BEREA - Fourth-round draft choice Kaluka Maiava has an interesting hobby that probably won't last long.

In addition to a normal hobby of surfing, the Hawaiian enjoys hunting bore. Adding excitement to the chase is that he doesn't carry a weapon. Instead, he takes two dogs and a knife to catch his prey.

"Having a gun is cheating," said Maiava, who will be tested at inside linebacker. "Anyone can shoot something."

Player contracts include a provision that disallows dangerous off-the-field activities. Hunting wild bore with a knife fits that category. Maiava's dad suggested he not go on a hunting trip in March with the draft so near.

The only casualty on his trips was the loss of a dog, which was gored. Maiava admits that he gets nervous each time he goes o n a hunt.

"Sometimes they have tusks that can hurt you," he said. "So you see it and chase it down. It's fun."

The key to landing the prey is to stab it with the knife from a distance (no one is foolish enough to try to wrestle one to the ground). After the kill is made, the bore is strapped onto someone's back (a new guy gets that task) and taken home to eat.

Maiava sees a comparison between bore hunting and football.

"Say you're on the kick-off team. You chase down the kick returner," he said.

It's doubtful coach Eric Mangini will allow Maiava to continue his dangerous hobby.

"The last time I went was in college," he said. "I think I'm going to have to give that up."

• GOING INSIDE: It was thought that David Veikune, a second-round draft pick, would move from defensive end to outside linebacker. Mangini plans to test Veikune first at inside linebacker.

"That's our starting point," Mangini said. "So far it's been positive."

Veikune cost Mangini money on a bet made at a Saturday morning meeting. Mangini asked Veikune to diagram all the blitzes in a certain defense, and he was correct on each one.

• WORDS OF WISDOM: Rookie running back James Davis was anxious to listen to speeches made by Jim Brown and Paul Warfield during rookie night on Friday. Davis is too young to remember Brown's playing days, but he's heard stories about the legendary running back.

"I know him from the statue they have of him at Syracuse," Davis said. "It says: The Greatest Running Back Ever."

• LOOKING IN: Mangini plans to make use of "Skype," a program that allows people to see each other on their computers. He uses Skype to catch up with his wife and two sons on long days at work.

"It's a good way to get some face-to-face time and go through that information," Mangini said.

Asked if the players have Skype, Mangini said, "They will."

• SPEAK UP: In addition to Brown and Warfield, Mangini was able to line up linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and special teams star Joshua Cribbs to speak at rookie night.

• UP NEXT: The Browns have three more minicamps scheduled. The first will run from May 19-21. The next camp will be from May 26-28, and the final camp will be run from June 11-13. The first two camps are voluntary, while the final camp is mandatory.

mmclain@tribtoday.com