Bird Hunting Season Starts Nov. 5

The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced the opening of the 2016-17 Game Bird Hunting Season to start on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016.

Department biologists do predict a below average season with lingering drought impacts in many parts of the state.

DLNR has announced the opening of the 2016-17 Game Bird Hunting Season to start on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016.

The fall game bird hunting season will run through Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017.

A valid hunting license and a game bird stamp are required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands.

All game bird hunting is regulated by Hawai‘i Administrative Rules Title 13, Chapter 122 (see  “Administrative Rules” for all legal hunting days).

Hawai‘i

Mauna Kea game management area and forest reserve and Pu‘u Mali Mitigation Site (Unit A) will be open for game bird hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

Mammal hunting will be closed in Unit G and A below Tree Line during the legal game bird season as stated in Ch. 123 “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting”.

Pohakuloa Training Area will be open for game bird hunting, at the direction of the Department of Defense, subject to training schedule. Hunters are to use the iSportsman website for information on hunting days, open areas and access routes.

Kapapala Ranch Cooperative GMA and Kapapala Forest Reserve will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve and Pu‘u Anahulu, West Section (Unit F) – All sections of Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a FR, will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

Vehicles must remain on designated roads to minimize the risk of fire.

Maps will be made available at the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Hunter Check Station and at the DOFAW offices in Hilo and Kamuela.
Please leave all gates as they are found due to active cattle ranching in the area.

Pu‘uanahulu GMA, East Section will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

Kaohe Game Management Area and Kaohe Mitigation Site (Unit G) will be open for game bird hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

Kipuka ʻAinahou will be open for game bird hunting on weekends and State Holidays throughout the game bird hunting season.

A special permit is required, and is available from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices in Hilo and Kamuela and at the Pu‘u Huluhulu or Kaumana Hunter Check Station.

Hunters are to avoid nene geese that are in the area. Mammal hunting in this area is closed from Nov. 1 through February.
Note: Portion of Kipuka ʻAinahou on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is no longer open to public hunting.

Kahua/Ponoholo Ranch Special Permit Area will be open for game bird hunting on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) beginning Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 through Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017. Hunting in the area will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016 (Christmas) and Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 (New Year’s Day).

OPEN: All other public hunting areas not listed above are open to game bird hunting on weekends and State holidays, Nov. 5, 2016 through Jan. 29, 2017 in accordance with Chapter 13-122.

Privately owned lands are open to game bird hunting on weekends, State holidays and Wednesdays – Thursdays for Units A, G, PTA and private lands during the regular game bird season which is Nov. 5, 2016 through Jan. 29, 2017, with landowner permission and in accordance with Chapter 13-122.

Kauaʻi

Hunting Units A, B, E, H and I on the island of Kaua‘i will be open for the entire 2016-2017 game bird hunting season.
Game bird hunting will be permitted on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and State Holidays.

Hunters planning to hunt in Unit I (Wailua Game Management Area) should review the hunting map at either Rice Gate or the Kondo Gate hunter check stations to find out which paddocks will be open to bird hunting.

Wailua GMA maps are also available at the State Office building in Lihu‘e.

Hunting Unit J will be open to game bird hunting using archery equipment only during the regular season on weekends, Mondays and State holidays.

New Hunting Unit L – formerly Waimea Heights, special game bird hunting area will be open during the regular season on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Access is not allowed thru safety zones surrounding Unit L. Access from the bottom will be restricted to the Paua valley roadway (Kokee Rd. checking station) only. No other makai ingress / egress routes will be permitted.

For more information and maps on the new hunting Unit L, please inquire with the Lihu‘e DOFAW office at 274-3433.

Other private lands on the island of Kaua‘i are open to game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays, with landowner permission in accordance with Chapter 13-122.

Oʻahu

Kuaokala GMA (UNIT 1) will be open on weekends and State Holidays from Nov. 7, 2015 through Jan. 31, 2016.

Hunters must check-in and out of the Ka‘ena Point Satellite Tracking Station Access Road.

Species occurring in this area include ring-necked pheasant (common and blue variety), Erckel’s francolin, black francolin, gray francolin, chukar partridge, barred dove, and spotted dove, with bag limits as listed in Chapter 122, Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting.

Hunting of female Ring-Necked Pheasants is allowed, in Kuaokala GMA only, and will count against the listed “Daily Bag Limit” in Ch. 122.
Hunting of peafowl (male and female) is allowed in Kuaokala, no bag limit.

Hunting of wild turkeys is still PROHIBITED in all public and private hunting areas to allow the population to reach a level suitable for hunting in the future.

Makua Kea‘au PHA (Unit 2) will be open on weekends and State Holidays. Species occurring in Makua Kea‘au include ring-necked pheasant (rare), Erckel’s francolin, barred dove and spotted dove, with bag limits as listed in Chapter 122.

Private lands on the island of O‘ahu will be open to game bird hunting on weekends and State Holidays in accordance with Chapter 122.

Maui

Kula Forest Reserve and Cooperative Lease Area  (Hunting Unit C) will be open for game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire season.

Game mammal hunting will be closed within Unit C on legal game bird hunting days.

Kahakuloa GMA and West Maui Forest Reserve (Hunting Unit F) will be open for game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire season.

Game mammal hunting will be closed within Unit F during the game bird hunting season (November 2016 through January 2017).

Moloka‘i

Moloka‘i Forest Reserve (Hunting Units C, D, and E) will be open for game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire season.

For Units C, D and E, game mammal hunting will be closed from November 2016 through January 2017.

Lāna‘i

Cooperative GMA (Units 1, 2, and 3) will be open for game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

Special conditions:

1. Access to Unit 3 will be by the main perimeter roads (“Guard Road” and No. 57 Road).
2. Abandoned field plot roads are closed for safety reasons.

FOR ALL AREAS STATEWIDE:

All game bird hunters should be familiar with Title 13, Chapter 122 “Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting.”
Hunters will be required to check in and out at established hunter check stations. First obtain permission from landowners when seeking to hunt on private land. Prevent wildfires.

Do not park or drive in tall grass or brush without expecting to start fires. Report fires to 911.

Support wildlife conservation: Report game law violators to the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement by calling 643-DLNR (-3567).

Further information may be obtained by contacting Division of Forestry & Wildlife offices at the following phone numbers:
Kauaʻi: 274-3433; Oʻahu: 587-0166; Maui: 984-8100; Moloka‘i: 553-1745; Lāna‘i: 565-7916; Hilo: 974-4221; Kamuela: 887-6063.