Hunting in Hawaii

Want to hunt in a tropical paradise? Look no farther than the beautiful state of Hawaii. While it’s not often thought of as a hunting destination, Hawaii offers excellent hunting opportunities for many mammal and bird species that have been introduced to its shores, including feral pigs, mouflon sheep, feral sheep, mouflon-feral hybrids (often called black Hawaiian sheep), blackbuck, axis deer, black-tailed deer, feral goats, and wild turkeys. You can hunt on any of the six major islands in the state of Hawaii: Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the big island of Hawaii. Each of these islands has one or more state-designated public hunting areas (called Hunting Units), which are open for hunting at certain times during each year. Hunting opportunities are available on private lands as well; in most cases, a guide or outfitter will be required to hunt on private lands, but trophy quality is generally higher and game is less pressured. There are many licensed outfitters throughout the islands. Most hunting in Hawaii is spot and stalk, and the difficulty of the hunt varies greatly with the terrain. Some parts of the islands are low and rolling, but much of Hawaii consists of steep mountains and rugged country. The vegetation is also subject to great variation; the leeward sides of the islands tend to be open and desert-like while the windward sides are covered with heavy jungle and can be difficult to navigate. Overall, the weather is extremely pleasant, with temperatures averaging in the 70s and 80s most days. Another great benefit of hunting in Hawaii is that a hunt can easily be combined with a vacation, and the entire family will enjoy the state’s many beautiful beaches and resorts. To purchase a license, all hunters must have either a Hawaii Hunter Education card or a letter of exemption. The letter of exemption is free for those who hold a valid hunter education card from another state, but it must be applied for in advance of the hunt, so plan ahead for this requirement. Hunter orange is required when hunting on public lands, but not on private lands. For more information on hunting in Hawaii, see http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/.