Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release October 25, 2013

DLNR ANNOUNCES NOV. 2 START OF 2013-2014 
GAME BIRD HUNTING SEASON

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HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the opening of the 2013-2014 Game Bird Hunting Season on Saturday, November 2, 2013. The fall game bird hunting season will run through Monday, January 20, 2014, with legal hunting days on Saturday, Sunday, and State Holidays.

Game bird hunting opportunities are offered on 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. Game bird hunting opportunities may also be available on private lands as well.

This year, DLNR biologists are predicting an “average” season of bird hunting, due to the easing of drought conditions in many parts of the state.

A December 31, 2007 appellate court ruling determined that no game bird stamp sales are allowed for hunting. A valid hunting license only is required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands. All game bird hunting is regulated by Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 13, Chapter 122 (see https://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw “Administrative Rules”).

Here is the pertinent information by island and hunting units:

ISLAND OF KAUAI

HUNTING UNITS B, E, F, H and I on the island of Kauai will be open for the entire 2013-2014 Game Bird Hunting Season. Game bird hunting in these areas will be permitted on Saturdays, Sundays, 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 Lihue State Office Building.

HUNTING UNIT A: Due to the recent forest fires this year and the subsequent high fire danger closure declaration set in July, vehicle access into Hunting Unit A will be limited to Trail 2 – Papa’alai and Pu’u Opae sections only. Mana Tunnels Hunter Checking Station will also be open to provide makai access into Unit A and the Puu Opae section .

Trail 2 Open – vehicle access consist of Kahelu ridge, Mana ridge, and Kolo ridge roads.

Puu Opae Section Open – vehicle access consist of the Marine, Pulehu ridge, and Kaunalewa ridge roads.

All other vehicle access into Units A will remained closed until further notice. This include roads known as Trail 1, Lapa Loop, Ha’ele’ele ridge, Polihale ridge, Ka’aweiki ridge, Kauhao ridge, 3,000 foot Contour and Ditch line.

HUNTING UNIT F will be open to the hunting of game birds with archery equipment only during the regular season this year.

HUNTING UNIT J will be open to hunting of game birds with archery equipment only during the regular season this year. Due to the forest fire closure declaration set in July 2012, vehicle access into Unit J will be limited to Trail 2 – Papaalai road only. All other vehicle access into Unit J will remain closed until further notice. A bowhunter may enter Unit J on foot only. There will be no exceptions. Game mammals will be closed to hunting.

WAIMEA HEIGHTS SPECIAL GAME BIRD HUNTING AREA will remain closed this year.
Other PRIVATE LANDS on the island of Kauai are open to game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays, with landowner permission in accordance with Chapter 13-122.

ISLAND OF OAHU

KUAOKALA GMA (UNIT 1) AND MOKULEIA PHA (UNIT 2) will be open on weekends and State Holidays from November 2, 2013 through January 20, 2014. Hunters must check in and out of the Kaena 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 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 KEAAU PHA (UNIT 3) will be open on weekends and State Holidays. Species occurring in Makua Keaau include ring-necked pheasant (rare), Erckel’s francolin, barred dove and spotted dove, with bag limits as listed in Chapter 122.
WAIANAE KAI (UNIT 4) will be open to game bird hunting on weekends and State Holidays, with mammal hunting closed during the weekends for the duration of the game bird season.
PRIVATE LANDS on the island of Oahu will be open to game bird hunting on weekends and State Holidays in accordance with Chapter 122.

MAUI COUNTY

ISLAND OF 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.

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.

KAHAKULOA NATURAL AREA RESERVE (UNIT N) 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.

Game Mammal hunting will be closed within Units F and N during the game bird hunting season (November 2, 2013 through January 20, 2014). Mammal hunting will commence on January 25, 2014.

ISLAND OF MOLOKAI

MOLOKAI 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 2013 through January 2014.

ISLAND OF LANAI

COOPERATIVE GMA (UNITS 1, and 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 Hunting Unit 3 will be only by the main perimeter roads (“Guard Road” and “No. 57 Road”).
2. Abandoned field plot roads are closed for safety reasons.
3. Hunters are also reminded that no hunter vehicle access or parking will be allowed on Polihua Road, Kaumalapau Highway, or Keomuku Highway. The only exception is the use of Polihua Road to access Kaena and #7 Road.

ISLAND OF HAWAII

MAUNA KEA FOREST RESERVE AND GMA will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

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 call the hunter’s hotline at 969-3474 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.

PUU WAAWAA CGMA (now FOREST RESERVE) – All sections of Puu Waawaa CGMA, will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season

PUUANAHULU GMA will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

KAOHE GMA and STATE LEASE (now MITIGATION SITE) will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season.

KIPUKA AINAHOU 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 Puu Huluhulu Hunter Check Station. Hunters are to avoid nene geese that are in the area. Mammal hunting in this area is closed from November 1 through February.

CLOSED: KAHUA/PONOHOLO RANCH SPECIAL PERMIT AREA will be closed due to continuing drought conditions with private landowners concerns with the potential for wildland fires.

OPEN: All other public hunting areas not listed above are open to game bird hunting on weekends and State holidays, November 2, 2013 through January 20, 2014 in accordance with Chapter 13-122.
FOR ALL AREAS STATEWIDE:

PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS are open to game bird hunting on weekends and State holidays November 2, 2013 through January 20, 2014, with landowner permission and in accordance with Chapter 13-122.

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! 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: Kauai: 274-3433; Oahu: 587-0166; Maui: 984-8100; Molokai: 553-1745; Lanai: 565-7916; Hilo: 974-4221; Kamuela: 887-6063.

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Deborah Ward
Public information specialist
Phone (808) 587-0320