Thursday, October 23, 2008

Tohoku Hunting


Hunting - My Newest Shumi

Being that I try and find any excuse to be outside, coupled with my high interest in anything edible, it was only natural for my next hobby to be hunting. This is a hobby that I have been interested in pursuing for some time, just never had the gumption to get started. The fact is, to start hunting in Japan can make for a difficult time. The initial cost of getting started can be over $1K. There are also several classes that must be attended, and several tests that must be passed. In the end I was able to get my license, and it was all worth it. Other than some squirrel hunting as a kid, I never really did much hunting. Being almost 40 years old and just getting started with this, does appear to have its advantages. Aside from having just enough money to have fun, I'm also a lot more patient than I used to be. Unfortunately for now, I don't have much to report on my new hobby. I have only hunted one season thus far, and that was mainly duck hunting. The above picture is a mountain range in Hokaido. This is typical of the scenery while on a Sika deer hunt on Japan's northern most island.

Duck Hunting

Wow! There seems to be nothing better to me now than setting up the decoys and getting in the duck blind just prior to sunrise. Like all my hobbies, I'm learning as I go along with the help of some good friends. Opening day of duck season on Lake Ogawara is insane. A lot of the Japanese hunters shoot from boats while driving straight into giant rafts of Blue Bill. This gets all of the ducks on the lake stirred up and flying right over the blind. Being a terrible shot (getting better), I went through about 20 shells to get my 5 duck limit on opening day. Pictured here is a hunt later in the season. If there's not a big snow on, I can get to the blind from my house in about 15 minutes.




I ended up killing and eating around 30 ducks total for the season. There are several species of duck in the area including Pintail like the one shown here.









My next challenge - The Hokaido Sika Deer

It is unfortunate that I am stuck here (Iraq) for the entire hunting season. Next season, barring any unforeseen negative circumstances, I plan to take an excursion to Hokaido for Sika. Pictured here, Mitch has a nice deer. He bagged 4 on this particular trip, all with a scoped Remmington 870 shotgun. A hunter must be licensed for at least 10 years prior to being allowed to rifle hunt. This doesn't seem to be much of a handicap for most hunters. Lucky for me, Mitch is willing to take me up north and show me the ropes.........can't wait!

6 comments:

  1. "The Hunt"
    Is archery a legal method of harvesting the Sika deer?

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  2. I'm sorry to say that archery is not legal in Japan. I would love to take on bow hunting if possible.

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  3. Thanks for the info, I'm a hunter on his way to Misawa and was curious how you went about getting your shotgun and ammo. Do you have it shipped from the states?

    Thanks!

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  4. Thanks for a good read. I am a hunter from the netherlands now living in Japan and trying to find out how to get set up for hunting here in Japan. Can you get me some further guidance?

    Thanks ! Eelco

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  5. Great read! The blog brought back many memories of my 14 ½ years in Japan. I hunted 12 years in Japan 5 ½ years at Misawa, 1990-1995. Does George (Jyoji) still own the gun shop and taxi in Misawa? He was in charge of collecting for the hunting licenses for the Japan Hunters Association in Misawa. I worked with the Japanese National Police and Japan Hunters Association to get American licensed to hunt. We had about 20 hunters back then. I see you hunt ducks; Misawa was the best duck hunting I have ever done. The pheasant hunting was good too. The best was crow hunting and getting paid a bounty for crows. The rod and gun club would hold two gun sales every year. My son was stationed at Misawa 2007-2009 and could not find any hunting. He said the skeet range on base was clue-less. Sika hunting in Hokaido is great. There were several Japanese who would go with us on the ferry and lead us to the area. Several members of Zama and Kanto Plain Rod and Gun would come and go hunting with us. Enjoy your hunting.
    Dr. Charles W. Smith Jr.
    Former First Sergeant of 35 Comm. Squadron, 13th Fighter Squadron, and 432 EMS at Misawa and 316 APS and 374 APS Yokota

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great read! The blog brought back many memories of my 14 ½ years in Japan. I hunted 12 years in Japan 5 years at Misawa, 1990-1995. Does George (Jyoji) still own the gun shop and taxi in Misawa? He was in charge of collecting for the hunting licenses for the Japan Hunters Association in Misawa. I worked with the Japanese National Police and Japan Hunters Association to get American licensed to hunt. We had about 20 hunters back then. I see you hunt ducks; Misawa was the best duck hunting I have ever done. The pheasant hunting was good too. The best was crow hunting and getting paid a bounty for crows. The rod and gun club would hold two gun sales every year. My son was stationed at Misawa 2007-2009 and could not find any hunting. He said the skeet range on base was clue-less. Sika hunting in Hokaido is great. There were several Japanese who would go with us on the ferry and lead us to the area. Several members of Zama and Kanto Plain Rod and Gun would come and go hunting with us. Enjoy your hunting.
    Dr. Charles W. Smith Jr.
    Former First Sergeant of 35 Comm. Squadron, 13th Fighter Squadron, and 432 EMS at Misawa and 316 APS and 374 APS Yokota

    ReplyDelete