DOFAW proposed rule changes to Hawaii's Hunting Regulations

Public Hearing Notice For the Proposed Amendment of Hawaii Administrative Rules Related to Hunting
Legal Notice DOFAW 10-7

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold statewide public hearings
for Hawaii Administrative Rule (HAR) amendments to update Chapters 13-122, Rules
Regulating Game Bird Hunting, Field Trials and Commercial Shooting Preserves, and 13-123,
Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting.

Changes to game mammal rules and regulations can be seen here: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/rules/13-123%20REVISED-08-23-10.pdf
Changes to bird hunting rules & regs can bee found at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/rules/13-122-REVISED-08-23-10.pdf
In the document underlined items are the proposed changes and crossed out items are proposed deletions.

Public information meetings will start at 6 pm at each location, followed by public
hearings scheduled as follows and not to exceed 2 hours:
Molokai: Monday, November 8, 2010 at 7 pm; Mitchell Pauole Center, 90 Aiona St.,
Kaunakakai, HI 96748;
Lanai: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7 p.m.; Lanai Elementary and
High School Cafeteria, 555 Fraser Ave., Lanai City, Lanai, HI 96763;
Maui: Wednesday,
November 10, 2010 at 7 pm; Lihikai School Cafeteria, 335 Papa Ave., Kahului, Maui, HI
96753;
Oahu: Friday, November 12, 2010 at 7 pm; Jefferson Elementary School Cafeteria,
324 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815;
Kauai: Monday, November 15, 2010 at 7 pm;
Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Cafeteria, 4431 Nuhou Street, Lihue, HI 96766;
Hawaii:
Hilo, Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7 pm; Hilo High School Cafeteria, 556 Waianuenue
Ave., Hilo, HI, 96720;
Kona, Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 7 pm; Kealakeha High
School, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.

All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to provide testimony. Persons
unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments, may e-mail comments to
DLNR@hawaii.gov or postmark written testimony by Monday, November 29, 2010 to: DLNR,
Public Hunting Rules, P.O. Box 621, Honolulu, HI 96809.

The proposed rule change packet is available on-line at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/rules and
http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw Copies for public review are available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4
pm, at DLNR Administrative and District Offices for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Interested persons may make written requests for a mailed copy by indicating mailing address in
correspondence sent to the DLNR address in the preceding paragraph. Cost is $10 which
includes copying and postage.

Any person requiring a special accommodation (i.e. large print materials, sign language
interpreters) should make a request by writing to the DLNR address in the preceding paragraph
or by calling 587-0393 (V/T). The request will need to be received at least 7 days before the
hearing date.

Laura H. Thielen, Chairperson
PLEASE REMOVE ANY UNNECESSARY SPACES
PUBLICATION DATE: Friday, October 8, 2010
CONTACT PERSONS: Ed Johnson or Scott Fretz
PHONE: 587-4185 or 587-0166
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Summary of proposed amendments:
(a) Re-establish by rules the hunting fees that were in place at the time of the Appellate
Court Ruling of December 31, 2007.
(b) Update conditions, seasons, new hunting areas, safety zones, and closed areas.
(c) Establish provisions for the issuance of disabled hunting permits to meet federal
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
(d) Add provisions to allow temporary closure of public hunting areas to address imminent
threats to public safety or natural resources or to comply with the requirements of lessees.
(e) Update the description and maps of public hunting areas to reflect current conditions,
boundaries, additions, removals, or changes in land designations.
(f) Remove the Natural Area Reserves (NARS) from public hunting for Oahu, Maui, and
Molokai. The Division will continue to issue animal control permits to the public
whenever it is safe, feasible, and effective to do so.
(g) Remove the bag limits for all game mammals in all the NARS on Hawaii Island.
(h) Change the conditions for hunting game mammals in some areas of Kauai to insure
hunting opportunities.
(i) Modify the conditions for some units on Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai that
support sensitive native resources, watersheds, and areas of federally designated critical
habitat to daily hunting year round.
(j) Establish the age of hunting as 10 years old, in compliance with Hawaii Revised Statutes
(HRS) 183D, Section 28(b)(2)(c).
(k) Add the Puu Mali Mitigation area on Hawaii Island for game bird hunting. Add
agricultural lands as new public hunting areas on Kauai.

Proposed changes to hunting regulations for Oahu…

Changes to Oahu Regs can be found on pages 17-20 of the attached document. Maps are pages 56-61.
he proposed rules are at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/rules/13-122-REVISED-08-23-10.pdf and http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/rules/13-123%20REVISED-08-23-10.pdf 



Changes as they apply to Oahu…
Unit B will now include…
(4) The Kuliouou Forest Reserve (Kuliouou I);
(5) A portion of the Honolulu Watershed Forest
Reserve (Kuliouou II);
(6) A portion of the Honolulu Watershed Forest
Reserve (Wailupe);
(7) A portion of the Waianae Kai Forest Reserve (expanded)
(Kumaipo) and the surrendered lands known as
Lion Country; and
(8 A portion of Mokuleia Forest Reserve between
Pahole Natural Area Reserve and Kaala
Natural Area Reserve.

Unit C will only include:
1) A portion of the Pupukea-Paumalu Forest
Reserve;
(2) A portion of the Ewa Forest Reserve (expanded)
; and
(3) A portion of the state-owned
lands of Kahana within the Hauula Forest
Reserve.

Unit D will now be Nu’uanu Pali archery Unit (It was formerly Waianae Kai& Ewa)bag limit is increased to 2 pigs or goats per hunter per day, year-round hunting open daily
Unit E will now be a portion of the Makua Keaau Forest Reserve

Essentially, Oahu units were combined from 9 units into 5.

by NicBarca » Thu Oct 07, 2010 7:41 pm

All you Kauai guys: there's some major changes proposed to Unit's B, E, and H. Waimea heights added as a new unit (L). Many more open hunting days and increased bag limits.

Unit A: Minor changes to seasons. Can pig hunt into the goat season. Goat season would start with an archery weekend, followed by a muzzleloading weekend to youth/senior citizens/disabled hunters ONLY, followed by a general goat muzzleloading season. Deer will have to have "fork horn" or better instead of the 3 inch antler minimum.

Unit B: Adding a permenant deer season. Open Friday through Monday now. Pig hunting is year round with appropriate deer and goat tags. Goat hunting continues through deer seasons. Mokihana Ridge is added to Unit B now. And a large area south of Koaie Stream, including Kanaio is removed, added to new unit E2. Camp-10 road area added to unit B.

Unit C: Added shotguns to legal hunting methods ( I broke that law). Bag limit increased to two pigs per day. Open Fri-Mon.

Unit D: season modified to Sep-May and open daily, bag limit increased to two. A permanent blacktailed deer season was added from JUNE through December, September through December of which you can also hunt pig with dog and knife. It does not menion a tag being required.

Unit E: The Alakai, split into two, Mohihi Stream at the end of camp ten road being the dividing line. Areas moved to and from Unit B.

Unit E1: Anykine weapons, goats, pigs, and deer, two animals of any combination per day, year round, Fri-Mon, annual permit required. Camp Ten road area added to Unit B.

Unit E2: The same but open daily. The ridge south of Koaie Stream (Kanaio?) is added to this unit. Mokihana ridge GMA moved to Unit B.

Unit F: changes in seasons and bag limits and a muzzleloader season added January through June. Open Fri-Mon. Deer season is Sep-Dec with goat and pig hunting too.

Unit G: Nualolo added. They left it open to the possibility of more rifle hunts to cull the herd.

Unit H: Major changes similar to the Alakai- anykine weapons, year round, goats pigs, and deer, two animals per hunter per day of any combination, Friday through Monday, annual permit required. Dogs permitted Nov-June ONLY.

Unit J: open daily, bag limit 2 pigs, season enlarged to Jan-Aug. Pigs year round, provided you have a deer tag during deer season Sep-Dec. Permit/tag still required for deer.

Unit K: July through August goat season. Goat tag required. September through December is deer season. Deer tag/permit required. You can hunt pigs during both seasons and can hunt goats during deer season too.

Unit L: New permanent Unit (Waimea Heights). Open to pig and deer, either sex. Archery season runs Jul-Aug, Deer archery permit/tag required. Muzzleloader season Sep-Oct requiring a deer muzzleloader permit/tag.

A year ago HCR 60 was introduced to the Hawaii State legislature by animal rights groups and scared hikers in an attempt to regulate the use of hunting dogs and define the vague terms, after a year of meetings, heated discussions and debates over the definitions of the terms…not much has changed! The underlined portion below is the only addition to the use of hunting dogs. It was previously only included under the maps of island’s hunting units (exhibits 1-12)

Page 36
B) No person shall use dogs for the
hunting of any game mammal, except as provided in Exhibits 1 through 12 attached at the end of this chapter; and
(C) The dog's owner or handler shall accompany the dog at all times while
hunting. The dog shall be under control at all times and physically restrained except when actively in pursuit of game. The dog's owner shall be held [strictly] liable for all actions, injuries, or damages caused by the owner's dog, while in the hunting area.

It is really up for open interpretation what “under control at all times” means. I personally will be submitting comments asking to have this vague wording removed or defined in the “Definitions” chapter.
“physically restrained except when actively in pursuit of game” means to me that if you park out side of the hunting unit, dogs should be leashed until within the unit & if you park inside the unit…you are actively in pursuit of game as soon as the tailgate drops!

I also have to make a serious note that Na Ala Hele is now keeping documentation of dog encounters on public hiking trails. All current reports are negatively against hunters and their dogs… I strongly encourage all hunters to report all negative interactions with hikers dogs or if they are off leash so that hunters are not misrepresented. To make a report call 973-9782.

Thanks koai'e! I will do my absolute best to be at this meeting.

just wanted to post to take it out of the spammers slimmy hands...

OAHU MEETING IS FRIDAY....if you can't make the meeting on your island please send a letter in with your comments. There is some good discussion on this topic on the HawaiiOutdoorsman forum, including a breakdown of the exact changes proposed for Kauai & Oahu. Please chaeck it out & PM me if you get questions or topic you want me to mention in the meeting. The more hunters that turn out the better, they not going to listen to just one person.


The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold statewide public hearings on proposed changes to hunting rules for game birds and game mammals.

Changes include updating descriptions and maps of public hunting areas, including removal of some Natural Area Reserves from public hunting and adding public hunting areas such as the Puu Mali Mitigation Area on the Big Island and agricultural lands on Kauai.

Proposed changes would also re-establish stamp, tag and application hunting fees in place before 2008 and provide for permits for disabled hunters.

The following hearings begins at 7 p.m.

» Tomorrow: Jefferson Elementary School, Honolulu.

» Monday: Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Lihue, Kauai.

» Tuesday: Hilo High School.

» Wednesday: Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona.

The full text of the proposed changes is at hawaii.gov/dlnr/rules.

Anybody have a chance to go to the meeting on Oahu??

yup me and couple if my friends went to that meeting

My name is Chad, I was one of the ones that went to the meeting last night. It was nothing what we expected. We thought it was going to be about the new places that was proposed to open up and how we could go about getting permits to get into these places. Boy were we ever wrong. Wish we had gotten there earlier and got to listen to everyone's point of view. We got there kinda late, so we got to listen to only a few proposals and recommendations. Guys let me tell you there is a alot of animosity and hatred to us dog hunters. I once shared the same views that was being brought up and was totally against dog hunting but look at me today, I have eight dogs and five up and coming puppies. I had to actually experience the sport to understand what it was all about. One of the views is how vicious our dogs are and the inhumane treatment we give the give the so called "poor dogs". Yeah there may be mishaps or casualties here and there but who's to say that we leave them that way? At least not with the hunters I know. We go out of our way to bring home and fix the injured. It hurts us just as much to see them that way. I myself have cried over those that I have lost or those that have gotten seriously hurt. But what's the difference with human beings who love the sport of MMA fighting?? There is always a chance of someone dying and there is no doubt alot of bloodshed televised on tv!!! Its seems that the animals we hunt have more protection over anything else. From wild pigs to game birds to even mouflon and sheep. There were those who were for us and actually supported us saying that hunters have helped her with pigs that were becoming a nuisance. As time goes on, the human population grows and grows forcing development in the very areas we are hunting. More and more restrictions are being placed on dog hunting.
Last night there were just a handful of people who were opposed to the rules and regulations placed on dog hunting compared to the hundreds of hunters that are actually out there. When the four of us walked in, we already felt the animosity in the air. There were stares that lasted to about five minutes from some of the people that were there. Some even looked us up and down as if they were sizing us up or something. It was an uncomfortable feeling but we stayed to the end and in the end some people came up to us and actually talked about what was going on. One hunter that I recognized was Cory Vindiha and his partner. Now tell me where was the rest of the hunters that I know are out there?? I'm not trying to create any bad vibs out there but we all got to get together and help protect the sport that we so dearly love. Please guys don't take me the wrong way, just voicing out what I feel. Alohaz...

Just got home from the Kona Meeting, It was actually a very informative and well run meeting! There wasn't very much in attendance but the guys that came with something to say got their time and I was very suprised with their input and it was a very refreshing to see "the people who really care" enough to question and bring forth their input. The deadline for any inout being mailed email or however you plan to give it is November 29 2010 so if you still get something to say don't miss out! Take it easy and stay safe!

Unit E: The Alakai, split into two, Mohihi Stream at the end of camp ten road being the dividing line. Areas moved to and from Unit B.

Unit E1: Anykine weapons, goats, pigs, and deer, two animals of any combination per day, year round, Fri-Mon, annual permit required. Camp Ten road area added to Unit B.

Unit E2: The same but open daily. The ridge south of Koaie Stream (Kanaio?) is added to this unit. Mokihana ridge GMA moved to Unit B.

Unit F: changes in seasons and bag limits and a muzzleloader season added January through June. Open Fri-Mon. Deer season is Sep-Dec with goat and pig hunting too.

Unit G: Nualolo added. They left it open to the possibility of more rifle hunts to cull the herd.

proof god exists
learn useful things

The public comment period was extended for the hunting regulation changes...
unfortunately, there was no formal or public notice of this to anyone as far as I can tell
so guess what guys...THE DEADLINE IS TODAY!
way to go state... whats the point of extending the deadline if you not going tell any one.

DAMNIT! any ways, if you get time... here are some excerpts of what I submitted. Please feel free to copy, add your own views and send it in TODAY via e-mail to DLNR@hawaii.gov or postmark written testimony to: DLNR,
Public Hunting Rules, P.O. Box 621, Honolulu, HI 96809.


From: All your contact info, name address phone email Date:January 10, 2011

Please accept this as formal testimony regarding the 2010 proposed rule changes to Hawaii Administrative Rule (HAR) amendments to update Chapters 13-122, Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting, Field Trials and Commercial Shooting Preserves, and 13-123,Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting.

my intro was deleted, insert your own stating why you are concerned with this topic or a breif summary of issues or changes you woul dlike to see in the rule changes. Then go into further detail. Here are some of the issues I wrote about, another topic I heard alot of people submiting about were the elimination of bag limits, expansion of hunting units and the protection of pristine natural areas from ungulate damage...pick your hot topics

The current regulations state: The dog shall be under control at all times and physically restrained except when actively in pursuit of game.The dog's owner shall be held [strictly] liable for all actions, injuries, or damages caused by the owner's dog, while in the hunting area.


To a responsible hunter “physically restrained except when actively in pursuit of game”means that if you park outside of the hunting unit, dogs should be leashed until within the unit & if you park inside the unit…you are actively in pursuit of game as soon as the tailgate drops. To a hiker who is mandated by law to have their dog on a leash at all times the above wording means that a hunting dog should too be leashed until the game mammal is within sight. Any hunter or wildlife manager knows that this tactic would result in far fewer, to no catches of game mammals resulting in a serious impact to Hawaii's watersheds, freshwater sources, native plants and wildlife as well as threats to humans and impacts to public and private land from encroaching and exploding wildlife populations.


I, and other hunters, feel that the term “actively in pursuit of game” should be defined just as the term “hunting” is defined in the beginning of the document. I believe that an easy fix to this predicament would be to have consistent wording within the definition of the term “hunting”. It could read “hunting: means actively pursuing a game mammal within a legal hunting unit, with the intent to take, kill or capture that game mammal.” This would of course open the door for the definition of “poaching” to be included in the document which I feel is highly important from an enforcement standpoint.


Another issue with the above excerpt is the wording of “The dog's owner shall be held [strictly] liable for all actions, injuries, or damages caused by the owner's dog, while in the hunting area.” On first read, this sentence seems to hold the Hunter & his/her dog liable for any negative interaction that occurs within the hunting unit, whether the hunting dog was the instigator or not. This sentence must be fairly rewritten to hold the responsible party liable, not just the hunting party. It should also be noted that DOCARE enforcement should include enforcing leash laws of non-hunting dogs on all trails especially those that cross public hunting units. Strict enforcement of the leash law or separating hiking areas from hunting areas (or at no hiking on hunting days) would greatly reduce these types of negative interactions that resulted in HCR60 being introduced to legislature.



I strongly and respectfully urge the DLNR to closely review the proposed rule changes for consistency in wording and increased hunting opportunities for all of Hawaii's hunters and what ever else you chose to write about
Mahalo nui loa,

Your name here

Anybody see the new booklet yet? Renewed my license couple weeks ago and I checked a few stores here in Kona and everyone still handing out the old version! Just waiting to check um out!

Not revised online.

http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hunting/MammalHuntingRegs_Chap123.pdf
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hunting/BirdHuntingRegs_Chap122-02.pdf

Spoke to Jason Misaki today and he said there is a final, unpublished, draft but it is being held up by their administration office. He said he would look into the hold up.

So at this rate changes may not go into effect until atleast next year's license renewals.
I will post when I know more.
Aloha

Mahalo for the update Koai'e!