mph wind.  Sure makes me wish I was back in Hawaii right now!

[Steve H.]

Aloha Mark,

Thanks for the story bra.  What side you on?

I've hunted a few times with some of the bruddahs at Hualalai.  Grreat times.

Mahalo!

[bigislandmark]

Aloha All, thanks for all the nice comments!

Bradah Steve, I am on the east side of the Big Island---- da side with da never ending rain.

Gatekeeper, puker factor was high but I was more excited about seeing the pua that close. Didn't set in that we might have been in danger till after da pig left. Also Richard had double knee surgry and if things got real bad, I could always push him down to keep da pig busy while I reprositoned and shot! (LOL).

Update--- Saturday we got the call at 12:30p.m.---- da pigs were back. After tracking them, we found them in a draw. From our vantage point, all I could see were small ones and what we thought was a pretty good size pig. As da pigs were headed into the guavas I told Richard to take the shot. He was out of positon and told me to take it. When the pig paused, arrow was away. Lucky for me da pig was in the path of my arrow and it zipped through da chest. After that, all hell broke loose. The pigs -----roughly 15 of them didn't know what was happening except that they needed to get outta Dodge. They ran up da draw right past Richard. They were running through the guavas and from where I was standing it looked like they were running past him at seven yards! I saw him draw twice but didn't shoot. From my vantage point the lane looked clear but from his, the guava branches were blocking the pig's chest. He decided to pass on the shot and let them go.

Da pig I shot turned out to be a small one ---about 70 lbs. Alot of fat on her so she'll be good eatin. When they broke past Richard I counted at least three brusiers---all boars. Had I waited to see what the pigs were doing instead of taking da shot--- maybe I might be writing about da boar or how I set the new world record on guava tree climbing.

Got a call on the way to work this morning from Richard. A different neighbor called to say that the pigs were rooting around about 6:00 last night. I thought that the pigs would stay outta the area for awhile so I planned to take Richard up da mountain today to hunt. Pohakuloa training area open for archery today and tomorrow. We'll be trying our luck today on sheep and goats.

 Pigs?----I'll have to wait to see if Da Boss (wife) has any plans for our family tomorrow. If not, Richard and I will be out there in da rain,getting soaked and having a great time.

Will try to post pictures latter on the pua I shot and if we are lucky maybe a goat or sheep! (Neva like push it by saying goats and sheeps)

Have a Safe and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

              Mark

[Gatekeeper]

Thanks Mark, great story.

I would guess that trying to stick a running pig is a pretty tuff shot to pull off. Richard will have his day. Good luck with the rest of your hunts.

Merry Christmas.

[Voodoofire1]

Hawaii....Hog hunting.....good friends.....Definitely qualifies as a great day to be alive!!

[Steve H.]

Merry Christmas!  Hard to beat if you get to go hunting!

[bigislandmark]

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Well I spent Christmas eve up hunting on da mountian. Got within 10 yards of some billies and missed! The goats would proberbly have walked into my lap but thought 10 yards was close enough. Thought----"Gimmie". Boy was I wrong. I don't know if I didn't pick a spot or my face veil got in da way. All I know that arrow was on da way and goat was not in da way of my arrow!

Latter in the day I came across more goats and stalked within 20 yards of a billy. This time I took my time and picked a spot. Arrow was away and the cast looked good BUT---again the arrow fell short.

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to close the distance on more animals but couldn't get within shooting range.

Went home and spent Christmas eve with the clan at my brothers house.

Next morning after the traditional family breakfast and opening of presents, I went outside and took a few practice shots on a three D deer. At 10 yards--- all arrows in the kill.

I still don't know what happend, but next week Monday archery is open again and I plan to be up there chasing animals. This time I'll pull the face veil off before shooting. Maybe my face will scare them stiff and they won't be able to move before I take the shot!

Pigs haven't been around but hopefully when the moon phase turns dark, they'll start coming out earlier.

HAOLIMAKAHIKIHO!  (HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

Mark

[NorthShoreLB]

you're right, not moving much now, one more week and   there's gonna be more middle of the day movement.

BTW nice story.

[Gatekeeper]

Thanks for the update Mark. Sounds like you are having a great time.

There is a facemask made by Great Day that will not get in your way. It is made out of spandex and fits snug to the face. They make it in a full face and a 3/4 face size. Maybe one of the sponsors offers these products if no I know bowhunters super store sells them.

Edit: 3Rivers Archery has the full face. See page 70 of their winter catalog.

Good luck and Happy New Year.

Tom

[bigislandmark]

Aloha Gatekeeper,

Thanks for da advise on the mask. Is it called Spandoflage? I think that I got one somewhere in my archery stuff. Long time ago I used to wear one. I think that I stopped using it because I washed it too much and it faded the color out. Will have to give it another look. Maybe dye it or pick up another one-----Mahalo!

Mark

[steadman]

Awesome stories Mark! Pig huntin in Hawaii this time of year, sounds like paradise to me! Thanks for the stoies.