Kauai- Take 2

[DHR]

Hello all,

I just got back from my second trip to kauai in the last 6 months and just wanted to tell you a little about it.  The first trip was a honeymoon for me and my wife, and I got to do a little hunting too.  Well on that trip I got the bug and just had to make it back there.  We're now expecting my new hunting partner (ha ha), so I figured it was a perfect time for a little solo trip before things get busy, so..... I blasted over to Kauai for six days of hunting along the kalalau trail.  

 

Here's me at the trailhead with rental car, loaded pack, and bow ready to go find some goats.  The hunting proved difficult on this trip, with good opportunities hard to come by, but I took game, met great people, and enjoyed myself immensely, so read on.

[beachbowhunter]

Cool start to a story!

[DHR]

It was dry on the trail, in fact I got almost no precip during the week I was there.  This was much different than what I expected, and in stark contrast to my last trip.  While this made for very comfortable conditions, I think it made the hunting tougher.  The goats seemed to be dispersed, and were hanging out on the high ridges rather than the lower more accesible areas.

 

This picture of the kalalau valley gives you an idea of what the terrain is like.   Those slopes are carpeted in dense chest high thorny vegetation, so be ready to get torn up.  Pretty spectacular though eh?

[DHR]

The state issues 3 day archery only permits to hunt the napali coast state park, so my itinerary was to hike in and hunt for three days, come out and renew my permit, then go in for another three.  I knew my hike in on the first day would take me through some likely areas, and I had hopes of getting into goats on my way in, but on this particular day they weren't there.  It was great hike though.

 

here is a huge mango tree at about mile six on the trail. No fruit this time of year, but from what I hear during august and september the pigs can't stay away.

 

This is some boar sign that I found near camp that evening.  This is probably old hat to you fellas who get to hunt pigs all the time, but for me it was pretty cool to see.

[Jesse Minish]

Great pics! Cant wait to see more.

[DHR]

The next day I was on the trail early and located several groups of goats, but my stalks came to nothing in the swirling winds, reminding me that these goats and their survival instincts demand respect.  Any unexpected human scent, or a glimpse of a person where they didn't expect to see one (which is anywhere off the trail), would mean instant goat exodus.  so that evening when this young nanny lagged behind the group I didn't hesitate.
 
 

I was after all relying on fresh goat meat to keep starvation at bay.

 

Yummy...

[StanM]

Awesome story and pics, keep it coming  

[bretto]

What a trip. Thanks for the  pics.

That fresh Goat is making My mouth water.  

[sam barrett]

Excellent adventure and pics.  Congrats!  Those goat shish kabobs look delicious.

[Mudd]

Whoa!! How very cool! Awesome pictures too! I remember being there once for 5 days but when I left there I wasn't headed back home to my honey. In fact I had met my wife there and when our time was up she went back home and I went  back to the army's version of Disney World at the time..lol

Your pictures took me back in time and I can almost smell the meat roasting over your fire. Thank you!

God bless,Mudd

[Footed Shaft]

Man o man do i hope to get there some day. As ya know we were planning on our honeymoon there until we both recieved word that we are out of a job.
 We are planning on the same date ( july 20) for 10 days.
 Keep those pics coming DHR      Bill

[DHR]

Things began to look up the next day as some of the previous days scouting and exploration paid off.  I caught this girl filtering through a stand of trees on her way to the ridge top after the nights feed.

 

Shortly after this i shot another goat, a young billy, from this same ridge, but gravity exerted it's uncompromising effect and took the goat to an unrecoverable position on the rocks below.

I loaded up the meat from my nanny and went down the trail in search of euther more goats, or some new friends to cook goat meat with.  I encountered the latter first, so a feast and siesta ensued.

 

Oh yes and just a reminder, be carefull when skinning goats.  Luckily my wife's a nurse and packed me a good first aid kit!

 

[DHR]

The next day I needed to march out so I could report my first three days hunting activity, and renew my permit for the next three.  I took a few moments with my coffee that morning to record some of the memories.

 

Then I was on the trail, albeit going in the wrong direction. I admit it was tough to tear myself away from the hunting grounds after I was just getting in the groove.  I left my camp set up so I could travel light.  man was that great.

 

Thanks everyone for reading this far.  I've got to take a break for now, but there are still three hunting days to go, so stay tuned.

[23feetupandhappy]

man that looks sweet    
 

[djohnson]

Very cool!

[rastaman]

Thanks for taking us along!

[stevemfwills]

tell me what kind of bow you shot for those goats

[Marvin M.]

Excellent read.  Spent two weeks on Kauai back in 79 or 80, on maneuvers with the USMC.  Didn't get to hunt goats while I was there, but have fond memories of the place.

[Chris Surtees]

   

[lt-m-grow]

Hurry back.  Great story and great pictures.

Thanks for sharing...

This hunt is on my list.

Ooh and congrats on the expected new hunter.