Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Outdoor Recreation

The State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is pleased to announce that applications for the 2023 Lānaʻi Axis Deer hunting season will be available to the public online beginning Monday August 15, 2022.  A ten-dollar ($10.00) application fee will be assessed each person applying for the hunt. All application fee sales are final and must accompany each application for the hunt at the time of filing. To apply please go to https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/  and click on “Apply for Hunts”. A game mammal tag fee will be assessed at the time of hunter check-in.  Hawaiʻi residents will be assessed twenty dollars ($20.00) and non-Hawaiʻi residents one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for each Axis deer tag.  Accepted forms of payment for game mammal tags include debit cards, credit cards and cash. Game mammal tags can also be purchased online at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/ by clicking on “Purchase Tags and Permits”. Game mammal tags purchased online will also serve as the hunting permit.

It is imperative that hunter applicants obtain a pay particular attention to the hunt announcement, instruction sheet, addendum, and online information for any changes in the application process and huntng season. Due to unforseen circumstances, the 2023 Lānaʻi Axis deer hunting season may be modified, rescheduled, or cancelled.

Pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123, “Rules regulating Game Mammal Hunting” (13-123-4) the following special condictions and procedures will be in effect for this hunt:

The 2023 Lānaʻi Axis deer season will consist of four (4) hunts:

The Archery Hunt will consist of two (2) draws each totaling twelve days.  Subject to limited participation for non-Lanai residents.

• The first draw hunt will begin on February 1, 2023, and end on February 12, 2023.
• The second draw hunt will begin on February 15, 2023, and end on February 26, 2023.

**The Youth Hunt will be conducted for one (1) Weekend (Thursday through Sunday), March 2-5, 2023. Subject to limited participation for non-Lānaʻi residents. 

The Muzzleloader Hunt will be conducted for one (1) Weekend (Thursday through Sunday), March 9-12, 2023.  Subject to limited participation for non-Lānaʻi residents.           

The General Rifle Hunt will be held over eleven consecutive Weekends (Thursdays through Sundays), beginning March 16, 2023, and ending on May 28, 2023. Subject to limited participation for non-Lānaʻi residents.

All four (4) hunts may to subject to a lottery drawing.  Depending on application levels, standby hunting opportunities may be offered for the general rifle season.    Hunters can check lottery results online at https://gohunthawaii.ehawaii.gov or at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/.

Hunter assistants will only be allowed to accompany hunters who are senior citizens (age 65 or older) or disabled.  Proper documentation (signed Drʻs note, driver’s license, hunting license, etc..), along with the hunter assistant permit, must be made available to any representative of the Department of Land and Natural Resources upon request.

The bag limit for the 2023 Lānaʻi Axis deer season will be three (3) Axis Deer; two (2) does and one (1) either sex. Hunters will be required to purchase two (2) doe tags before being given the opportunity to purchase an either sex tag.  Based on aerial survey data and population target levels, additional doe tags may be available at the Lānaʻi hunter check station for interested hunters after purchase of all upfront tags.  In addition, a free Mouflon Sheep ewe tag may be available at the Lānaʻi hunter check station.  Determination on the availability of a Mouflon Sheep ewe tag will be based on aerial survey data, previous years ewe harvest levels and population target numbers.  Tags are NOT transferable and are valid only for the specific hunt for which it was issued.

A lottery drawing for the Archery Hunt will be conducted to assign hunting dates, with no limit on the number of archers who will be allowed to participate.  However, interested archers must apply for this hunt by submitting an application.  Hunters participating in the Archery Hunt will be allowed to apply for, and participate, in either the Muzzleloader Hunt or the General Rifle Hunt.  Archery hunters may check in on the Tuesday preceding the first day of the Archery Hunt between the hours of 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM or daily, with the exception of the second weekend of each archery draw, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM to acquire their tags.  Checking in and purchasing of tags will be available online. Checking in and purchasing of tags will remain available at the Lānaʻi hunter check station.  Check station hours may be modified based on online check in/tag purchase options.  Archery hunters must check- in online or at the hunter check station prior to the start of the hunt and check out, including providing harvest data, upon completion of their hunt. 

AXIS DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH HUNTERS:

• Youth hunters must be 15 yrs. of age or younger (HAR 13-123-2) up to the hunt date, possess a valid 2022-23 State of Hawaii hunting license and be accompanied by a non-hunting adult (18 yrs of age or older) who also possesses a valid 2022-23 State of Hawaii hunting license.  Youth hunters must submit an application to participate in this hunt.
• Youth hunters will be issued tags at the time of hunter check in or tags can be purchased online.  Tags are valid only for the specific hunt applied for.
• Youth hunters will be limited to carry one (1) type of hunting equipment while in the hunting area.  Blaze orange is required for all youths and accompanying adults.
• One (1) adult may accompany one (1) youth for this hunt.
• Youth hunters will be allowed to apply for and participate in the archery hunt and either the muzzleloader hunt or general rifle hunt.  Youths must submit a separate application for each hunt.

Participation in the Youth and Muzzleloader Hunts may be assigned by lottery if application levels exceed the allotted number of hunters allowed in the hunting area.  General Rifle Hunt dates will be assigned by lottery drawing.  Interested hunters may apply for either the Muzzleloader Hunt Lottery or the General Rifle Hunt Lottery but may NOT apply for BOTH.

Hunters will need to apply online for this hunt at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/  click on “Apply for Hunts”. Please select 2023 Lānaʻi Axis Deer Season.  The DEADLINE for submitting applications will be 4:00 PM on Friday September 23, 2022.  Interested hunters are encouraged to submit applications well before the application deadline to insure proper processing. 

Public drawings for the Archery, Youth and Muzzleloader Hunts will be held on Friday, December 2, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the J. Cameron Center, MEO Building.  Following this drawing, the public drawing for the General Rifle Hunt lottery will be held at 12:00 noon.  The Lānaʻi resident public drawing will be held at 9:00am at the same above location.  If necessary, the standby selection process will begin upon completion of the general rifle lottery.

All eligible Youth, Muzzleloader and General Rifle participants must check in either on the Wednesday preceding their assigned hunting date between 8:00am and 7:00 PM or on Thursday and Friday between the hours of 7:00am to 9:00am and from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at the Forestry and Wildlife Office in Lānaʻi City to acquire their tags.  If applicable, standby hunters must be present at the Lānaʻi City, Division of Forestry and Wildlife office at 6:00pm on the Wednesday prior to their assigned hunting date to be eligible to replace no-show hunters.  Checking in and purchasing of tags will be available online.  Checking in and purchasing of tags will remain available at the Lānaʻi hunter check station.  Check station hours may be modified based on online check in/tag purchase options.  Youth, Muzzleloader and General Rifle hunters must check- in online or at the hunter check station prior to the start of the hunt and check out, including providing harvest data, upon completion of their hunt.  Once each hunter fills all purchased or issued tags, they will not be eligible to participate for the remainder of the 2023 Lānaʻi Axis Deer Season.  Hunting Units 1, 2 and 3 will be open for the Archery Hunt.  Hunting Units 1 and 2 will be opened for the Youth, Muzzleloader, and General Rifle Hunts.

Additional details for this season are available at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife Offices at the following telephone numbers:

            Oahu: 1-808-587-0166                                   Maui: 1-808-984-8100

            Hawaii: 1-808-974-4221 (Hilo)                       Molokai: 1-808-553-1745

            Kauai: 1-808-274-3433                                   Lanai: 1-808-565-7916