Become a Registered Hunting Guide

Become a Registered Hunting Guide

In order to become a hunting guide in Hawaii, you must get a license from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Applications are available at all Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) offices. The annual fee for this license is $25. Applications are not available online.

To get your hunting guide license, you must already have a valid hunting license (click here for information on obtaining a hunting license). Anyone who hires you as a guide must also have a hunting license, unless they are exempted from needing one by the Department.

All hunting guides must provide an annual report to DOFAW of their guide activities that shall include (1) the number of clients served and (2) the clients’ residency status. The reports shall be submitted within thirty days after the expiration of your hunting guide license. If you do not submit this report, your license may be canceled by DOFAW.

Here’s the legal stuff:

[§183D-25.5] Hunting guides; licensing and reporting requirements. [Section effective January 1, 1997.1 (a) No person shall engage in the business of soliciting and guiding clients for the purpose of taking any game bird or mammal without first procuring a hunting guide license.

(b) A hunting guide license shall be issued to any person who possesses a valid state hunting license and registers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources; provided that hunting guides shall provide service only to clients with a current State hunting license, unless the client is otherwise exempted by the department.

(c) Hunting guides shall provide an annual report to the department of their guide activities that shall include the number of clients served and the clients’ residency status. The reports shall be submitted within thirty days after the expiration of the hunting guide license issued pursuant to this section. The failure to submit an annual report within the time specified shall be grounds for the revocation and nonrenewal of the hunting guide license. [L 1996, c 50, § 1]

(click here for Hunting Guide Annual Report Form)

For a current list of registered guides please see below link:

Current List of Hunting Guides