Hunting Info
What you need to know before hunting in the Aloha State.
Check rules for specific islands and their hunting areas
Kaua'i O'ahu Moloka'i Lana'i Maui Big Island
The following conditions and restrictions shall apply to Game Mammal hunting in public hunting areas of Hawaii
(1) Hunters shall carry their appropriate hunting license, as well as the required permits or tags,on their
person at all times while in the hunting area;
(2) Hunting permits, stamps and tags are not transferable and are valid only on the dates indicated and for
the person to whom assigned. Stamps, when they are required, shall be signed in ink across the front
by the person to whom isued, and shall be affixed to the front of the person's hunting licensein the
space provided;
(3) Each hunter and hunter assistant shall check in before hunting and check out after hunting at the same
established checking station. Each hunter shall provide all information requested by an authorized
representative of the department or on hunter sign-in sheets or questionnaires and shall fill out and
return any hunter report form they received in the mail;
(4) Hunters may be required to obtain permits from the division or it's authorized representative for entry
into any restricted watershed; and
(5) Before anyone may be issued a hunting license or permit, the person shall agree to comply with all the
terms and conditions of the applicable license or permit, as well as applicable laws and regulations; and
consent to be subject to inspection by a duly authorized representative of the department.
(b) With respect to WEAPONS, the following shall apply:
(1) No person shall possess or discharge any firearm in public hunting area without having a valid Hawaii
State hunting license in their possession;
(2) While hunting, each hunter shall be limited to carrying on their person only one legal firearm that is
consistent with the hunt. However, a hunter may carry another hunter's unloaded firearm in addition
to his own unloaded firearm in close proximity to the other hunter. In addition, each hunter is required
to make their weapon, cartridges or muzzleloading firing components, game and license available for
inspection upon the request of a duly authorized representative of the department. Refusal to permit
said inspection shall be considered a game law violation and may result in the revocation of the hunting
privileges by the department, after notice and hearing;
(3) No person shall possess any firearm or weapon in any public hunting area during a closed season or
on non-hunting days during open seasons. No person shall possess any illigal weapon on a hunting
area at any time;
(4) No person shall possess a loaded weapon once they have filled their bag limit;
(5) When hunting without the use of dogs, no person shall use the following weapons:
(A) Cartridge firing rifles with a muzzle discharge energy rating of less than
twelve-hundred (1,200) foot pounds;
(B) Shotguns loaded with shot smaller than 00 buckshot;
(C) Muzzleloading rifles, with less than a 44 caliber (0.44") bore diameter reguardless of mode
of ignition. Breech loaders are prohibited during "muzzleloader only" specified hunts; and
(D) Handguns except as decribed in section (b) (11) down this page.
(6) When hunting with a bow, no person shall use:
(A) Long bows with less than 40 pounds of drawing tension at a a 28 inch draw;
(B) Recurved bows with less than 35 pounds of drawing tension; or
(C) Compound bows with less than 30 pounds of drawing tension.
(7) No person shall possess any arrows equipped with explosive heads or heads containing drugs
or poison. Only arrows having a minimum blade cutting diameter widge of 3/4 of an inch are
permitted;
(8) A firearm that utilizes cartridges shall be considered unloaded if no amunition is in the chamber or
anattached magazine. A muzzleloading firearm is considered unloaded if the ignition
component (primer, percussion cap, or priming powder) is removed from the ignition system, and
for flintlocks, the powder is removed from the pan, the frizzen is up and the cock (hammer) is
down. "Cartridge firing" and "muzzleloading" firearms must be unloaded just as described above
to enter any safety zone or to transport the firearm in a vehicle within the hunting area. However,
when crossing or entering a public highway or exiting a public hunting area, all fireable cartridges
and muzzleloading firing components must be removed from the firearm including powder and
projectiles;
(9) A bow shall be considered loaded if an arrow is nocked on the bow string; and
(10) No person shall possess or use tracer bullets, bullets with full metal jackets, blow guns, guns
powered by compressed gass, handguns, animal traps, slingshots, crossbows, poison, explosives,
or snares. Legal game mammal hunting weapons include rifles, shotguns, handguns, bows &
arrows, and spears and knives. Only weapons that are authorized for a particular hunt are to be
in the hunter's possesion, while on a public hunting area.
(b)(11) With respect to handguns and handgun ammunition, the following shall apply:
(A) No person under the age of 18 years shall hunt game mammals with a handgun;
(B) Center fire handguns shall have a minimum barrel length of four and one-half (4 1/2)
inches for single shot pistols and revolvers and five (5) inches for semi-automatic pistols.
(C) Straight-wall cartridge ammunition shall be 357 caliber or larger with a minimum case
length of one and one-fourth (1 1/4) inches (Exeptions: The 10 mm auto mag and
45 win mag cartridges are allowed despite their shorter case length).
(D) Necked type rifle cartridges shall be 223 caliber or larger.
(E) All handgun bullets of less than 43 caliber (.429 inch) shall be of the expanding type.
Bullets of 43 caliber (.429 inch) which do not expand shall be of the flat-nosed (semi-
wadcutter) or round nosed exposed lead type.
(F) Single or double barreled muzzleloading handguns shall be 44 caliber or larger, have a
barrel length of at least nine (9) inches and use at least 60 grains of black powder or
equivelent, and use a projectile of at least two-hundred (200) grains weight (slug or
round ball of 51 caliber or more).
(G) It is prohibited to use any "muzzleloading" (black powder type) revolver or smooth
bore pistol when hunting without dogs.
(H) Handguns shall not be carried concealed; however, open topped and flapped protective
type holsters which cover the handgun handle are allowed. All handguns and holsters
must be worn in plain view, external to all clothing or rain gear; and
(I) When handgun hunting with dogs, certain exceptions shall apply as listed in section
(c)(1) below.
(c) With respect to hunting with the USE OF DOGS, the following shall apply:
(1) The following legal weapons may be used:
(A) Muzzleloading rifle or muzzleloading handgun, includeding revolvers having a caliber of
44 or larger and a barrel length of 4 and one-half (4 1/4) inches or more;
(B) Rifles using at least 0.22 caliber, magnum load or any center fire cartridge;
(C) Shotguns loaded with slugs or 00or larger buckshot; and
(D) Spears and knives; and
(E) Cartridge firing handguns using at least a 22 caliber, magnum load or larger cartridge.
(2) No person shall use dogs for the hunting of any game mammal, except as provided in Exhibits
1 through 12; and
(3) The dog's owner or handler shall accompany the dog at all times while hunting . The dog's
owner shall be held strictly liable for all actions, injuries, or damages caused by the owner's dog,
while in the hunting area.
(d) With respect to MOTORIZED VEHICLESand AIRCRAFT, the following shall apply:
(1) When required, only four-wheel drive vehicles will be permitted
(2) No person shall use any aircraft to herd or drive game mammals, or land any aircraft for the
purpose of hunting , or discharge any weapon from any aircraft into a public hunting area except
as provided by the department;
(3) No person shall operate any motorized vehicle (including, but not limited to motorcycles and
all-terrain vehicles) in any hunting areas, except on roads which have been constructed, maintained
and opened for vehicular use. However, vehicles may be parked within 20 feet of maintained
roads; and
(4) No person shall have or carry any loaded weapon on horseback, in any vehicle, boat, or any
other carrier or discharge any weapon from any carrier. It is also illigal for any hunter to
discharge any weapon into a public hunting area from outside a public hunting area.
(e) With respect to SAFETY ZONES and CLOSED AREAS, no person shall hunt, possess a loaded weapon or
discharge any weapon within or across a designated sefety zone or closed area.
(f) With respect to DISPOSITION of GAME, the following shall apply:
(1) No person shall remove any live game from any public hunting area;
(2) Unless permitted by the department, no person shall hunt, kill, or have on their possession
any femal deer;
(3) If required by the Division, all game mammals that are taken shall bge preserved in a condition
that will enable the identification of their sex and species. Unless prohibited, game mammals
that are taken are allowed to be skinned, quartered and boned. If required by the division, the
unskinned tail of any game mammal shall be left attached to the carcass. If required by the
division, the head and scrotum of any game animal taken shall be left attached to the carcass
as evidence of sex and species while in the hunting area; and
(4) No person shall sell or offer for sale any game mammal or parts of the carcass of any game
mammal taken from any public hunting area.
(g) The following GENERAL RESTRICTIONS shall also apply:
(1) No person shall hunt, serve as a guide, accompany, or assist a hunter in any hunting area
where firearms are permitted without wearing an exterior garment (shirt, vest, jacket, or coat)
made of comercially manufactured, solid blaze-orange material or solid blaze-orange mesh
material with a maximum mesh size of one-eighth inch. (All types of camoflauge orange
are prohibited.) When carrying game or wearing a back pack, the blaze orange on the upper
torso must be visible from both front and back.
(2) Unless prohibited, non-hunters and hunter assistants may accompany hunters in the field.
Non-hunters and hunter assistants must wear a blaze-orange outer garment and are prohibited
from carrying any loaded weapon and ammunition. On the island of lanai , hunter assistants
must have on their possesion a valid hunting license and a special hunter assistant certificate.
(3) Persons found to be in any violation of any provision of this chapter may have their hunting
privileges revoked by the department, after notice and hearing. The department may reinstate
revoked hunting privileges upon subsequent completion of a state-approved hunter sefty
education course. Any equipment, article, instrument, aircraft, vehicle, vessel, bussiness
record, or natural resource used or taken in violation of the provisions in this chapter may
be seized and subject to forfeiture as provided by section 199-7 and chapter 712A, Hawaii
Revised Statutes.
(4) No person shall be in possesion of an opened or unsealed vessel or container of any intoxicating
substance, or use any such substance while they are within a public hunting area.