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Deer Hunting Regulations

2024 LANAI AXIS DEER HUNTING SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT

The State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is pleased to announce that applications for the 2024 Lānaʻi axis deer hunting season will be available to the general public online beginning Monday September 18, 2023. 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 at the time of filing. All hunters participating in the axis deer season must purchase an axis deer tag either online or at the Lānaʻi hunter check station. 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. Tag fees for youths participating in the youth-only hunt will be waived. At the Lānaʻi hunter check station, accepted forms of payment for game mammal tags include debit cards and credit cards. Cash will be accepted ONLY in unforeseen circumstances. Game mammal tags can also be purchased and printed online at http://gohunthawaii.ehawaii.go....

It is imperative that hunter applicants obtain and pay particular attention to the hunt announcement, instruction sheet, addendum and online information for any changes in the application process and hunting season. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the 2024 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 conditions and procedures will be in effect for this hunt:

The 2024 Lānaʻi axis deer season will consist of four (4) hunts:

The Archery Hunt will consist of four (4) draws each totaling five (5) days. Subject to limited participation for non-Lānaʻi residents.

  • The first draw hunt will begin on February 7, 2024, and end on February 11, 2024.
  • The second draw hunt will begin on February 14, 2024, and end on February 18, 2024.
  • The third draw hunt will begin on February 21, 2024 and end on February 25, 2024.
  • The fourth draw hunt will begin on February 28, 2024 and end on March 3, 2024.

The Youth Hunt will be conducted for one (1) weekend (Friday through Sunday), March 8-10, 2024. Subject to limited participation for non-Lānaʻi residents.

The Muzzleloader Hunt will be conducted for one (1) weekend (Friday through Sunday), March 15-17, 2024. Subject to limited participation for non-Lanai residents.

The General Rifle Hunt will be held over eleven consecutive weekends (Fridays through Sundays), beginning March 22, 2024 and ending on June 2, 2024. Subject to limited participation for non-Lānaʻi residents.

All four (4) hunts may be subject to a lottery drawing. Depending on application levels, standby hunting opportunities may be offered for the general rifle season. If application levels are lower than anticipated for the archery and general rifle seasons, one or more draws/weekends may be eliminated. Hunters can check lottery results online athttps://gohunthawaii.ehawaii.g...;or at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recrea....

One hunter assistant will be allowed to accompany a hunter who is a senior citizen (age 65 or older) or disabled. Proper documentation (signed doctor 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 2024 Lānaʻi axis deer season will be two (2) axis deer; one (1) doe and one (1) either sex. Hunters may be required to purchase a (1) doe tag 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. 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 and acquire their tags on the Tuesday preceding the first day of the Archery Hunt between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm or from Wednesdays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00am and 3:00pm. Hunters are encouraged to purchase and print axis deer tags online and check in at the Lānaʻi hunter check station. If checking in at the Lānaʻi hunter check station, hunters must provide identification and present their permit card to a representative of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Upon completion of the hunt, hunters must check out by submitting their permit card, including providing harvest data, to the Lānaʻi hunter check station. Archery hunters have the option of checking in and checking out online by using the OuterSpatial app. If using this option upon completion of the hunt, hunters must provide harvest data on the app and need not return the permit card to the Lānaʻi hunter check station. Check station hours may be modified based on online check in/tag purchase options. Hunter check-in sheets may be left outside of the Lānaʻi hunter check station to accommodate those late arriving hunters who have purchased and printed axis deer tags online.

AXIS DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH HUNTERS:

  • Youth hunters must be 15 years of age or younger (HAR 13-123-2) up to the hunt date, possess a valid 2023-24 State of Hawaiʻi hunting license and be accompanied by a non-hunting adult (18 years of age or older) who also possesses a valid 2023-24 State of Hawaiʻi hunting license.
  • Youth hunters must submit an application to participate in this hunt.
  • A total of 175 youth hunters will be drawn for the weekend.
  • Youth hunters will be issued axis deer tags and the non-hunting adult will be issued permits at the time of hunter check in. Online check ins for the youth hunt will not be available.
  • Game 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) non-hunting 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://gohunthawaii.ehawaii.g.... Please select 2024 Lānaʻi axis deer season. The deadline for submitting applications will be 4:00 PM HST on Friday October 27, 2023. 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 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Maui Division of Forestry and Wildlife Baseyard located at 685 Haleakala Hwy. Attendance for the public drawing may be limited due to the availability of space. Following this drawing, the public drawing for the General Rifle Hunt lottery will be held at 12:00 noon. The Lanai 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 and purchase their tags either on the Thursday preceding their assigned hunting date between 8:00am and 6:00pm or on 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. If applicable, general rifle standby hunters must be present at the Lānaʻi City, Division of Forestry and Wildlife office at 5:00pm on the Thursday prior to their assigned hunting date to be eligible to replace no-show hunters. Muzzleloader and General Rifle hunters are encouraged to purchase and print axis deer tags online and check in at the Lānaʻi hunter check station. If checking in at the Lānaʻi hunter check station, hunters must provide identification and present their permit card to a representative of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Upon completion of the hunt, hunters must check out by submitting their permit card, including providing harvest data, to the Lānaʻi hunter check station. Hunters have the option of checking in and checking out online by using the

    OuterSpatial app. If using this option, upon completion of the hunt, hunters must provide harvest data on the app and need not return the permit card to the Lānaʻi hunter check station. Check station hours may be modified based on online check-in/tag purchase options. Hunter check-in sheets may be left outside of the Lānaʻi hunter check station to accommodate those late arriving hunters who have purchased and printed axis deer tags online. 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: (808) 587-0166

    Hawaii: (808) 974-4221 (Hilo)

    Kauai: (808) 274-3433

    Maui: (808) 984-8100

    Molokai: (808) 553-1745

    Lanai: (808) 565-7916

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