Big Island Hawaii hunting?

[Gehrke145]

Me and the girlfriend are planning a trip at the end of the year to Hilo (looking for some property)planning on getting my feet wet on hunting the big island.  Looking to chase some critters and maybe do some bowfishing.  Prolly going to be there about 20 days or so.  Any info would be great!  Its been hard finding any info about hunting there (not counting guided hunts)  Would like to just see some goats, sheep, or pigs.

[sagebrush]

The Parker Ranch is pretty big there. They have pigs,goats,sheep but they are probably guided. I don't know I have never hunted there. But was thinking about it. It is a huge ranch. Let us know how you do. Gary

[beendare]

Call the Hilo F&G office to get your Hunter Safety info certified early. If you send the info they are very good about getting it done.

I wouldn't recommend poking around in the back country without a local. Too many small plot farmers (if you know what I mean) who don't like strangers-especially right around Hilo.

 There are some public areas that are OK hunting that the F&G can point you to where you will have few problems. Private is some of the best hunting on the planet.

Bring a GPS- very easy to get lost.

Good hunting on Maui, Molokai and Kauai also but you will have to hike much further on these islands. Good luck

[Gehrke145]

Got the GPS!  I know the other islands have great hunting also just trying to get out a little bit where we will build are vacation house.  I might try a guided hunt but prolly will just hike the hills and see whats what.  Plot farmers lol keep my eyes open don't mind helping my brothers in blue!

[beendare]

Well,my friend- just giving you heads up.

If you are out prowling the jungle at the very least carry some pepper spray for the pits

[Gehrke145]

I heard about them as well!  I have to study the regs over there Ill prolly carry my pistol more out of habbit then anything (If its legal) have you hunted over there much?

[sagebrush]

Pits??

[Steve H.]

Pitbulls.

I have hunted there several times but always on the Kona side and with a local that had the "ins" on places to go so haven't hunted public land.

The Big Island has the most diversity of animals available..  I think I did a thread on the Big Island back a year or two ago, might check the archive threads.

Oh, make sure and get your hunter ed exemption letter sooner than later.

[Steve H.]

http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/IdxHunting.htm

[Greyfox54]

I have hunted on Kauai but not the big island but if they are similar make sure you are in great shape , very rugged on the Napoli Coast trail . Seen lots of goats and got close to a lot but oouldn't shoot as there was no way to retrive them . We managed to get one and marinated the meat for a few hours and when we ate it it was like chewing on a rope , and tasted  worse . They have a lot of funny laws as you can hunt almost wvwey weekend and holiday but not some weekdays . Best of luck  the trip was worth the sites , Fred

[Gehrke145]

Thanks for the replys guys keep them coming!  Steve h I went through your threds they are great!  Im in pretty good shape hunting elk in the high county as well as mule deer.

[Steve H.]

I tried finding some old threads I thought were here but didn't find them, hmmm?

[Gehrke145]

They were on a few weeks back? Well were you shot the goats and your budy shot a ram with a GM and a mech. head

[Gehrke145]

ttt

[saltwatertom]

gehrke-
   I was on the big island in feb and it is a blast. As others have said, get your hunter safety card/letter out of the way and the rest you can take care of when you are there. Read the regs you get from fish and game when you are there and there is plenty of hunting on public land. The regs seem a little confusing at first but a few minutes of study and pondering will get them figgered out. The regs are posted on the web also so you can study ahead of time if you want.
   The jungle has lots of pigs around the Hilo side and if you ask land owners will some times let you hunt to rid them of the pests. Never ran into any pit bulls but I am sure it is a possibility. I WOULD be some worried about playing with a big boar the was in a bad mood tho. Sheep and goats are up higher esp in warm wx. More goats on the Kona side. Look around the Pahoa area and an area called the four corners area near Pahoa, lots of hippy types and commune type living, folks that might let you hunt or point you twords somwhere to do so.
    Be sure and take a drive up both mountains, the views are SPECTACULAR, and theres huntin up there too. WE saw and got close to sheep on the "power line road" (my buddy didnt see them till too late and spooked them!  ;-)  ) Lots of bird hunting there too, check the regs.
    I brought back some pig and sheep meat from a friend that lives there and - oh my- yummmmmm!
  Take good tuff hiking boots for walking in the lava, you'll need them.

Aloha-
Tom

[snag]

I was talking with a guy that works at the local archery shop today. He said that the deer, forgot what they are called, are in rut in June. He was showing me his mount he just got back. He say looks of deer, most were barking at him though! He finally got one on the 4th day of the hunt. It had been raining heavy before he got there. So, you couldn't hunt them at water sources. He had a blast. The guy that runs the place had a big shed lined with racks. They can shoot as many as they like...no limit! He also said there is no finer eating than one of those deer.

[Gehrke145]

Tom thanks for the heads up! sound pretty good should be fun