Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the opening of season for archery, muzzle-loading rifle and conventional firearm hunting season for feral goats on the island of Kaua’i. The goat hunting forecast this year is considered to be “fair to
Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the opening of season for archery, muzzle-loading rifle and conventional firearm hunting season for feral goats on the island of Kaua’i. The goat hunting forecast this year is considered to be “fair to good.” Applications for the 2002 Kaua’i Goat Rifle Tag are now available at all participating hunting license vendors on Kaua’i, and all Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices. All hunters who participate must have a valid 2002-2003 Hawai’i State hunting license on their person while they are hunting.
Pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123 (13-123-4 and 5.1) “Rules Regulating Game mammal Hunting,” the following fees and special rules and conditions will be in effect for the hunt:
Archery Only Season: This year, resident archers interested in hunting goats in Units F, G, and K, will be charged a one time fee of $5 for a permit ($25 permit fee for non-resident hunters).
Kaua’i archers may purchase their permits starting July 1, 2002 in the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) office at 3060 Eiwa St., Room 306, Lihu’e. Hunters must present their 2002-03 Hawai’i Hunting License when purchasing the archery permit. Another hunter may pick up your permit, but must present your license for you. Neighbor island archers may pick up an application form at the DOFAW offices on their island and mail it in with the correct fee. Specific instructions are on the application form. Validated archery permits will be mailed to each hunter after payment has been received.
Unit F and K bow hunters will be required to sign-in and sign-out at either the Waimea Heights or the Kokee Hunter Checking Station. The bag limit will be one goat and one pig per hunter per day.
The Unit G Archery Area will remain open on a year-round, daily basis; however, archers must obtain a Unit G-Archery Pass from the Lihu’e DOFAW office. Each pass is goof for three (3) consecutive days and is free of charge.
Muzzle-Loader Only Season: Starting this year, Hawai’i residents participating in the muzzle-loader only goat season on Kaua’i will be assessed a $5 fee ($25 for non-residents) or their permit to hunt with a muzzle-loading rifle in Units A, B, E and H.
Kaua’i residents may purchase their permits starting July 1st, 2002 at the DOFAW office at 3060 Eiwa St., Rm. 306, Lihu’e, and must present their 2002-03 Hawai’i hunting license when purchasing their permit. Another hunter may pick up the permit for you, but he must present your license to do so. Neighbor island residents may pick up an application form at the DOFAW offices on their island and mail it in with the appropriate fee to the Kaua’i DOFAW office before the deadline of July 6, 2002. Validated muzzle-loader permits will be mailed to off-island hunters provided their application are correctly filled out and the appropriate fees attached. The bag limit will be two (2) goats of either sex per muzzle-loading hunter.
Regular Rifle Season: Effective for this season, all applications for the regular rifle hunt will be assessed a $5 application fee. Permit (tag) fees are also required and must be submitted with each application. Hawai’i residents will be charged $10 and non-residents will be charged $25 for their respective tags. Total fees will be $15 per hunter for Hawai’i residents ad $30 per hunter for non-residents. The deadline for submitting applications for the regular rifle hunt is 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 2002 The public drawing to assign hunting dates will be held in the Lihu’e State Office Building Conference Room at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2002.
The Kaua’i Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee met on March 7, 2002 to discuss hunting season changes and recommend the above listed goat hunting seasons. The new hunting fee schedules were reviewed by the Hawai’i Hunting Area Advisory Council, and subsequently, approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources on February 8, 2002. Payments via mail must be in the form of a personal check or a money order. No cash will be accepted through the mail. All qualified applicants will be issued permits and all application and tag fees are non-refundable.
Starting this year, hunters will be assigned two weekends: One weekend in Hunting Units A and H on the Na Pali Coast and another weekend in the Hunting Units B and E in Waimea Canyon. The bag limit for the rifle season will be two goats of either sex per hunter. Hunters will have the option of using either a conventional rifle, a muzzleloader, a handgun, or archery equipment on their assigned hunting weekend, but may carry only one hunting firearm while actually hunting. Exception: Hunting in Unit A will be open to muzzle-loading rifles only throughout the season. With respect to use of handguns: Please review Title 13, Chapter 123 (13-123-22 (b) (11) for the limitations on permitted calibers of handguns and handgun ammunition. Hunters will also be allowed to harvest feral pigs on their assigned hunting weekend. The bag limit will be one pig per hunter per day. Hunting tags are not transferable between hunters.
Due to the large number of telephone calls requesting drawing results, this information will no longer be given over the phone. Hunters are encouraged to attend the public drawing to determine the results, or wait for their validated tags to be mailed to them. The Lihu’e Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office will post the results after the June 19th public drawing. Each applicant will be selected for the hunting season.
Camping permits are required for overnight hunting trips into Waimea Canyon and are available at the Lihu’e Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office during established working days and hours. Hunters who wish to camp at state park campsites must obtain them from the State Parks Division in Lihu’e.
Report game violations to the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement at (808) 274-321 in Lihu’e. After hours and on weekends and holidays, calls may be made toll-free to Honolulu by asking the operator for “Enterprise 5469”.
Additional information may be obtained by stopping at any Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office or calling any of the following telephone numbers:
Kaua’i 274-3433; O’ahu 587-0166; Maui 984-8100; Moloka’i 553-4515; Lana’i 565-7916; Hilo 974-4221; Kamuela 887-6063.
