Januray 2009 : Semi-Live on Kauai'

[Steve H.]

It's been a couple years since I have done one of these and posting pics has changed a bit but lets give 'er a go!

I convinced my often time partner Benny that he needed to go hunting on Kauai with me since he had just finally finished dental school and needed a break.  I love hunting on Kauai and can do it affordably so this is my third trip in about two years.  

Benny now lives in Juneau and I just moved from Juneau to the Kenai Peninsula so we met up in Anchorage and left on January 1.

We spent a night in a decent yet affordable hotel when we got to Lihue' and prepared our packs for the Napali Coast trail the following day.

It was good to get back on the trail and stretch my legs a bit!


 

This is a target rich environment so notice I'm not shy about how many arrows I carry....

[Steve H.]

Notice how BLUE the water is from the trail.  Some parts along the trail are tropical/jungle-like and some parts are very arid.

 


Game sightings really kick in about four miles or so and Benny quickly bagged his first goat of the trip.  I didn't realize he had hit the nanny as it stood above me on a knob and all of sudden tumbled head over heals and landed where I was standing seconds before!  A perfect heart shot for Benny!

 

[Chris Surtees]

Looking forward to reading more of this one.

Great shot!!!!!

[Gehrke145]

ttt I'll be watching this one close!

[Steve H.]

Lots of goats like always and fresh pig rooting too.  Benny added a second nanny to the bag and I mmmmmmissed at couple shots--boo-hiss.

Most kids are dropped around March but we found a couple early like this cute little feller.


 


The entire trail is over 11 miles long and takes a hard day but usually I stay were the hunting is good and had never gone to the end.  Benny and I decided on day two that we would continue on and see the beach at the end of the trail.  Sure enough there is an incredible beach but the hunting wasn't better so we headed back into the heart of the critters lair.

Here is Benny crossing over some of Kauai's infamous red dirt.  Slightly scenic ehhh!!!!

 

[Steve H.]

Any body read this stuff besides Chris and g-145?

So, you think we will see any more game or get any additional shots?

[Steve H.]

When this one is done I have two more trips to share.  Arctic muskox and coastal brown bear if any one is interested.

[Whip]

Oh, we're reading!!  And there is no doubt in my mind that more shots were taken!

The Na Pali coast is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  Would love to go back again someday with a bow in my hand.....

[JC]

Yep, we're reading....

[Tim Fishell]

Yup this is a good start so far!!  And I am definatly interested in the Musk Ox and Brown Bear hunts as well!!

Man those are some great pictures.  Hopefully I can make it out there someday.

[Son of Texas]

Yep!!     thanks can't wait for the Brown bear hunt.  

[saltwatertom]

Yea! Keep writing and posting!!!

[kurtbel5]

Ha Ha reading and drooling
I have family and friends in Kapaa, and hope to get back with bow in hand soon.
Wanna surf lesson while your there?

           Kurt

[unclewhit]

I'm here, got my coffee in hand and chompping at the bit to read more.
So far it looks and sounds like a great trip.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Definitely reading.  I've only seen taht coast from the water.  Does the trail go all the way to that beach where the whitetail bucks and does hang out?    :D

[Danny Rowan]

Come on Steve, ya know we are reading, get on with it,LOL.

Danny

[Steve H.]

Well, all right then.....

JS:  That beach would be at 11-12 miles.

We headed back and I told Benny about one little valley where there is ALWAYS goats in the afternoon.  I spotted a band with a bunch of nice billys and as we got closer a big billy was right ahead of me.  I worked in a bit closer and drew to the barbs and released.  The shot was a long one for me, probably 30-35 yards.  The orange fletchings formed a little ball as it arched thru the air and even thou Benny was behind me I knew his mouth dropped when the little orange ball contacted the billy's shoulder!

[Steve H.]

We went down where the billy was standing and soon found this sight:

 

[Steve H.]

Dang 2-blades just don't leave a good blood trail, lol.......

[Steve H.]

But no matter, we saw the billy go down.  This is my best billy from Kauai' and is the same spot as the billy pictured in the TBM story I did on Kauai' last year.

 

We met some other Alaskans on the trail and they asked if we would bring some goat meat by their camp that night since we would be staying close by and so we did and had goat pasta primavera.....BUT I probably have at least one more bowhunting story before dinner time!