FERAL GOAT, SHEEP, AND PIG HUNT
AND UNGULATE CONTROL PROGRAM
ANNOUNCED FOR THE PU’U WA’AWA’A FOREST RESERVE
HILO — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the opening of the hunting season in the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Forest Reserve Hunting Unit F (PWW) Youth and Disabled Hunt and Makai Sections pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123, “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting.” DLNR-DOFAW also announces special Ungulate Control Programs for the PWW Makai and Mauka sections pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123, “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting,” §13-123-9.
Dates and bag limits for each season and ungulate control program are listed below:
SPECIAL YOUTH AND DISABLED HUNT SEASON: August 3 – 31, 2024
Season bag limit: One (1) ram, three (3) non-typical rams, one (1) pig. There will be no limits for goats. The Mauka safety zone that includes the cinder cone will be added to the hunting area for this special hunt.
MAKAI ARCHERY SEASON: August 3 – 25, 2024
Season bag limit: One (1) non-typical ram and three (3) goats. Additional goat tags may be purchased after the season limit has been reached as part of the nuisance control program.
MAKAI MUZZLELOADER SEASON: August 31 – September 15, 2024
Season bag limit: One (1) non-typical ram and three (3) goats. Additional goat tags may be purchased after the season limit has been reached as part of the nuisance control program.
MAUKA ARCHERY UNGULATE CONTROL PROGRAM September 1 – 15, 2024
Permitted bag limit: One (1) non-typical ram and no limit for goats.
Hunters for the Mauka Archery Ungulate Control Program will be allowed entry to the hunting area on a first-come-first-served basis, each day of the hunt. Hunters must check-in and out in person at the hunter check station on each day of the hunt. The maximum number of hunters allowed at one time will be 30.
Hunting days for all seasons and ungulate control programs are weekends and State holidays. Hunters are to check in at the Pu’u Wa’awa’a hunter check station, or online using the OuterSpatial App, beginning at 5 a.m. the day of the hunt and must be checked-out by 7:45 p.m. There will be NO CAMPING allowed in the hunting area on any night before or during the hunt.
Hunters will need to purchase goat and ram tags to legally hunt these species in these areas. Tags may be purchased online, by appointment at the Hilo DOFAW office, and at the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Hunter Check Station on each day of the hunt between 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The cost for each tag is $10 for residents and $25 for non-residents. Exact change of $10/tag (resident hunters) and $25/tag (non-resident hunters) is required when purchasing tags at the hunter check station.
Two additional hunter check stations will be available along Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Highway 19) to allow for access from makai. These stations will be unmanned but will allow hunters to check in and out without having to drive around to the Mauka check station. Please call the Kamuela DOFAW office for details regarding these stations.
There will be no compensation for any hunting days lost due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e., Wildland fire, hurricane, etc.).
Further information may be obtained by contacting the DOFAW Office in Kamuela at (808) 887-6096. For online purchases, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting.
Done at Honolulu this 1st day of July, 2024.
Dawn N.S. Chang, Chairperson
Department of Land and Natural Resources
(WHT1460604 7/08/24)
