Hawaii Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Hunting in Hawaii

Hawaii is well-known for its beautiful beaches and hot weather, but hunting is also popular in the state. The mouflon sheep and black-tailed deer are two of the most popular games in Hawaii. The state also has feral goats and hogs. In addition, Hawaii has many islands with wildlife management zones.

Hunting regulations in Hawaii

In Hawaii, hunting regulations differ from region to region, and each region is referred to as a hunting unit. Hunting rules, restrictions, and regulations are enforced by the Hawaii Division of Wildlife and Forestry.

Some of the rules you should be aware of before going hunting in Hawaii are as follows:

Regulations for Licenses, Permits, and Tags

In Hawaii, hunting license rules are as follows:

Every time a hunter enters a hunting area, they must have a valid Hawaii hunting license or any tags and permits required for the game.
It is illegal to give hunting permits, tags, or stamps to another person or hunter for use.
Hunting permits, tags, and stamps shall only be valid for the dates specified on them and for the individual to whom they are assigned.
It is illegal for hunters and their help to avoid checking before and after hunting in wildlife management areas with check stations.
When you sign a Hawaii hunting license, permit, tag, or stamp, you agree to abide by all of the rules and requirements outlined in the license, tag, or stamp. You must also follow all laws and regulations about the license, permit, tag, or stamp, and you must allow inspection from a worker of the Hawaii Wildlife and Forestry Department who is inspecting for improper use of the permit or any other hunting offense.
To apply for any of the valid Hawaii hunting permits, you must be at least 10 years old and have completed a hunter education course with a certificate.

Hunting Firearms and Archery Regulations

The following laws, prohibitions, and regulations apply to the use of firearms and archery equipment while hunting in Hawaii:

It is illegal to have hunting weapons and archery equipment in your possession or to discharge a firearm on public hunting grounds if you do not have a valid hunting license or do not own the license.
You are only permitted to own one rifle or the archery equipment required for the game you wish to hunt. An exemption is provided for a hunter carrying another hunter’s firearm to help the person. In addition, hunters must make their hunting equipment available for examination by a representative of the Hawaii Department of Wildlife and Forestry. Any hunter who refuses to comply with this restriction will violate Hawaii hunting law, which may result in the revocation of permits and other hunting privileges.
When there is a closed season or a no-hunting day, it is illegal to possess archery or firearm equipment on public hunting lands.
When you have reached the bag limit for a game, it is illegal to have your archery equipment or a loaded firearm in your possession.

In Hawaii, the following hunting equipment is prohibited when hunting with dogs:

A cartridge-firing rifle with muzzle-release energy is rated at less than 12,000 pounds.
Any shotgun with a shot smaller than 00 buckshot
Rifles that are muzzle-loaded and have a caliber of less than 44
Handguns
It is illegal to use the following hunting equipment for bow-and-arrow hunting:
Longbows weighing less than 45 pounds have a draw length of 28 inches.
Recurve bows with draw weights of less than 35 pounds
and compound bows with draw weights of up to 30 pounds.
It is illegal to use an arrow with explosive heads or heads covered with medications, chemicals, or poisons to incapacitate game or wildlife. Arrows that have a minimum cutting diameter of 34 inches for the inch allowed are legal.

Regulation of Hunting Dogs

In Hawaii, the following rules govern the use of hunting dogs:
A hunter who owns a dog must never leave it alone. During the entire hunting season, the dog must accompany and be by the hunter’s side.
Except while the dog is pursuing a game, the hunter must keep the dog under control and its mobility physically confined at all times.
Hunters who own a dog shall be held liable for the dog’s behavior, including any damages or injuries caused by the dog.
The dog should always be under the owner’s verbal control, and the owner must physically confine the dog in hunting areas, safety zones, and closed places.
The dog must carry a bag for identification at all times, including when it is in public or hunting game.

Restrictions on Vehicles and Aircraft

The following rules apply to the use of cars while hunting in Hawaii:

Only four-wheeled vehicles will be permitted on public hunting grounds.
It is illegal to use aircraft to transport or herd mammal games.
It is also prohibited in Hawaii to utilize airplanes for hunting, including the firing of weapons or archery devices into public areas. Exceptions are made for those who have been granted permission by the department.
It is illegal to operate any motorized vehicle on state hunting grounds, including motorcycles and any other types of terrain vehicles. Exceptions are permitted for roads specifically constructed for the use of these vehicles. However, on maintained roadways, vehicles must be parked within a 25-foot radius.
It is illegal to transport a loaded firearm or archery equipment in a vehicle, boat, or other transporter. It is also illegal to discharge weapons or archery equipment from these vehicles, with the exception of hunters with a disabled permit.
It is illegal to discharge a firearm or archery equipment from outside to inside a hunting area.

In Hawaii, open carry is permitted while hunting.

Except for bow hunting, open carry is permitted for hunting activities in the state. It is also illegal to conceal your firearm while hunting in Hawaii.

Hawaii, like the majority of states in the United States, has harassment laws in place to safeguard hunting activity in the country. They include the following:

Nobody should intentionally prevent or disrupt any legal hunting activity by being at a hunting site where his or her presence can have an impact on the game or a hunter’s ability to successfully take the game.
Nobody should execute any type of stimulus in a hunting area that would impact the behavior of the game or wildlife.
Nobody should conduct any hunting activity on a property or in wildlife in such a way that it endangers the lives of wildlife animals.
Nobody should bar hunters from entering or restrict their movement in places where they are legally hunting.
Nobody should visit a state or private wildlife area or water body without permission from those in control to break the law.

Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Tags in Hawaii

In Hawaii, hunting licenses, permits, and tags are issued based on residency, and they include the following:

Hawaii Hunting Permit

This license is valid for both residents and nonresidents hunting on all Hawaiian islands. Non-residents paid $95 while residents paid $10.

License for Blacktail Deer

Residents and non-residents alike can use this license to hunt black-tailed deer on any Hawaiian island. Residents and non-residents both pay $5.

Rifle tag for a blacktail deer

This is a tag that allows you to take blacktail deer with rifles on all Hawaiian islands. It is offered to both locals and non-residents for $10 and $25, respectively.

Muzzleloader Blacktail Deer Tag

On all of Hawaii Island, this tag is required to tag blacktail deer with muzzleloader rifles. It is offered to both locals and non-residents for $5 and $25, respectively.

Archery Tag for Blacktail Deer

On all Hawaiian islands, this tag is required to take blacktail deer using archery devices. It is offered to both residents and non-residents for $5 and $25, respectively.

Lottery for Feral Goat Rifle Tags

On Kauai Island, this tag is required to shoot feral goats with a rifle. It is offered via lottery to both residents and non-residents, and the application price is $5 for residents and $10 for non-residents, respectively.

Permit Tags for Feral Goat Muzzleloaders

On Kauai Island, this tag is required to shoot feral goats with muzzleloader rifles. It is offered to both locals and non-residents for $5 and $10, respectively.

Annual Archery Permit for Feral Goats

On Kauai Island, this is the permit required to shoot feral goats with archery devices. It is only good for one year and is offered to both residents and non-residents for $5 and $25, respectively.

Permit to Hunt Feral Pigs

This is the permit required to shoot wild pigs on Kauai Island during their season. It is offered to both locals and non-residents for $5 and $25, respectively.

Application for a Special Hunt

This is the application cost for participating in the Kauai Island special hunt. It is open to both residents and non-residents and costs $5.

Deer, Swine, and Goat Hunting Permits

This is the permit required to participate in the special hunt for deer, pigs, and goats on Kauai Island during their season. It is offered to both locals and non-residents for $10 and $25, respectively.

Application for the Mouflon Sheep Season Lottery

This is the charge for applying to hunt Mouflon sheep on Lanai Island. It is distributed through a lottery and costs $10 to both residents and non-residents.

Seasonal Mouflon Sheep Tag

If you are chosen to hunt Mouflon sheep on Lanai Island, you must obtain a Mouflon sheep tag for the game season. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $20 and $125, respectively.

Application for the Axis Deer Season Lottery

This is the axis deer application cost for Lanai Island. It is distributed through a lottery and costs $10 to both residents and non-residents.

Seasonal Axis Deer Tag

If you are selected for axis deer hunting on Lanai Island, you must obtain a game season tag. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $20 and $125, respectively.

Puu Waawaa Feral Sheep and Goat Tags

This tag holder will be permitted to bring Puu Waawaa feral sheep and goats to Hawaii. It is offered to both locals and non-residents for $10 and $25, respectively.

Feral Sheep and Goat Puuanahulu Tag

This tag holder will be permitted to bring Puuanahulu feral sheep and goats to Hawaii. It is offered to both locals and non-residents for $10 and $25, respectively.

Licenses, permits, and tags for fishing in Hawaii

In Hawaii, fishing licenses, permits, and tags are available. Include the following items:

Aquaculture Dealer Permit

This license is offered to Hawaii residents who are interested in commercially selling fish or marine life taken from any Hawaii aquaculture establishment. It is completely free.

License for Aquaculture Facility

This license is given to Hawaii residents who harvest marine species from state water bodies to stock their fish ponds for commercial purposes. It will set you back $50.

Baiting Permit

Only holders of this license are permitted to catch fish in Hawaii waterbodies using live bait such as tabi, Piha, threadfin shad, and so on. Baiting when fishing is only permitted for commercial purposes in Hawaii, and it is illegal to sell it. This license will set you back $50.

Licenses for Commercial Marine Operations

Commercial marine fishers in Hawaii must have this license. People who employ vessels for commercial fishing of marine creatures are also included. It will set you back $100.

Closed Season Kona Crab and Lobster Sales License

This permit is accessible to merchants who want to sell lobsters and Kona crab during the closed season. They must, however, have been harvested legally during the open season. It will set you back $50.

License for Special Marine Products

This license is offered to Hawaii residents who wish to import, sell, or purchase marine items from other states that were previously forbidden by Hawaii fishing restrictions. It will set you back $50.

Registration of Bottom Fishing Vessels

This registration is necessary for vessels used to gather bottom fish for commercial sale in Hawaii. Although there are no fees associated with this, the vessel must be registered and have an identification number.

Freshwater Fishing Licenses in Hawaii

Based on residency and age, many types of freshwater fishing licenses are available in Hawaii. They all have different prices. They are as follows:

Minor Freshwater Permit

Minor residents can now fish in Hawaii’s freshwater. It is priced at $4.

Freshwater License for Residents

This is only available to Hawaii residents. It will set you back $6.

Freshwater fishing license for non-residents

Non-residents can make use of this. It will set you back $26.

Tourist Freshwater Fishing License for 7 Days

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

Tourist Freshwater Fishing License for 30 Days

This is exclusively available to tourists and non-residents and is good for one month.

Senior Freshwater Fishing Permit

This is offered to Hawaii residents who are 65 or older. It costs one dollar.

2020/21 Hawaii Hunting Season

Hawaii has several islands with wildlife management areas, and the hunting season is determined by the location of these islands.

The following species will be hunted in Hawaii during the 2020-21 hunting season:

Kauai Island Hunting

Feral Pig Hunting Season in Hawaii (available all year)
Hunting Season for Feral Goats in Hawaii (All Year)
Season for hunting deer in Hawaii (available all year)

Oahu Island Hunting

Pig Hunting Season in Hawaii (available all year)
Hunting Season for Goats in Hawaii (All Year)

Molokai Island Hunting

Feral Pig Hunting Season in Hawaii (available all year)
Seasons for hunting feral goats in Hawaii (available all year)

Lanai Island Hunting

Seasons for hunting Mouflon sheep in Hawaii (July to August)
Seasons for hunting deer in Hawaii (February to March)

The dates for each game season on Lanai Island will vary depending on the hunting unit, the hunter’s residency, and the type of hunting.

Maui Island Hunting

Feral Pig Hunting Season in Hawaii (available all year)
Seasons for hunting feral goats in Hawaii (available all year)

Hawaii Island Hunting

Feral Pig Hunting Season in Hawaii (available all year)
Seasons for hunting feral goats in Hawaii (available all year)
Hunting for wild sheep in Hawaii (available all year)

Some regions will specify hunting dates for games and weapon seasons for all islands in the state. You must understand each region’s legislation to avoid hunting illegally.

Fishing and Wildlife Games in Hawaii

The following games and wildlife are accessible in Hawaii:

Axis Deer Hunting in Hawaii

Axis deer are most common in Hawaii on the island of Lanai. It has one of the world’s largest axis deer ranges. On Lanai Island, axis deer hunters can spot up to a hundred deer. They live in densely forested and hilly portions of the island.

Feral Pig Hunting in Hawaii

The big island of Hawaii is where feral pig hunting takes place. These islands have designated areas for hunters to hunt on public grounds. Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai are the Hawaiian islands.

Mountain Goat Hunting in Hawaii

Mountain goats were initially offered as gifts to Hawaiian natives. They eventually escaped domestication, and due to their high reproductive rate, they developed into a massive population throughout the state. Mountain goat hunting is practiced on all of Hawaii’s state islands. On the islands, they live in mountainous locations as well as semi-barren lava fields.

Mouflon Sheep Hunting in Hawaii

The black Hawaiian and mouflon sheep are the two most frequent types of sheep in Hawaii. They live at the top of Mauna Kea slopes in Hawaiian highland wooded areas. Mouflon Sheep Hunting is practiced on certain of Hawaii’s islands.

Hunting for Turkeys in Hawaii

Wild turkey hunting is popular in Hawaii, thanks to the stocking of turkeys on all of the state’s major islands in the 1960s. Today, turkey hunting is done all year in Hawaii.

Pheasant Hunting in Hawaii

Pheasant hunting is also popular in Hawaii. They live in areas such as the volcano area, Hawaii National Park, and the state bird park area. Pheasants typically walk the roadways before sunset and sunrise, and hunters can target them at these times.

Quail Hunting in Hawaii

The Californian quail, sometimes known as Golovin, is the most common quail in the Hawaiian Islands. This bird game is around 9 to 11 inches in size and is coated in brown feathers.

Shooting Ranges in Hawaii

The following are some of the public shooting ranges in Hawaii:

Trap and Skeet Range of the County of Hawaii
Koko Head Shooting Range
The Maui Trap and Gun Club
Ukumehame Shooting Range

Hunting Lands in Hawaii for Sale and Lease

Hawaii hunting lands for sale include the following:

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

The following hunting lands are available for lease in Hawaii:

Outside of Newbern, on County Road 39, is 20 acres of wooded acreage with a pond.