HILO, Hawaiʻi – June 17, 2025 – The Kaʻohe Game Management Area (GMA) on Hawaiʻi Island is set to open for game mammal hunting with muzzleloaders or shotguns (with slug) starting Thursday, July 3, 2025. The season will run through Sunday, August 31, 2025, offering ample opportunity for hunters, with a brief closure on August 27-28 for ungulate management operations by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) staff.
Hunters planning to participate in the Kaʻohe GMA hunt should be aware of specific conditions and restrictions. The daily bag limit for pigs is set at four of either sex per hunter, per day. There will be no limit for the harvest of sheep or goat.
Safety remains a top priority. All hunters and non-hunter assistants are mandated to wear an exterior garment such as a shirt, vest, jacket, or coat made of commercially manufactured, solid blaze-orange material or solid blaze-orange mesh with a maximum mesh size of one-eighth inch. This requirement ensures visibility and enhances safety within the hunting grounds.
The public is encouraged to report any game law violations or suspicious activity to the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE). The Hilo office can be reached at 808-974-6208 during regular business hours. For suspected violations on weekends, holidays, or after hours, individuals should call the DLNR enforcement hotline at 808-643-DLNR (3567).
Hunters are also advised that the Kaʻohe GMA may be subject to closure to hunting and other public access at any time due to wildland fire or elevated fire hazards. It is recommended to check for updates before heading out.
For additional information regarding the hunting season and regulations, interested parties can contact DOFAW’s Hilo office directly at 808-974-4221.