2023 Axis deer hunt season opens
Written by Melanie Bandalan, Wildlife Technician V., DLNR-DOFAW.
Originally published in the February 2023 issue of Lanai Today.
The 2023 State Axis Deer Hunt opened on Wednesday, February 1. This year, the hunting format is back to the original pre-COVID format of Axis deer in the spring and mouflon sheep in the fall. The season kicked off with 2 archery sessions of 12 days each with just over 300 applicants drawn for each session. The first session took place February 1-12 and the second session is February 15-26. The youth, muzzle and rifle hunts will all be 4-day sessions with hunting days open Thursday-Sunday. The youth hunt for hunters ages 10-15 will be from March 2-5. The muzzleloader hunt will be from March 9-12. Eleven sessions of rifle hunts make up the bulk of the season running from March 16-May 18. This year’s bag limit is two does, one Axis deer (either sex) and one mouflon ewe. The original hunt announcement stated that doe tags must be purchased prior to an either sex tag, but this is no longer required due to a lower than anticipated deer population. No additional free doe tags will be given. A free mouflon ewe tag will be offered with any Axis deer tag purchase due to a higher-than-expected mouflon population. Hunters can purchase tags in advance of their hunt online at gohunthawaii.ehawaii.gov or at the hunter check station.
If purchasing tags online, check in is still required at the hunter check station during the following check in hours:
Archery 2nd session:
Wednesday, February 15 – Friday, February 24: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Youth, Muzzle and Rifle hunts:
Wednesdays: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursdays and Fridays: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays: CLOSED
Hunters may check in online using the outerspatial app if the hunter check station is closed, but in-person check in is preferred. All hunters must check out of their hunt and record harvest results at the end of each session.
