My trip to Maui was awesome got to spend quality time with wife and kids and got to see and do a lot of what missed the last time I was there. Snorkeling, fishing and of course I got to hunt. Albeit it was for one day but it was a day well spent with my son.
We started out the morning at 4 am, my now friend Kieoki whom I was introduced to from a friend of Howl For Wildlife, Ku an outfitter on Molokai who has worked with Howl before. Kieoki is a USDA certified deer conservationist and happens to have access to land across the island. Yes USDA! There is a huge problem with deer, pigs and goats on the island. Axis deer, were introduced to Maui in the mid-20th century, and they have grown in population to the point where they pose a significant threat to local ecosystems I saw herds of 20-50 at a time. Their voracious feeding habits strip vegetation and disturb soil, leading to erosion, degraded watersheds, and reduced habitat for native species. The USDA’s deer control program on Maui is crucial for safeguarding the island’s delicate ecosystems and agricultural interests. By reducing excessive axis deer populations, the program helps prevent overgrazing, soil erosion, and habitat loss that threaten native species and local farms. It is quite the process getting certified and they have to follow specific rules etc. All the meat is utilized much like cattle or other domestics only these are wild and basically hunted. Anyway, score for me because he knew deer and knew great places to go hunt them.
The one piece we were going to hunt actually belonged his uncle a cattle rancher on the far side of the island. The plan was to go still hunt through the “jungle” and possibly harvest a pig or an axis deer. My time was short and I was not gonna be picky I just wanted to experience the landscape, weather and what hunting was like on Maui.
I won’t get into the long-winded story take by take, but I had opportunity right from the get go. I stalked pigs that eluded me in the think brush never giving me a clear shot. It wasn’t long until we spotted some does feeding in our direction. We held tight I can see the lead doe was spooked a bit but looking back the other direction and they started moving towards us, I immediately drew back and waited for them to come through my window, and when they did a quick ” bah” and a touch of the release my arrow sailed perfectly at the broadside doe at 22 yards. 5mins and a 15 yard “track” job later I was taking home some axis deer meat to feed the family. Once we got her back to the truck we continued to hunt for the balance of the day with many close encounters but my luck had ran out and I never got off another shot.
The experience was amazing and I will be back specifically to hunt and I suggest anyone looking to go hunt there they should contact me and I will try to connect you with these guys. Anyway, the real reason for this post was to share with you how awesome Axis deer meat is and this recipe I whipped up that I must say, came out amazing… So if you have axis deer meat you should try this recipe
Maui Axis deer recipe: You will need a crock pot
Ingredients:
Axis deer neck meat
1 stick of butter
1 cup of guava juice
1 can of pineapple chunks
1 can of diced peaches
½ can of Herdez chipotle peppers
2 tbl spoons of Caldo de Pollo
1/2cup hot water
2 teaspoon salt
Mahatma Cilantro rice 4 servings
This is so easy but so good. Put the meat and butter in crock, put the Caldo de pollo in the hot water dissolve and add to pot, mix in the fruit, add the juice of the pineapple but discard the majority of the peach juice before adding into pot, add in the Guava juice and only use half a can of peppers. I used the whole can and it was too spicy ( and I like spice). Put in the salt and give it a good stir, close the lid and let cook on low for about 8 hours. Remove the meat and shred like a pulled BBQ pork an add back to the pot. Then plate up the rice in a bowl and add the Axis and fruit and BAM! Pure awesomeness!
Some pictures from our trip: Yes my son got to go shoot a Spanish goat pretty awesome experience
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