Hawaii Hunting License: Cost, Axis Deer & Wild Pig (2026)

Hawaii's hunting license year runs July 1 through June 30 — not the calendar year. The Resident Hunting License costs $10 and includes a Wildlife Conservation Stamp. The Non-Resident Hunting License is $95, also including the stamp. Youth under 15 hunt free with no license required; residents 65 and older also receive free licenses. Active duty military stationed in Hawaii pay the $10 resident rate regardless of home state. A separate Game Bird Stamp ($10, same cost for resident and non-resident) is required for any game bird hunting including pheasant, chukar, francolin, quail, and dove.

Hawaii hunting regulations are fundamentally different from every other state because they are managed island by island rather than statewide. Each island has unique species, season structures, access areas, and applicable rules. The Big Island (Hawaii County) has the most diverse hunting options including turkey, feral sheep at Puuwaawaa and Puu Anahulu, mouflon sheep at Mauna Kea, pheasant, chukar, and francolin. Maui has the most accessible axis deer hunting on public game management areas. Lana'i requires a lottery for both axis deer and mouflon sheep. Kauai offers goat archery permits. Oahu has the most limited public hunting access.

Electronic check-in/out is required at many public hunting areas through the OuterSpatial app, available for both iOS and Android. Hunters must check in before hunting and check out upon completion. This system replaced paper log books and provides DLNR with real-time data on hunting pressure and access. Failure to properly check in/out can result in license revocation. The OuterSpatial app also displays current hunting area boundaries, unit closures, and access road conditions — essential for navigating Hawaii's complex public land system.

Hawaii has no native land mammals that are hunted — all game species were introduced. Axis deer (Axis axis, also called chital) were introduced from India to Molokai in 1868 and subsequently to Maui and Lanai. They are considered an invasive species causing significant agricultural and ecological damage, which means hunting regulations are more permissive than for mainland deer. On Maui's public game management areas, axis deer can be hunted in many units under unit-specific schedules and access rules. Lanai's axis deer require a lottery permit; a simple planning estimate is $30 resident or $220 non-resident when the hunting license and axis deer tag are combined, before any application or travel costs. Molokai has limited access through public areas and permitted private land.

Wild pig hunting is available year-round on all major Hawaiian islands and is the most popular hunting activity in the state. Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are invasive and destructive to native forest ecosystems, so DLNR encourages harvest. The traditional Hawaiian method of hunting pigs with dogs and a knife (pa'a) remains legal and culturally significant. Modern hunting with rifles and bows is also common. Bag limits are typically 2 per day with no season limit on most public hunting areas. Dogs are commonly used on all islands for pig hunting; check island-specific regulations for any dog hunting restrictions.

Mouflon sheep, feral sheep, and wild goats round out Hawaii's unique mammal hunting opportunities. The Big Island's Puuwaawaa Wildlife Sanctuary hosts managed feral sheep hunts ($10 res / $25 NR tag). The Puu Anahulu area offers archery-only ram hunts. Mauna Kea's mouflon sheep are managed through periodic lottery hunts to protect native alpine vegetation. Wild goats are available year-round on multiple islands including the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, with bag limits of 2 per day. Kauai's goat archery permit ($5 res / $25 NR) provides annual access without a lottery requirement.

Hawaii's game bird season runs November 1 through January 31 on most islands. Species include ring-necked pheasant (daily limit 2 roosters), green pheasant, chukar partridge (daily limit 10), Erckel's francolin (daily limit 6), gray francolin (daily limit 6), black francolin (daily limit 6), Japanese quail, and spotted dove. The Game Bird Stamp ($10) is required for all bird hunting. Most game bird hunting takes place at elevations between 2,000 and 8,000 feet on the volcanic slopes of the Big Island, Maui's Haleakala crater area, and Kauai's plateau lands.

Chukar partridge hunting on the slopes of Mauna Kea (Big Island) and Mauna Loa is considered challenging by any standard due to the rugged a'a lava terrain at 5,000–8,000 feet elevation. Hunters must be physically fit for the rocky, ankle-turning surfaces. The chukar density can be high in productive years, with groups of 20–50 birds flushing from lava rock outcroppings. Francolin species are found at lower elevations in pasture and kiawe scrub habitats. Ring-necked pheasants are most common on agricultural margins and managed game lands.

Turkey hunting on the Big Island (Hawaii County) is available during spring (March–May) and fall (November–January) seasons for Rio Grande turkeys. Turkey tags cost $5 resident / $20 NR. Turkeys were introduced to the Big Island in the mid-20th century and have established populations in the North Kona, Kohala, and Hamakua districts. Spring hunting follows the same call-and-response pattern as mainland Rio Grande turkey hunting. The Game Bird Stamp is required in addition to the turkey tag. No draw is needed for turkey.