Hunting Regulations in Hawaii
Season dates, bag limits, license fees, and tips — updated 2026-03-05
Always verify current regulations before hunting. Regulations change frequently. Visit the official Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources website for the most up-to-date rules, emergency closures, and special regulations.
🎫 Hunting License Fees
2025–2026Resident License
Non-Resident License
Hawaii hunting is organized by island and managed public hunting areas (PHAs). Many hunts — particularly Lanai axis deer and Molokai mouflon sheep — require lottery draw permits. Some island areas require guided hunts or special permits. Federal Duck Stamp required for waterfowl. Hawaii does not have the same migratory bird HIP system as mainland states but check current regulations. Note: seasons and specific dates vary by island and hunting unit — always verify with DLNR for current permit availability.
🦌 Season Dates & Bag Limits
| Species | Season | Bag Limit | Size Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Deer (Chital Deer) | August 20, 2025 (Maui, Molokai public areas); Lanai: lottery season dates vary – November 30, 2025 (general); Lanai lottery hunt specific dates | 2 per day (either sex on Maui/Molokai public areas); 1 per Lanai lottery permit | None | Axis deer are found on Maui (Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project areas excluded), Molokai, and Lanai. Lanai axis deer hunting requires a lottery permit — apply through DLNR well in advance. Maui and Molokai public hunting areas are open weekends during the season. Large herds can exceed 30,000 animals statewide. Axis deer are the premier game animal in Hawaii. |
| Wild Boar (Feral Pig) | Year-round (in designated public hunting areas) | No limit in most public hunting areas | None | Wild pigs are found on all major Hawaiian islands and are classified as a pest species in many areas. Public hunting areas (PHAs) on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Kauai, and the Big Island offer pig hunting year-round on weekends. Hunting is also permitted during specific weekday hunts in some areas. Dogs are permitted for pig hunting in many PHAs. |
| Mouflon Sheep (Feral) | September 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026 | 1 per permit (lottery system) | Legal-horn rams in some areas; either-sex in others | Mouflon sheep hunting is primarily on Lanai (Puu Nene area) and the Big Island (Puu Waawaa, Puu Anahulu). Lottery draw required for most units. Archery mouflon hunts on Puu Waawaa: March 1 – July 28, 2025 (spring season). Quality trophy rams are available with 35+ inch horn spreads common on Lanai. |
| Wild Turkey (Rio Grande subspecies) | March 1, 2026 – May 15, 2026 | 2 gobblers per season | Bearded turkey (gobblers) only | Wild turkey hunting is available on the Big Island (Hawaii County) in areas like Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and adjacent rangelands. Public hunting areas include portions of Parker Ranch corridor. Rio Grande turkeys introduced in the 1960s have established huntable populations. No draw required — included with hunting license. |
| Turkey (Big Island) | March 1, 2026 – April 15, 2026 | 2 per season | Bearded turkey | Big Island spring turkey season runs March 1 – April 15, 2026. Hunt in the eucalyptus and native forest transitional zones between 3,000-7,000 feet elevation on the Hamakua and Kohala coasts. |
| Game Birds (Pheasant / Chukar / Francolin) | September 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026 | Varies by species: Ring-necked pheasant 3/day; chukar 6/day; francolin 5/day | Pheasant: males only | Hawaii's game bird hunting is unique — chukar partridge inhabit the dry rocky slopes of Maui (Haleakala) and the Big Island. Black francolin and gray francolin are found in agricultural lowlands and coastal shrublands on multiple islands. Ring-necked pheasant are present in grassland areas. PHAs on each island have specific bird hunting schedules. |
| Waterfowl (Hawaiian Duck / Koloa, Nene Goose excluded) | November 1, 2025 (pending federal framework) – January 31, 2026 | Varies by species; Hawaiian ducks and Nene geese are fully protected — NO harvest | None for legal species | Hawaii's native Hawaiian duck (koloa) and Nene state bird goose are fully protected — it is illegal to shoot them. Migratory ducks (mallards, pintails, etc.) do visit the islands. Hunting is extremely limited and primarily in authorized reservoir and wetland areas. Check DLNR for specific open areas — waterfowl hunting opportunities are very limited compared to mainland. |
| Blacktail Deer (Kauai) | August 2025 (lottery season) – January 2026 (varies by lottery permit) | 1 per permit | Either sex depending on permit type | A small population of Columbian blacktail deer exists on Kauai. Hunting is by limited lottery permit only — very few tags issued each year. Apply through DLNR in spring. Kauai offers a unique jungle hunting experience unlike anything on the mainland. |
Source: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources – Division of Forestry and Wildlife (dlnr.hawaii.gov). Last updated: 2026-03-05. Regulations may have changed — always verify with the official agency.
About Hunting in Hawaii
Hawaii's hunting scene is one of the most exotic and unique in the United States — a place where hunters pursue axis deer (among the world's most beautiful deer), wild boar, mouflon sheep, and colorful game birds across volcanic landscapes, tropical rainforests, and windswept alpine shrublands. The state's non-native game species arrived centuries ago via Polynesian voyagers and later European settlers, and today they form a huntable population managed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife across each island's Public Hunting Areas.
Hunting in Hawaii operates on a weekend-and-holiday system in most PHAs, with season dates varying significantly by island and animal species. Axis deer on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai are the crown jewel — the spotted, lyre-horned deer reaching 200+ pounds and can be found in large herds. Feral pig hunting with dogs is deeply embedded in local culture across all islands. The Big Island's turkey hunting at elevation offers a genuinely novel experience — calling birds through native ohia forest at 5,000 feet with views of Mauna Kea. Hawaii's lottery draw for premium hunts on Lanai and the mouflon units fills quickly — apply early.
Best Times to Hunt in Hawaii
🌱 Spring
March through May is spring turkey season on the Big Island — Hawaiian weather at elevation is ideal for hunting. Apply for mouflon sheep lottery permits in spring for fall hunts.
☀️ Summer
August marks the opening of axis deer season on Maui and Molokai — the dry season concentrates deer at water sources. Feral pig hunting is year-round and excellent in summer wallow areas.
🍂 Fall
September through November is peak axis deer season — herd sizes are largest before hunters reduce numbers. Game bird season opens September 1 for chukar and francolin. Lottery hunts on Lanai typically occur in this window.
❄️ Winter
December through February wraps up axis deer and mouflon seasons. Waterfowl is limited but available. Wild pig hunting remains open year-round and winter rains create productive rooting habitat.
🎯 Expert Hunting Tips for Hawaii
- For axis deer on Maui's Kula Forest Reserve public hunting area, arrive at the gate before dawn on weekends — the herds concentrate on open grassy slopes above the cloud line in the early morning hours.
- Wild boar hunting in the Waianae Mountains (Oahu) PHAs is most productive with dogs that can track in the dense java plum and guava thickets — local hunting clubs welcome visitors and knowledge sharing.
- Apply for Lanai axis deer lottery permits in the spring through DLNR — the private-island experience offers safari-quality hunting with herds regularly exceeding 100 animals in open kiawe flats.
- Big Island turkey hunting near the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (3,000-7,000 ft elevation) requires a physical approach — birds gobble in the early morning cool and often travel to water sources by midday.
🏛️ Official Wildlife Agency
🗺️ Nearby States (West)
Also available: Fishing Regulations in Hawaii — season dates, bag limits, size limits, and license info.