ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE 2023-2024 GAME BIRD HUNTING SEASON

The Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the opening of the 2023-2024 Game Bird HuntingSeason on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The fall game bird hunting season will run through Sunday, January 28, 2024. To comply with federal mandates, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and to meet current state regulations, the last day for hunting mourning dove will be January 14, 2023. A valid hunting license and a gamebird stamp are required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands. To purchase your hunting license or game bird stamp please go to: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/. All game bird hunting is regulated by Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 13, Chapter 122 (see https://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw “Administrative Rules” for all legal hunting days). To view this announcement online please go to https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/hunting- announcements/. OuterSpatial, DLNR’s Outdoor Trail and Hunting mobile application, is available for electronic hunter check-in/out, and harvest reporting unless otherwise indicated below. For more details: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/app/. Several hunter check stations will be manned by DOFAW staff and manual check-in may be required.

ISLAND OF KAUAʻI

HUNTING UNITS A, B, E, H and I on the island of Kauaʻi will be open for the entire 2023- 2024 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 Līhuʻe.

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

HUNTING UNIT L will be open during the regular season on Saturdays and Sundays only. For more information onthis hunting unit, please inquire with the Lihue DOFAW office at 274-3433.

Other PRIVATE LANDS on the island of Kauaʻi are open to game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays, with landowner permission in accordance with HAR Chapter 13-122.

ISLAND OF OʻAHU

KUAOKALĀ GMA, KUAOKALA FOREST RESERVE, AND MOKULĒʻIA PHA (UNIT 1) will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays from November 4, 2023, through January 28, 2024. The Divison may offer additional week-day hunting opportunities by permit. A notice will be provided to hunters with instructions. To gain clearance from the Kaʻena Point Satellite Tracking Station Guard Shack, hunters must have: a valid Hawai’i hunting license, valid form of ID, and up to date vehicle safety/registration.

Hunters must check in and out (prior to starting their hunt) using the following:

• Hunter Check Station for Ranch Section by information/outreach signs (1st Gravel Parking lot)
• Hunter Check Station for Forest Section (Parking Area before chain link gate leading to fields)
• DOFAW’s OuterSpatial App

**The check in process with KPTS guards is separate than the DOFAW hunter check in**

Species occurring in this area include ring-necked pheasant (common and blue variety), Erckel’s francolin, blackfrancolin, gray francolin, chukar partridge, barred dove, and spotted dove, with bag limits as listed in HAR Chapter 13-122, Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting. Hunting of female Ring- Necked Pheasants is allowed at Kuaokalā GMA only (put and take system) and will count against the listed “Daily Bag Limit” in HAR Chapter 13-122. Public hunter should refrain from taking female Ring-Necked Pheasants during the month of January.

Additional Species: Hunting of peafowl (male/ female) is allowed in Kuaokalā, three birds of either sex per hunterper day. The Nepal Kalij Pheasant (male/ female) will be counted for “Daily Bag Limits” under Ring-neck Pheasant/ Other Pheasant spp.

HUNTING OF WILD TURKEYS IS STILL PROHIBITED in all public and private hunting areas to allow thepopulation to reach a level suitable for hunting in the future.

Game Mammal Hunting will be closed during the bird season.

MAKUA KEAʻAU PHA (UNIT 2) will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays from November 4, 2023, through January 28, 2024. The Divison may offer additional week-day hunting opportunities by permit. A notice will be provided to hunters with instructions. Hunter’s may contact staff – (808-226-7757) for the gate combination for the season. Hunters shall park off the Keaʻau Homestead Road just before the entrance of Our Lady of Keaʻau and continue up the homestead road past a rancher’s gate up to the check station. Hunters are to continue up the ranch road into the hunting area on the “flats”. From this point hunters can walk to desired location to avoid private property boundaries.

Hunters must check in and out (prior to starting their hunt) using the following:

• Hunter Check Station (just passed the riverbed crossing)
• DOFAW’s OuterSpatial App

**It is recommended that public hunters download the OuterSpatial app as it provides accurate information on access to the hunting area.

Species occurring in Makua Keaʻau include ring-necked pheasant (rare), Erckel’s francolin, black francolin, grayfrancolin, barred dove, and spotted dove, with bag limits as listed in HAR Chapter 13-122.

Additional Species: Hunting of peafowl (male/ female) is allowed in Makua Keaʻau PHA, three birds of either sex per hunter per day. The Nepal Kalij Pheasant (male/ female) - will be counted against the “Daily Bag Limits” underRing-neck Pheasant/ Other Pheasant spp. listing.

PRIVATE LANDS on the island of Oʻahu will be open to game bird hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and StateHolidays starting from November 4, 2023, through January 28, 2024.

Game Mammal Hunting will be closed during bird season.

ISLAND OF MAUI

KULA FOREST RESERVE AND KAONOULU RANCH COOPERATIVE LEASE

AREA (HUNTING UNIT C) will be open on Saturdays, Sundays and State Holidays for the duration of the game bird 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 2023 through January 2024).

ISLAND OF MOLOKAʻI

MOLOKAʻI 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 2023 through January 2024.

ISLAND OF LĀNAʻI

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:

Access to Hunting Unit 3 will be only by the main perimeter roads (“Guard Road” and “No. 57 Road”). Abandonedfield plot roads are closed for safety reasons.

ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI

MAUNA KEA GAME MANAGEMENT AREA AND FOREST RESERVE AND PUʻU

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 Unit A durring game bird hunting season from November 4, 2023, through January 28, 2024. Hunters will be required tocheck in and out at the hunter check stations located at Kilohana, Old Saddle Road Junction (across Daniel K. Iynoue Highway from Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area), Puʻu Huluhulu and Puʻu Mali (from Mana Road), or electronically via the OuterSpatial mobile application. Access to the Puʻu Mali area of Mauna Kea Forest Reserve through Mana Road (16.9 miles from Māmalahoa Highway to gate) will have a combination lock. The code to this combination will be available by calling the DOFAW offices in Kamuela (808) 887-6063 or Hilo (808)974-4221. Maps of available access points will also be available at the above listed offices.

PŌHAKULOA TRAINING AREA will be open for game bird hunting, at the direction of the Department of Defense, subject to training schedule. Please visit their website at https://pta.isportsman.net/ for information onhunting days, open areas, and access routes.

KAPĀPALA RANCH COOPERATIVE GAME MANAGEMENT AREA (CGMA, UNIT J) AND KAPĀPALA FORESTRESERVE (UNIT B)

will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays for the entire game bird season. Hunters must check in at the ʻĀinapō hunter check-station located in Kapāpala Ranch CGMA off Hwy 19 at the 40.5MM. When the hunter check-station is not manned, information will be posted for bird hunters to text or call to obtain the gate combination. All hunter assistants and companions will need to sign a waiver provided at the‘Āinapō hunter check-station to accompany legal game bird hunters in Unit J Kapāpala Ranch CGMA. 

PUʻU WAʻAWAʻA FOREST RESERVE AND PUʻU ANAHULU, WEST SECTION

(UNIT F) – All sections of Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Reserve, 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 Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Hunter Check Station and at the DOFAW offices in Hilo andKamuela. Please leave all gates as they are found due to active cattle ranching in the area. Vehicle access to the cell tower on the Puʻu Anahulu bluff will be allowed, but hunting will only be allowed below the last (5th) gate.Peafowl will be allowed to be taken in the hunting unit. The limit is one (1) Peafowl per hunter per day.

PU‘U ANAHULU GMA, EAST SECTION will be open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidaysfor 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 forthe entire game bird season.

KĪPUKA ‘AINAHOU (excluding DHHL owned portion) will be open for game bird hunting on weekends and StateHolidays 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 Kaumana - Mile Marker 16 shooting range, Old Saddle Road Junction, and at the Pu‘u Huluhulu Hunter Check Stations. Hunters are to avoid nene geese in thearea. Mammal hunting in Unit E Kīpuka ʻAinahou is closed from November 1st through February. Further information may be obtained by contacting Division of Forestry & Wildlife offices at 974-4221.

KAHUA/PONOHOLO RANCH SPECIAL PERMIT AREA the exact dates, times, and location will beannounced later.

OPEN: All other public hunting areas not listed above are open to game bird hunting on weekends and State holidays from November 4, 2023, through January 28, 2024, in accordance with HAR Chapter 13-122.

The last several months have produced below average precipitation resulting in moderate drought and severe drought conditions on Hawaii island. El Nino conditions are predicted to develop and persist over the next three months according to the National Weather Service. DLNR is actively monitoring these conditions with the National Weather Service, and, should they persist, may lead to closures or partial closures of some Game Management Areas, Forest Reserves, Natural Area Reserves.

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 hunting season, November 4, 2023 through January 28, 2024, with landowner permission and in accordance with HAR Chapter 13-122.

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 or through the OuterSpatial mobile application unless otherwise indicated above. Landowners’ permission is required when seeking to hunt on private land. PLEASE PREVENT WILDFIRES BY NOT PARKING OR DRIVING 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) or download the Hawaii Division of Conservation and ResourceTip application-go to: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/docare/ . Further information may be obtained by contacting Division of Forestry & Wildlife offices at the following phone numbers: Kaua‘i: 274-3433; O‘ahu: 587-0166; Maui: 984-8100; Molokaʻi: 553-1745; Lāna‘i: 565-7916; Hilo: 974-4221; Kamuela: 887-6063.