State mulls hunting rules changes

LIHU‘E — The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing adding agricultural lands as new public-hunting areas on Kaua‘i and changing the conditions for hunting game mammals and birds.

“By mutual agreement, as a public benefit, recreational opportunities are being added by joint management of the Agricultural Development Corporation and DLNR,” Deborah Ward, a DLNR information specialist, said Friday.

“Hunting conditions are being changed in a number of areas, and new areas are being added.”

To disseminate information about the proposed changes and to obtain public feedback, DLNR is holding statewide meetings and public hearings. The meeting to discuss changes to Kaua‘i’s rules is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi.

The informational portion of the meeting is at 6 p.m., with the public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m.

In addition to expanding hunting to agricultural lands, other proposed changes and additions would include:

— A limit of three pheasants rather than six regardless of species;

— A limit of six quail rather than 15, including California quail;

— Expanding hunting days to include Mondays;

— Reinstating the 2008 fees, which include costs for stamps, permits, applications and tags, in addition to the basic license cost;

— Updating maps, boundaries and descriptions of safety zones, closed areas and public-hunting areas;

— Establishing the issuance of hunting permits for disabled hunters;

— Adding provisions to allow for the temporary closure of public hunting areas;

— Changing the conditions for hunting game mammals in some areas on Kaua‘i;

— Establishing the minimum age for a legal hunter at 10 years old

Ward said the primary force behind the rules change is a 2007 court ruling that negated the DLNR’s capacity to adjust seasons, bag limits and hunting conditions in response to short-term changes.

“It also invalidated all stamps, tags and fees, which had been approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources,” she said. “To reinstate these fees, we had to go back and do a formal rules change, which is now happening. At the same time we are making corrections and updates.”

Proposed resident hunting fees are $10 for a license, $10 for a conservation stamp, $10 for a game-bird stamp and $5 for spring turkey tags.

Proposed non-resident fees are $95 for a license, $10 for a conservation stamp, $10 for a game-bird stamp and $20 for spring turkey tags.

DLNR urges those interested to provide testimony at the hearing. Persons unable to attend and wishing to comment may do so by mail or e-mail. Write to dlnr@hawaii.gov or DLNR, Public Hunting Rules, P.O. Box 621, Honolulu, HI 96809. All correspondence must by postmarked by Nov. 29.

The school cafeteria is the site of the meeting, and the street address is 4431 Nuhou St., just off Kaumuali‘i Highway and adjacent to the YMCA pool complex.

See hawaii.gov/dlnr/rules and hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw for packets of the proposed rule changes.

• Vanessa Van Voorhis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or by e-mailing vvanvoorhis@kauaipubco.com.