Hawaii 2026-2027 Hunting Season Digest – Island Game Schedules & Tags
If you’re planning a trip into the field in the islands this year, this guide pulls together the big stuff in one place: confirmed dates, major species, tag costs, island-by-island notes, and where to find maps before you go. We reviewed the state’s official notices and current public-land resources so you can skip the scavenger hunt and get a cleaner, beginner-friendly overview. If you like comparing regulations across the country, you can also browse more state season guides.
Hawaii Hunt Overview for 2026-2027
Here’s the first thing to know: Hawaii does not handle open dates the way many mainland states do. Instead of one giant booklet published far ahead of time, many opportunities are released island by island, unit by unit, and sometimes by lottery. That means the 2026-2027 picture is a mix of already-posted public-land notices and a few categories still waiting on their next official update.
As of this review, the clearest confirmed 2026 public notices cover Kauaʻi black-tailed deer, Lānaʻi mouflon sheep, Hawaiʻi Island spring bearded turkey, and Hawaiʻi Island public-land goat/pig/sheep opportunities in Puʻu Waʻawaʻa and Puʻu Anahulu. For last-minute changes, closures, and island-specific notices, keep an eye on Hawaiʻi DLNR hunting announcements.
A quick personal note: Hawaii rewards people who double-check details right before they leave the house. One ridge road closure, one unit restriction, one lottery-only weekend—boom, your whole plan changes. It’s beautiful country, but it is not a “show up and wing it” place.
Summary: Key Species, Dates & Methods
Important: Rows below show either confirmed 2026 dates from official postings or, where no new notice is live yet, the most recent official framework with a “pending” note.
| Species / Opportunity | Island / Unit | Dates | Method / Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-tailed deer | Kauaʻi Unit F | Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2026 | Archery, daily | 1 deer of either sex per archery tag |
| Black-tailed deer | Kauaʻi Units J & K | Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2026 | Archery, Sat/Sun/state holidays | Archery-only access pattern |
| Black-tailed deer | Kauaʻi Units A & B | Sept. 5-6, 2026 | Muzzleloader | Unit A: antlered buck, fork horn or better; Unit B: either sex |
| Black-tailed deer | Kauaʻi Unit A | Sept. 12-Oct. 25, 2026 | Rifle, 7 consecutive weekends | Lottery tag required |
| Black-tailed deer | Kauaʻi Unit B | Sept. 11-Oct. 26, 2026 | Rifle, Fri/Mon + weekends | Lottery tag required |
| Deer / pig / goat combo access | Kauaʻi Units E1 & H | Year-round | Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon + holidays | Either-sex deer plus pig and goat |
| Deer / pig / goat combo access | Kauaʻi Unit E2 | Year-round | Daily | Either-sex deer plus pig and goat |
| Mouflon sheep | Lānaʻi Units 1, 2, 3 | July 15-19 & July 22-26, 2026 | Archery | Two separate draws |
| Mouflon sheep | Lānaʻi Units 1 & 2 | July 31-Aug. 2, 2026 | Youth | 15 and under; non-hunting adult required |
| Mouflon sheep | Lānaʻi Units 1 & 2 | Aug. 7-9, 2026 | Muzzleloader | Lottery-based |
| Mouflon sheep | Lānaʻi Units 1 & 2 | Aug. 14-Oct. 11, 2026 | General rifle, Fri-Sun | 9 consecutive weekends |
| Bearded turkey | Hawaiʻi Island Units A, C, F, G + private land | Mar. 1-Apr. 15, 2026 | General turkey rules | Bearded birds only |
| Bearded turkey | Hawaiʻi Island Unit E | Mar. 1-Mar. 31, 2026 | Archery only | Kīpuka ʻĀinahou special restriction |
| Pig / goat / sheep | Hawaiʻi Island special youth/disabled area | August 2026 weekends + holidays | Special access | Typical and non-typical ram limits apply |
| Pig / goat / non-typical ram | Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Makai + Puʻu Anahulu Makai | First Friday of Sept. through last Sunday of Oct. 2026 | Muzzleloader | Fri-Sat-Sun + state holidays |
| Statewide upland bird framework | Multiple islands | 2026-2027 update pending | Statewide announcement not yet posted | Most recent official statewide bird framework ran Nov. 1, 2025-Jan. 25, 2026; mourning dove closed Jan. 11, 2026 |
Big Game in Hawaii: Archery & Rifle Dates, Tags, Zones
Hawaii’s big-game picture is very island-specific. You’re not dealing with a generic statewide deer opener here. You’re dealing with black-tailed deer on Kauaʻi, mouflon on Lānaʻi, feral sheep and hybrids on Hawaiʻi Island, and axis deer opportunities that may appear in separate notices depending on island and draw structure.
Black-tailed Deer — Kauaʻi
This is one of the cleanest 2026 schedules on the books.
| Hunt Type | Unit | Dates | Tag / Fee Snapshot | Zone Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | F | Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2026 | $5 resident / $25 nonresident | Daily access |
| Archery | J, K | Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2026 | $5 resident / $25 nonresident | Saturdays, Sundays, state holidays only |
| Muzzleloader | A, B | Sept. 5-6, 2026 | $5 resident / $25 nonresident | Unit A buck-only standard; Unit B either sex |
| Rifle draw | A | Sept. 12-Oct. 25, 2026 | $15 resident / $30 nonresident | 7 consecutive weekends |
| Rifle draw | B | Sept. 11-Oct. 26, 2026 | $15 resident / $30 nonresident | Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon structure |
| Combo access | E1, H | Year-round | $10 resident / $25 nonresident annual fee | Deer, pig, goat |
| Combo access | E2 | Year-round daily | $10 resident / $25 nonresident annual fee | Deer, pig, goat |
Kauaʻi deer rifle draw deadline: July 31, 2026, by 4:00 p.m.
Public drawing: Aug. 12, 2026.
One thing beginners often miss: dogs are not allowed in archery and muzzleloader periods, and they’re also prohibited in Unit A during rifle dates. Unit B is the more flexible one.
Mouflon Sheep — Lānaʻi
Lānaʻi’s mouflon program is a classic draw-based island hunt, and honestly, it’s one of the most distinctive Western-style opportunities you can do in the islands.
- Archery draw 1: July 15-19, 2026
- Archery draw 2: July 22-26, 2026
- Youth weekend: July 31-Aug. 2, 2026
- Muzzleloader weekend: Aug. 7-9, 2026
- General rifle run: Aug. 14-Oct. 11, 2026, Fridays through Sundays over 9 consecutive weekends
Application window: March 30-May 1, 2026
Drawing date: May 22, 2026
Fees
- Application fee: $10 per person
- Resident ewe / either-sex tag: $20 each
- Nonresident ewe / either-sex tag: $125 each
- Youth tag fees: waived
Bag structure
- Up to 3 sheep total:
- 1 ewe
- 1 either sex
- 1 non-typical ram
Units
- Archery: Units 1, 2, 3
- Youth, muzzleloader, rifle: Units 1 and 2
Axis Deer
Axis deer remain a major draw on Maui Nui islands, but I did not find a new 2026-2027 public notice posted yet for the next Lānaʻi axis-deer cycle on the state announcement page during this review. So, rather than invent dates, the smart move is to treat this as pending official release.
Hawaiʻi Island Game Mammals
On public land, Hawaiʻi Island posted confirmed 2026 opportunity windows for pigs, goats, and sheep-related access in the Puʻu Waʻawaʻa / Puʻu Anahulu area:
- Special youth and disabled opportunity: weekends and state holidays during August 2026
- Muzzleloader run: from the first Friday in September through the last Sunday in October 2026
- Open days during muzzleloader run: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays
- Daily bag on that muzzleloader run: 2 pigs, 2 goats, and 1 non-typical ram
Tag note: 2026 ram tags and non-typical ram tags were required where specified.
Tag price: $10 resident / $25 nonresident.
Turkey Dates: Spring, Fall, Youth
Spring Turkey 🦃
Hawaiʻi Island had a confirmed spring bearded turkey opener in 2026:
- Dates: March 1-April 15, 2026
- Legal birds: Bearded turkeys only
- Daily bag: 3
- Total bag for the entire run: 3
- Special archery-only area: Unit E (Kīpuka ʻĀinahou) from March 1-31, 2026
- Units listed: A, C, E, F, G, plus private land with permission
Turkey tag cost
- Resident: $5 each
- Nonresident: $20 each
Fall Turkey
- No separate 2026-2027 fall turkey notice was posted on the official pages I reviewed.
- On some islands, turkey may fall under the broader game bird framework when that announcement is active.
- For the next fall-winter cycle, wait for the statewide bird notice instead of relying on last year’s pattern.
Youth Turkey
- I did not find a separate statewide youth-only turkey date block for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Youth-specific access was clearly posted for Lānaʻi mouflon, but not as a standalone turkey program in the records reviewed.
Furbearers Season
This part is refreshingly simple: Hawaii’s official public-game pages do not list a separate furbearer framework. On the state mammal page, the focus is deer, pig, goat, sheep, and related island-specific opportunities.
- Separate furbearer dates posted: None found
- State-listed public game mammals: Feral pig, mouflon sheep, feral sheep, mouflon-feral hybrid sheep, axis deer, black-tailed deer, feral goat
- Takeaway: Don’t expect a mainland-style trapping/furbearer table here
Upland Birds Season
Hawaii is much more of an upland-bird state than a duck-and-goose state, at least on the public information side. The state bird page lists pheasants, francolins, partridge, quail, dove, turkey, sandgrouse, and even peafowl in certain places.
Species commonly listed by DLNR include:
- Ring-necked pheasant
- Green pheasant
- Kalij pheasant
- Blue pheasant
- Gray francolin
- Black francolin
- Erckel’s francolin
- Chukar partridge
- California quail
- Gambel’s quail
- Japanese quail
- Mourning dove
- Spotted dove
- Barred dove
- Wild turkey
- Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse
- Indian peafowl
Latest official statewide framework on file
The most recent posted statewide bird announcement I found covered:
- Open date: Nov. 1, 2025
- Closing date: Jan. 25, 2026
- Mourning dove cutoff: Jan. 11, 2026
For the next fall-winter cycle, the 2026-2027 statewide notice was still pending at review time, so treat island bird plans as to be confirmed.
Upland Animals Season
Unlike states that publish rabbit, hare, or squirrel tables, Hawaii’s public rule pages do not show a separate upland-animal program in that style.
- Rabbit / hare dates: No separate official statewide listing found
- Squirrel dates: Not listed on the official public-game pages reviewed
- Best read: the state’s huntable-land program is built around game birds and large introduced mammals, not a big squirrel-and-cottontail setup
Other Small Games Season
Here’s the easiest way to read this category in Hawaii: most of these species follow the broader game bird framework rather than receiving their own stand-alone opener.
| Small Game / Bird | 2026-2027 Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning dove | Pending next statewide bird notice | Most recent official close was Jan. 11, 2026 due to migratory-bird compliance |
| Spotted dove | Pending next statewide bird notice | Typically bundled with island bird framework |
| Barred dove | Pending next statewide bird notice | Bundled with island bird framework |
| California quail | Pending next statewide bird notice | Listed as a legal game bird on selected islands |
| Gambel’s quail | Pending next statewide bird notice | Island-specific availability |
| Japanese quail | Pending next statewide bird notice | Island-specific availability |
| Pheasants / francolins / chukar | Pending next statewide bird notice | Check island unit rules carefully |
Migratory Birds Season
This is where beginners sometimes get tripped up. Because mourning dove is federally affected, it had a special earlier closing date in the last statewide notice. That’s your clue that migratory-bird rules matter here, even though Hawaii’s public pages are much more focused on upland birds than on classic flyway-style waterfowl charts.
- Confirmed migratory-bird related date found: Mourning dove closed Jan. 11, 2026 in the most recent statewide bird notice
- 2026-2027 statewide migratory-bird posting: Not yet posted on the state public hunting page I reviewed
Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese Season
I did not find a regular state-posted duck, scaup, merganser, or goose date table on Hawaii’s public hunt pages during this review.
- Duck dates posted: None found
- Scaup dates posted: None found
- Merganser dates posted: None found
- Goose dates posted: None found
That doesn’t mean “assume yes” or “assume no.” It means don’t plan around rumors. Wait for the state and federal notice structure that applies to migratory birds in the islands.
Other Waterfowls Season
- No separate public-land waterfowl schedule was posted in the state resources reviewed
- Hawaii’s official public-game materials currently center on upland birds and introduced mammals
- If this category matters to your trip, check the announcement hub again before booking flights or guided days
More Game Dates Worth Knowing
A few extra nuggets matter more in Hawaii than people expect:
- Game mammals on private land: allowed year-round with a valid state license and landowner permission
- Public-land blaze orange: required for anyone hunting, guiding, assisting, or accompanying a hunter in public areas, except designated archery-only locations
- Night take: not allowed for game mammals; legal hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
- Firearms brought from outside the state: must be registered within 48 hours of arrival with the county police chief
- Protected mammals: brush-tailed wallabies and wild cattle may not be taken unless specifically authorized
Game Units & Public Access 🗺️
Hawaii’s access system is all about units, forest reserves, GMAs, and island-specific closures. Kauaʻi alone uses Units A through L. Hawaiʻi Island uses unit letters plus special places like Kapāpala, Kaʻohe, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Puʻu Waʻawaʻa. Lānaʻi uses Units 1, 2, and 3 for several draw-based programs.
Before you travel, pull the official island map pages here: official current hunting maps.
That step is not optional. Boundaries and closures can change, and some maps still reference older administrative lines unless updated by the local branch office.
License Details: Resident, Youth, Nonresident, Short-Term & Add-Ons 🎟️
The current online fee table shows licenses valid through June 30, 2027.
| License / Add-On | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual license incl. wildlife conservation stamp | $20 | Standard adult resident option |
| Nonresident annual license incl. wildlife conservation stamp | $105 | First-time nonresidents need exemption processing if applicable |
| Senior option | $10 | Effectively the conservation-stamp cost on the online fee table; add bird stamp if pursuing birds |
| Minor / youth | No separate discounted annual fee listed on the fee page reviewed | Parent or legal guardian must complete purchase for minors under 18 |
| Short-term permit | Not listed | I did not find a short-term state hunt license option |
| Game bird stamp | $10 | Required for game bird pursuits |
| Turkey tag | $5 resident / $20 nonresident | Required when pursuing turkey |
| Kauaʻi archery or muzzle deer tag | $5 resident / $25 nonresident | Unit-specific |
| Kauaʻi deer rifle draw tag | $15 resident / $30 nonresident | Includes processing for lottery application |
| Lānaʻi mouflon application | $10 | Separate from tag cost |
| Lānaʻi mouflon tag | $20 resident / $125 nonresident | Per required ewe/either-sex tag |
FAQ
Do I need hunter education?
Yes. You’ll need a Hawaiʻi hunter education number or a valid exemption number.
Can nonresidents buy a license online?
Yes, but first-time nonresidents usually need the exemption process if they’re using out-of-state hunter-ed credentials.
Can I use public land without checking unit maps?
You really shouldn’t. Unit boundaries, closures, and safety zones matter a lot here.
Is night take allowed?
Not for game mammals. Legal hours end one-half hour after sunset.
Do I need blaze orange?
Yes, in public areas, unless you’re in a designated archery-only location.
Are there short-term licenses?
I did not find an official short-term state hunt license listed on the current portal.
Prepare for Your Hawaii Hunt
If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this: in Hawaii, success usually comes from planning around island-specific notices, not broad assumptions. A Kauaʻi deer trip, a Lānaʻi draw application, and a Hawaiʻi Island turkey outing are three very different beasts. Check whether your unit is lottery-only, confirm whether dogs are allowed, make sure your tags match the species and method, and do not forget the public-land blaze-orange rule. Also, if you’re flying in with a firearm, the 48-hour registration requirement is one of those details that can sneak up on visitors fast. In short: maps first, tags second, local office call third. Do those three things, and your odds of a smooth, legal, low-stress trip go way up.
