Hawaii Hunting

Table of Contents

Hawaii is popular for its amazing beaches and sultry weather, however, hunting in the state is quite significant too. Some of the most common games in Hawaii are the mouflon sheep and black-tailed deer. There are also feral goats and hogs in the state. Also, Hawaii is rich in islands that contain a lot of wildlife management areas.

Hawaii Hunting Regulation

Hunting regulation in Hawaii varies from one region of the state to another, and each region is referred to as a hunting unit. The Hawaii Division for Wildlife and Forestry is in charge of enforcing hunting laws, requirements, and regulations.

Some of the regulations you should know before you start hunting in Hawaii include the following:

License, Permits, and Tags Regulations.

The regulations for hunting licenses in Hawaii are:

It is compulsory for hunters to possess a valid Hawaii hunting license, or any tag and permit required for the game, every time they are in a hunting area.
It is a prohibition to transfer hunting permits, tags, and stamps to any other person or hunter for use.
Hunting permits, tags, and stamps will only be valid for the dates inscribed on them and for the person it is allotted to.
In wildlife management areas with check stations, it is a prohibition for hunters and their assistance to evade the checking prior to and after hunting.
If you sign a Hawaii hunting license, permit, tag, or stamp, it means you are in agreement to comply with all the conditions and terms provided by the said license tag and permit. You must also abide by all laws and regulations of the license, permit, tag or stamp, and you are obligated to allow inspection from a worker of the Hawaii wildlife and forestry department who is inspecting for inappropriate use of the permit or any other hunting violation.
To apply for any of the valid Hawaii hunting licenses, you must be 10 years or older, and must have completed a hunter education course, and have a certificate to prove this.

Firearms and Archery Regulations for Hunting

For the use of firearm and archery equipment while hunting in Hawaii, the following laws, restriction, and regulations apply:

It is a prohibition to have in your possession hunting firearms and archery equipment or discharge a firearm on a public hunting land if you do not have a valid hunting license, or you are not in possession of the license.
You are only allowed to possess one firearm or archery equipment that is required for the game you want to hunt. An exception is made for a hunter carrying the firearm of another hunter in a bid to assist the person. Also, hunters are obligated to make their hunting equipment available for inspection by a representative of the Hawaii wildlife and forestry department. Any hunter that refuses this regulation will be violating Hawaii hunting law, and this may lead to revocation of licenses and other hunting privileges.
It is a prohibition to possess archery or firearm equipment in public hunting lands when it is a closed season or a no-hunting day.
It is a prohibition to have your archery equipment or a loaded firearm in your possession when you have reached the bag limit for a game.

While hunting with dogs in Hawaii, the following hunting equipment is prohibited.

A rifle that fires cartridges and has muzzle release energy rated to be smaller than 12,000-foot pounds.
Any Shotgun that has a shot that is smaller than 00 buckshot.
Rifles that are muzzle-loaded and possess less than 44 calibers.
Handguns
For bow and arrow hunting it is a prohibition to make use of the following hunting equipment.
Bows that are long and have a weight smaller than 45 pounds for a 28-inch draw.
Recurve bows that do not have drawing weights up to 35 pounds.
Compound bows that do not have drawing weights up to 30 pounds.

It is a prohibition to make use of an arrow that has explosive heads, or heads coated with drugs, chemicals, and poisons to incapacitate games and wildlife. Arrows that are legal are those that possess a minimum cutting diameter of ¾ width for the inch allowed.

Hunting Dogs Regulation

The regulations for the use of hunting dogs in Hawaii include the following:
A hunter that owns a dog must not leave it unattended. The dog must accompany and be by the hunter’s side during the whole hunting period.
The hunter must keep the dog under control, and its movement physically restrained at all times except when the dog is pursuing a game.
Hunters that own a dog will be held responsible for all actions of the dog, and this includes damages or injuries caused by the dog.
The dog should be under the owner’s voice control every time, and in hunting areas, safety zones, and closed areas, the owner must physically restrain the dog.
The dog must carry a bag for identification at all times, and this includes when it is in public areas or when it is pursuing a game.

Vehicles and Aircraft’s Restrictions

For the use of vehicles, while hunting in Hawaii, the requirements include the following:

Only vehicles that are four-wheeled will be allowed in public hunting lands.
It is a prohibition to make use of aircraft to transport or herd mammal games.
It is also a prohibition to use aircraft for hunting in Hawaii, and this includes using aircraft for the discharge of firearms or archery devices into public lands. Exceptions are made for those permitted by the department to do so.
It is a prohibition to make use of any motorized vehicle in hunting areas of the state, and this includes motorcycles and every other type of terrain vehicle. However, exceptions are made for roads that have been designed for the use of these vehicles. But for maintained roads, parking of vehicles must be within a distance of 25 feet.
It is a prohibition to carry any form of a loaded firearm or archery equipment in a vehicle, boat, or any form of carrier. It is also a prohibition to discharge firearms or archery equipment from these vehicles, with exceptions made to hunters that have a disabled permit.
It is a prohibition to discharge a firearm or archery equipment from outside a hunting area to inside the hunting area.

Open Carry While Hunting in Hawaii.

Open carry is allowed for hunting activities in the state, except for bow hunting. You are also not allowed to conceal carry while hunting in Hawaii.

Just like most states in the USA, Hawaii has harassment laws to protect hunting activity in the country. They consist of the following:

Nobody should deliberately prevent or disrupt any legal hunting activity by being in a hunting location where his or her presence can have an impact on the game or the ability of a hunter to take the game successfully.
Nobody should perform any form of stimuli in a hunting location such that it affects the behavior of the game or the wildlife.
Nobody should perform any activity on a property or wildlife for hunting, in such a way that it will affect the lives of animals in the wildlife.
Nobody should prevent access or limit the movement of hunters in areas where they are performing a legal hunting activity.
Nobody should, in a bid to violate this law, enter a state or private wildlife area or water body without permission from those in charge.

Hawaii Hunting License, Permits, and Tags.

There are a lot of hunting licenses, permits, and tags issued in Hawaii based on residency, and they include the following:

Hawaii Hunting License

This license is available for residents and nonresidents hunting on all islands in Hawaii. It cost $10 for residents and $95 dollars for non-residents.

Blacktail Deer License

This license is available for residents and non-residents to take black-tailed deer in all Hawaii islands. It costs $5 for residents and non-residents.

Blacktail Deer Rifle Tag

This is a tag to take blacktail deer with rifles in all Hawaii islands. It is available for residents and non-residents and costs $10 and $25 respectively.

Blacktail Deer Muzzleloader Tag

This is a tag required to tale blacktail deer with muzzleloader firearms in all Hawaii Island. It is available for residents and non-residents and costs $5 and $25 respectively.

Blacktail Deer Archery Tag

This tag is required to take blacktail deer with archery devices on all Hawaii islands. It is available for residents and nonresidents and costs $5 and $25 respectively.

Feral Goat Rifle Tag Lottery Application

This is the tag required to hunt feral goats with a rifle in Kauai Island. It is available to residents and non-residents on a lottery basis, and the application fee costs $5 and $10 for residents and non-residents respectively.

Feral Goat Muzzleloader Permit Tags

This is the tag required to hunt feral goats with muzzleloader firearms in Kauai island. It is available for residents and non-residents and it costs $5 and $10 respectively.

Feral Goats Annual Archery Permit.

This is the permit required to hunt feral goats with archery devices in Kauai island. It is valid for just one year and is available for residents and non-residents and it costs $5 and $25 respectively.

Feral Pig Hunt Season Permit

This is the permit required to hunt feral pigs during their season in Kauai island. It is available for residents and non-residents and it costs $5 and $25 respectively.

Special Hunt Application

This is the application fee required to be involved in the Kauai island special hunt. It is available for residents and non-residents and it costs $5.

Special Hunt Permits for Deer, Swine, and Goat

This is the permit required to be part of deer, pigs, and goats’ special hunt during their season in Kauai island. It is available for residents and non-residents and it costs $10 and $25 respectively

Mouflon Sheep Season Lottery Application

This is the application fee to hunt Mouflon sheep in Lanai island. It is issued based on a lottery, and it is available to residents and non-residents at a cost of $10.

Mouflon Sheep Season Tag

If you are picked for Mouflon sheep hunting in Lanai island, you need to purchase the Mouflon sheep tag for the game season. It is available to residents and non-residents at a cost of $20 and $125 respectively.

Axis Deer Season Lottery Application

This is the application fee to axis deer in Lanai island. It is issued based on a lottery, and it is available to residents and non-residents at a cost of $10.

Axis Deer Season Tag

If you are picked for axis deer hunting in Lanai island, you will be required to purchase the tag for the game season. It is available to residents and non-residents at a cost of $20 and $125 respectively.

Puu Waawaa Tag for Feral Sheep and Goat

Holders of this tag will be allowed to take Puu Waawaa feral sheep and goats in Hawaii. It is available for residents and non-residents and costs $10 and $25 respectively.

Puuanahulu Tag for Feral Sheep and Goat

Holders of this tag will be allowed to take Puuanahulu feral sheep and goats in Hawaii. It is available for residents and non-residents and costs $10 and $25 respectively.

Hawaii Fishing License, Permits, and Tags

Fishing license permits and tags available in Hawaii Include the following:

Aquaculture Dealer License

This license is available for residents of Hawaii that are into the commercial sale of fishes or marine lives captured from any Hawaii aquaculture facility. It is free of charge.

Aquaculture Facility License

This license is available to residents of Hawaii that harvests marine lifes from water bodies in the state to stock their fish ponds for commercial purposes. It costs $50.

Baiting License

Only holders of this license are allowed to take fishes with live baits like tabi, Piha, threadfin shad, etc. in Hawaii waterbodies. Baiting while fishing in Hawaii is only permitted for commercial fishing purposes and it is a prohibition to sell them. The cost for this license is $50.

Commercial Marine Licenses

This license is required for commercial marine fishers in Hawaii. It also includes people that make use of vessels for the commercial fishing of marine lives. It costs $100.

Kona Crab and Lobster Sales License in Closed Season

This license is available for dealers that want to sell lobsters and Kona crab in the closed season. However, they must have been harvested legally during the open season. It costs $50.

Special Marine Products License

This license is available for residents of Hawaii that want to import, sell or buy marine products from other states that are originally restricted by Hawaii fishing regulations. It costs $50.

Bottom Fishing Vessel Registration

This registration is required for vessels that are used to harvest bottom fishes in Hawaii for commercial sales. Although there are no costs for this, the vessel must be registered and possess an identification number.

Hawaii FreshWater Fishing Licenses

There are various types of freshwater fishing licenses available in Hawaii based on residency and age. They all have various costs. They are:

Minor Freshwater License

This allows minor residents to fish on Hawaii freshwater. It costs $4.

Residents Freshwater License

This is available for only residents of Hawaii. It costs $6.

Non-Residents Freshwater Fishing License

This is available for non-residents. It costs $26.

7 Days Tourists Freshwater Fishing License

This is available for tourists and non-residents, and it is only valid for 7 consecutive days.

30 Days Tourists Freshwater Fishing License

This is available for tourists and non-residents, and it is only valid for one month.

Senior Freshwater Fishing License

This is available for residents of Hawaii that are 65 years old or more. It costs $1.

Hawaii Hunting Season 2020/21

Hawaii has various islands with wildlife management areas, and their hunting season is dependent on these islands.

The 2020/21 hunting season for various wildlife in Hawaii includes the following:

Hunting in Kauai Island

Hawaii Feral Pigs Hunting Season (Available all year round)
Hawaii Feral Goats Hunting Season (Available all year round)
Hawaii Deer Hunting Season (Available all year round)

Hunting in Oahu Island

Hawaii Pigs Hunting Season (Available all year round)
Hawaii Goats Hunting Season (Available all year round)

Hunting in Molokai Island

Hawaii Feral Pigs Hunting Season (Available all year round)
Hawaii Feral Goats Hunting Seasons (Available all year round)

Hunting in Lanai Island

Hawaii Mouflon Sheep Hunting Seasons (July to August)
Hawaii Axis Deer Hunting Seasons (February to March)

For hunting in Lanai Island, the date for each game season will vary based on the hunting unit, hunter’s residency, and method of hunting.

Hunting in Maui Island

Hawaii Feral Pigs Hunting Season (Available all year round)
Hawaii Feral Goats Hunting Seasons (Available all year round)

Hunting in Hawaii Island

Hawaii Feral Pigs Hunting Season (Available all year round)
Hawaii Feral Goats Hunting Seasons (Available all year round)
Hawaii Wild Sheep Hunting (Available all year round)

For all islands in the state, some regions will define hunting dates for games and weapon season. It is important that you know about each region’s regulations so as not to hunt illegally.

Hawaii Wildlife Games and Fish

Games and wildlife available in Hawaii include the following:

Hawaii Axis Deer Hunting

The Island of Lanai is where axis deer in Hawaii mostly occur. It is one of the largest ranges for axis deer in the world. Axis deer hunters in Hawaii can see as many as a hundred deer on the Lanai island. They inhabit thickly forested areas and mountainous parts of the island.

Hawaii Feral Pig Hunting

Feral pigs hunting in Hawaii takes place on the big island. These islands have special zones for hunters to take games on public lands. They are Maui Island, Oahu island, Kauai island, and Molokai island.

Hawaii Mountain Goat Hunting

Initially, mountain goats are given as gifts to residents of Hawaii. But they later escaped domestication and because of their reproductive rate, they grew in a large population all over the state. Mountain goat hunting in Hawaii takes place in all the state islands. They inhabit mountainous areas as well as semi barren lava fields of the islands.

Hawaii Mouflon Sheep Hunting

The two common types of sheep in Hawaii are the black Hawaiian and the mouflon sheep. They reside on the top elevation of Mauna kea slopes in Hawaiian upland forested regions. Mouflon Sheep Hunting in Hawaii is present in some of the state’s islands.

Hawaii Turkey Hunting

Wild turkey hunting in Hawaii is common thanks to the introduction of turkey on all major islands of the state via stocking in the 1960s. Today, turkey hunting in Hawaii takes place all year round.

Hawaii Pheasant Hunting

Pheasant hunting is also quite common in Hawaii. They inhabit parts of the state like the volcano area, Hawaii national park, and the state bird park area. Pheasants usually roam the roads prior to sunset and sunrise, and this is when hunters can target them.

Hawaii Quail Hunting

The most common quail in the Hawaii islands is the Californian quail also known as Golovin. This bird game has a miniature size of about 9 to 11 inches and it is covered with brown feathers.

Hawaii Shooting Ranges

Some of the shooting ranges in Hawaii open to the public include the following:

County of Hawaii Trap & Skeet Range
Koko Head Shooting Complex
Maui Trap & Gun Club
Ukumehame Firing Range

Hawaii Hunting Lands for Sale and Lease

Hunting lands for sale in Hawaii include the following:

Ninole, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 70.18 acres.
Pepeekeo, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 23.96 acres.
Ocean View, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 1 acre.
Pahoa, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 0.18 acres.
Pahoa, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 0.35 acres.
Papaaloa, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 269.41 acres.
Ainaloa, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 0.28 acres
Pahoa, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 0.2 acres.
Kamuela, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 13.37 acres.
Keaau, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 0.5 acres.
Honokaa, Hawaii (Hawaii County) 31.82 acres.

Hunting lands for lease in Hawaii Includes the following:

Wooded land with a pond outside Newbern, on County Road 39. 20 acres.