When we talk about Hawaii, we always think about the sunshine, the beach, and the holiday. However, it is also a good place for hunting activities. Hunters have plenty of chances to hunt different game animals on more than 1.3 million acres of public hunting lands throughout the state.
In Hawaii, one can hunt for various species like deer, turkey, goats, sheep, and birds such as pheasants and quails. Knowing the hunting seasons and regulations is crucial. Here, we will explore what you can hunt and when to prepare for hunting in Hawaii.
Hawaii Deer Hunting Seasons
The first and the most popular hunting season is the deer season. It is divided into 3 parts, each with its own limits on the exact days and bag limits.
Black-tailed Deer Season
| Seasons | Units | Dates | Bag Limits |
| Archery | J, K | September – December; Daily | One deer of either sex |
| D | September – December 31 (Saturday, Sunday, and State Holidays) |
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| D | June – August (Weekends and State holidays) |
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| L | September – December (Weekends and State holidays) |
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| Muzzleload Rifles Only |
A, B, L | September 7-8 | Unit A: one antlered buck, fork-horn or better. Unit B; one deer of either sex Unit L; one deer of either sex |
| Regular Rifle | A | September 14 – October 27 (Saturday and Sunday ONLY) | Unit A: one antlered buck, fork-horn or better. Unit B; one deer of either sex Unit L; one deer of either sex |
| B | September 13 – October 28 ( Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays) |
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| L (Muzzleload Only) | September 14 – October 27 (Saturday and Sunday ONLY) |
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| E1, H | Year Round (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and State Holidays) |
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| E2 | Year Round; Daily | / |
Axis Deer Season
The details of the new axis deer seasons have been announced. Check the dates in advance and mark your calendars.
Youth Hunt: March 7 – 9, 2025
Muzzleloader Hunt: March 14 – 16, 2025
General Rifle Hunt: March 21 – June 1, 2025
Archery Hunt:
- February 5- February 9, 2025
- February 12 – February 16, 2025
- February 19 – February 23, 2025
- February 26 – March 2, 2025
Due to the limited number of axis deer, all hunters will need to apply for the hunt through a drawing. If you have applied for the hunt, you can check the results online at https://gohunthawaii.ehawaii.gov.
For the bag limit, each hunter can only hunt one axis deer of either sex.
To hunt axis deer, youth hunters must be at least 15 years old and should be accompanied by an adult. Youth hunters can only carry one type of firearm.
Blaze orange is required for everyone in the hunting field.
To hunt in these 4 different periods, hunters need to apply for each hunt separately.
Hawaii Sheep Hunting Seasons
- Archery Hunt: July 16 – July 27, 2025 and July 24 – July 28, 2025
- Youth Hunt: August 1 – 3, 2025
- Muzzleloader Hunt: August 8 – 10, 2025
- General Rifle Hunt: August 15 – October 12, 2025
The above hunts are ‘‘Subject to limited participation for non-Lānaʻi residents’’, which means that there is a limit on the number of non-residents who can apply for the hunt.
The bag limit for the Mouflon sheep season will be two sheep in total. One of them can be either sex, and another can be non-typical ram.
Hawaii Turkey Hunting Seasons
The turkey season will begin on March 1 and end on April 15, 2025. During the season, hunters can only hunt bearded turkey. The bag limit and season limit are 3 turkeys in total, and the legal shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
The seasons vary in different hunting units:
- Unit A – Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and GMA: March 1 – April 15, 2025
- Unit C – Upper Pīhā and Upper Laupāhoehoe Forest Reserves: March 1 – April 15, 2025
- Unit F – Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Reserve: March 1 – April 15, 2025
- Unit G – Kaʻohe GMA: March 1 – April 15, 2025
- Unit E – Kīpuka ʻĀinahou(Archery Only): March 1 – 31, 2025
- Private Lands: March 1 – April 15
Hawaii Game Bird Hunting Seasons
The entire game bird season will run from November 2 to January 26. The seasons will only open at a certain time during each year. Some are open on weekends and State holidays, some are open only on weekdays.
Here are the key details you need to know about the different islands in the State of Hawaii:
Kauaʻi Hunting Units
- Units A, B, E, H, and I: Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and State Holidays.
- Unit J: Weekends, Mondays, and State Holidays (Archery equipment only).
- Unit L: Saturdays and Sundays only.
- Private Lands: Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
Oʻahu Hunting Units
- Unit 1 (Kuaokālā GMA, Kuaokala Forest Reserve, Mokulēʻia PHA): Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
- Unit 2 (Makua Keaʻau PHA): Same dates as Unit 1, with additional weekday opportunities by permit only.
- Unit C (Kula Forest Reserve and Kaonoulū Ranch Cooperative Lease Area): Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
- Unit F (Kahakuloa GMA and West Maui Forest Reserve): Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
- Private Lands: Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
Molokaʻi Hunting Units
- Units C and E (Molokaʻi Forest Reserve): Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
- Private Lands: Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
Lānaʻi Hunting Units
- Cooperative GMA (Units 1, 2, and 3): Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
- Private Lands: Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
- Units A and G: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
- Other Units (Kapāpala Ranch CGMA, Unit J; Kapāpala Forest Reserve, Unit B; Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Reserve, Unit F; and Pu‘u Anahulu GMA, East Section) Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.
Hawaii Hunting Licenses and Permits
Here we will see what hunters will need and how much it costs for a legal hunt:
| License Types | Resident | Non-Resident | Senior | Kalaupapa Patient |
| Hunting License | $10 | $95 | $10 | $10 |
| Wildlife Conservation Stamp | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Game Bird Stamp | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Axis Deer Tag | $20 | $125 | – | – |
| Muzzleloader Black-Tailed Deer Tag | $5 | $25 | – | – |
| Deer Archery Tag | $5 | $25 | – | – |
| Deer Muzzleload Tag | $5 | $25 | – | – |
| Mouflon Sheep Tag | $20 | $125 | – | – |
| Turkey Tag | $5 | $20 | – | – |
Ensure you have a valid hunting license and a tag for the specific animal you will hunt.
The licenses can be bought from: https://hunting.ehawaii.gov/hunting/license.html.
And, permits and tags can be bought from: https://gohunthawaii.ehawaii.gov/public/tags.
The costs for any license or permit are final and non-refundable.
Hawaii Hunting Regulations
If you’re planning to hunt in Hawaii this year, it’s important to understand the regulations that keep our hunting practices safe and sustainable. Here’s a simplified overview of the general hunting rules.
Permits and Licenses
To participate in specific hunting seasons, you will need an archery or muzzleloader permit. Additionally, all deer hunters—whether you’re using archery, muzzleloaders, or regular rifles—must carry their deer tags and a valid hunting license with them at all times while in the hunting area.
Handling Deer Carcasses
Once you successfully take a deer, you must immediately attach your deer tag to the carcass. After that, bring the deer to either the Koke‘e or Pu‘u ‘Opae hunter check station for weighing and examination.
Please note that skinning or deboning deer carcasses in the hunting area is not allowed, but you can halve or quarter your deer if needed.
Safety Gear
When hunting in public areas, it’s required to wear an exterior blaze orange garment. Camouflage orange is not permitted, as the bright color helps enhance visibility for safety.
Game Bird Hunting
When hunting game birds, only shotguns, bows and arrows are allowed. Remember that a Hawaii Wildlife Conservation Stamp is also required for hunting game mammals and birds.
Hunter Education
All applicants who want to buy a hunting license must provide proof of having completed a hunter education course recognized by the National Hunter Education Association.
Hunting Hours
Game mammals and game birds can be hunted year-round from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. The same hours apply to private lands.
Prohibited Practices
Using any form of artificial light while hunting is illegal. Additionally, if you bring firearms and ammunition from outside the state, you must register them with the Chief of Police in your county within 48 hours of arrival.
Check-In and Check-Out
Finally, all hunters are required to complete a manual or online check-in and check-out process for the animals they hunt. This helps maintain accurate records of wildlife taken and supports conservation efforts.
Conclusion
Hawaii offers great hunting opportunities for everyone, with a wide range of game animals and plenty of landscapes to discover.
When getting ready for the upcoming hunting seasons in Hawaii, it is important to keep in mind that following the rules and regulations is crucial for protecting our natural resources and maintaining safety while out in the field.
We hope the information above can help you with planning your hunt. Come and share your story or trophy photos with us!
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