Hunting helps to manage game populations in Hawaii, but it also has become a source of contention regarding trespassing throughout the state. 

Rural landowners frequently encounter armed hunting groups claiming verbal permission to hunt on their properties, despite no consent being granted, said Maui Sen. Lynn DeCoite, one of the sponsors of a bill that would make hunting guides obtain written permission from landowners.

As of Thursday, Senate Bill 2546 had yet to be scheduled for a conference committee hearing.

This is a personal issue for DeCoite. She said that a hunting pack was wandering around her property recently and when she confronted them, they said they had permission from the landowner. She quickly corrected them. 

Hunting across Hawaii is varied and targets animals such as feral sheep, goats, hogs, deer, black buck antelope and game birds. As guided hunting tours grow in popularity, DeCoite said, so does the frequency of complaints and presence on lands without consent.  

The bill would require hunting guides to submit written permission from landowners to the Department of Land and Natural Resources annually, along with information on the number of people who went on hunting tours, the residency of their clients and the location where hunts took place.

The bill aims to ensure transparency and accountability within the industry, DeCoite said, safeguarding both landowners’ rights and the safety of the hunters. 

In a 2016 survey of hunters conducted by DLNR, 58% of respondents said they had hunted on private land, and 86.5% said they had hunted on public lands. The survey did not ask whether written permission was received before hunting on private lands. 

Since Hawaii has many out-of-state landowners, DeCoite said, sometimes verbal permission might have been given by a property caretaker or someone who claims to be the caretaker or landowner but that can turn out to not be the case.

DLNR’s current regulations require hunters to acquire a hunting license. The law already requires hunters get permission before hunting on private land, but it does not specify how that permission has to be granted. 

Getting written permission can be a hassle, DeCoite acknowledged. Some requests can be rejected. It can be difficult to track down a landowner. Some people might not know that they need permission, or they could feel like there isnʻt enough time to get one. 

The proposed legislation, DeCoite said, aims to strike a balance between conservation efforts and the economic vitality of hunting tourism in the state. 

“Written permission serves as a crucial safeguard for both parties involved,” DeCoite said. “It not only protects the interest of landowners but also ensures the legitimacy of guided hunting tours.”