From The Field
Field Reports & Personal Essays
Guiding story
Why I Guide
From rough Alaska water to Molokai forests, read the story of the people and experiences that make guiding worthwhile.
A May Hunt with an Old Friend from Homer
David and his wife came from Homer, Alaska, for a May axis deer hunt on Molokai. Four deer, nearly 100 pounds of meat, and a standard built around leaving nothing behind.
Read the Full StoryFrom The Field
Everything You Need to Know About Hunting in Hawaii
The most thorough, accurate, human-written guide to Hawaii hunting regs on the internet. Covering licenses, species, and the history of axis deer.
The Long Glass: Rifle Hunting Molokai's Highland Ridge
Rifle hunting on Molokai is a precision game. The terrain is steep, the bucks are wary, and your window to make the shot is measured in seconds.
Bristol Bay to Molokai — A Life Spent in the Field
Born and raised on Molokai, then north to the Alaskan seas at 12. A life spent harvesting wild protein from two of the most demanding places on Earth.
Reading the Herd: A Field Guide to Trophy Axis Deer on Molokai
How to score an axis buck, read antler age from a distance, understand their year-round rut, and find the ones worth chasing on Molokai's highland terrain.
Why Axis Deer Is the Best Wild Game Meat in the World
Explore the flavor profile and 'terroir' of Molokai's axis deer. Lean, clean, and widely considered the finest venison by top chefs.
Why I Guide
From rough water in Alaska to the forests of Molokai, the people and experiences that make guiding worthwhile.
Kapu and the Harvest
How ancient Hawaiian kapu law shapes ethical, guided axis deer hunting on Molokai, sustainable harvesting rooted in Hawaiian tradition.
Hunting Pono: What It Means to Harvest With Care
Take only your share, leave no trace, respect the animal, and help keep Molokai land in balance.
Guide's Job, Hunter's Job: Axis Deer Hunting on Molokai
How a guided axis deer hunt on Molokai works: the guide finds the buck, the hunter gets ready to shoot. Rifle and unlimited ammo included.
How to Find Big Axis Deer Bucks on Molokai
A Molokai guide explains how big axis deer bucks are found: older bucks, terrain, wind, and food sources, so you can focus on being ready to shoot.
Axis Deer Shooting Positions: Kneeling, Prone, and Rests
How to get ready fast on a guided axis deer hunt: kneeling, prone, or braced on a tree, tripod, or side-by-side. Quick decisions make the shot.
Rifle and Scope Setup for a Guided Axis Deer Hunt
Using the provided rifle and scope on a Molokai axis deer hunt: 4 to 5X for stalking, zeroed at 100 yards, and when to load the chamber.
Axis Deer Shot Placement and the Follow-Up Shot
Aim for the heart and double lung, then follow up. Why a second shot matters on big axis bucks and what ethical hunting requires on Molokai.