If you searched for coyote hunting laws in Hawaii, the short answer is simple: there are no coyotes in Hawaii, and therefore no coyote hunting season, no coyote-specific license, and no regulations governing their take. Hawaii has no coyote population. The islands’ geographic isolation has kept this adaptable canid from ever establishing a foothold in the state.
That said, Hawaii does have a detailed and sometimes complex hunting framework managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). If you are a hunter visiting or living in the Aloha State, understanding what you can and cannot do — and what rules apply to the wildlife that is actually here — is essential before you head into the field. This guide walks through every section of the coyote hunting framework as it applies to Hawaii, explaining what exists in place of coyote regulations and what the law says about analogous topics like trapping, night hunting, and landowner rights.
Is Coyote Hunting Legal in Hawaii?
There are no coyotes in Hawaii. Because the species does not exist on any of the Hawaiian islands, the state has no coyote hunting laws, no open season, and no permit structure for them. This is not a case of coyotes being protected or banned — they simply are not present, and the DLNR has no reason to regulate a species that does not live here.
Hawaii has no coyote population, and therefore no hunting seasons are established for them anywhere in the state. This applies to all six major islands where hunting is otherwise permitted: Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, and the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.
Important Note: If you are researching coyote hunting laws across multiple states, Hawaii is one of the few states where the topic is moot entirely due to the absence of the species. For states where coyotes are actively managed, see our guides on coyote hunting laws in Texas or coyote hunting laws in Arizona.
Hawaii’s hunting scene instead revolves around introduced feral and exotic species. Because most of Hawaii’s big-game animals — such as axis deer, mouflon sheep, feral goats, and feral pigs — are non-native, hunting plays an important role in managing their populations and protecting fragile island ecosystems.
Coyote Hunting Season Dates in Hawaii
There is no coyote hunting season in Hawaii — not a restricted one, not a limited one, and not an open one. Hawaii has no coyote population, and therefore no hunting seasons for this species exist in any form under state law or DLNR regulation.
For context, Hawaii does operate structured hunting seasons for the game species that are present. Hawaii offers year-round hunting opportunities for many species, with specific seasons for certain game animals and birds. The state’s hunting program is managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), which maintains hunting areas across the six major islands.
Occasionally, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) may modify or cancel a hunting season in a particular area to adjust for changes in weather conditions or animal populations. This means that even for species that do have seasons, dates are subject to change — another reason to always verify with the local DOFAW office before any hunt.
| Species | Season Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote | No season | Species not present in Hawaii |
| Feral Pig | Year-round (many units) | No bag limit in some areas; base license required |
| Axis Deer | Seasonal (varies by island) | Tag required; some units by lottery |
| Mouflon Sheep | Seasonal (varies by island) | Lottery-based on Lanaʻi; tag required |
| Feral Goat | Seasonal (varies by unit) | Permit-tag required in some Kauaʻi units |
| Game Birds | Nov–Jan (most islands) | Game Bird Stamp required in addition to license |
License and Permit Requirements for Coyote Hunting in Hawaii
Because coyotes do not exist in Hawaii, there is no coyote-specific license or permit. However, if you plan to hunt any other species while in the state, Hawaii’s licensing requirements are straightforward but strict. All persons must have a valid Hawaiʻi hunting license on their person to hunt or have a bagged game mammal in their possession.
Resident hunting licenses cost $10.00, and non-resident licenses are $95.00. A license may be obtained via the internet, from any Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office (DOFAW), or any registered hunting license vendor. You can also purchase your license through the GoHuntHawaii.gov portal.
Beyond the base license, Hawaii uses a stamp system. A current-year, $10.00 Hawaiʻi Wildlife Conservation Stamp is also required to hunt. The hunter must endorse the stamp across the front and affix it to their hunting license in the space provided. If you plan to hunt game birds, you will need an additional Game Bird Stamp on top of the base license and conservation stamp.
Hunter education is mandatory for most applicants. According to Hawaii law, all hunters born after December 31, 1971, or before January 1, 1972, and who have never held a previous Hawaii hunting license, must complete hunter education certification in order to purchase a hunting license in Hawaii. All U.S. states, provinces, and other countries that have mandatory hunter education requirements will accept the Hawaii Hunter Education Certificate. Likewise, Hawaii will accept Hunter Education certifications issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements.
Pro Tip: Non-resident hunters using an out-of-state hunter education certificate need to obtain a Letter of Exemption through Hawaii’s DLNR process. This can take approximately two weeks, so plan well ahead of your trip.
Minors also face specific rules. Minors 15 years of age and younger who hunt using a firearm must obtain a permit from the county police department. For more on how other states handle coyote licensing, see our guide on coyote hunting laws in Ohio.
Legal Methods and Weapons for Coyote Hunting in Hawaii
With no coyotes to hunt, there are no coyote-specific weapon rules in Hawaii. For the game mammals that are present, however, Hawaii’s DLNR sets detailed rules on legal methods and weapons — and these vary depending on whether you are using dogs or not.
When hunting with dogs where permitted, hunters may use any muzzleloading rifle with a minimum of 0.45 caliber bore diameter; any rifle using at least a 0.22 caliber magnum load or centerfire cartridge; shotguns loaded with slugs or 00 or larger buckshot or spears or knives.
When hunting without dogs, hunters may use any rifle with a muzzle energy rating of 1,200-foot pounds or more; shotguns loaded with 00 or larger buckshot and muzzleloader rifles with a minimum of 0.45 caliber bore diameter. Breech loaders may not be used during muzzleloader-only designated hunts.
Archery equipment is also regulated. When hunting with a bow, the following drawing tension requirements apply: Longbows must have a minimum of 40 pounds at a 28-inch draw; Recurved bows must have a minimum of 35 pounds; Compound bows must have a minimum of 30 pounds. Crossbows are generally prohibited except for disabled hunters with a valid permit.
Firearms brought from outside the state carry an additional registration requirement. Firearms and ammunition brought into the State from outside must be registered within 48 hours after their arrival with the Chief of Police of the county of one’s residence, business, or sojourn. Missing this 48-hour window puts you in violation of state law regardless of whether your firearms are otherwise legal.
While hunting in a public hunting area, each hunter shall be limited to carrying on their person only one legal firearm that is consistent with the hunt. You may carry another hunter’s unloaded firearm if you are in close proximity to that hunter.
Night Hunting and Electronic Call Rules in Hawaii
Hawaii maintains a strict prohibition on night hunting. Hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. No person shall hunt from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, except where specified differently. This rule applies statewide across all public hunting areas.
No person shall hunt game mammals with the use of artificial light. This prohibition covers spotlights, handheld lights, and any other artificial illumination used to locate or take game. The rule is consistent with Hawaii’s broader restriction on after-dark hunting.
Hawaii prohibits night hunting under any circumstances. This means thermal optics, night vision devices, and any equipment that provides an advantage in low-light conditions are not permitted for hunting purposes. There are no exceptions for predator control, feral animal management by private individuals, or any other category of recreational hunter.
Because coyotes are most active at dawn and dusk — and night hunting is banned entirely — this would make coyote hunting particularly impractical in Hawaii even if the species were present. For comparison, states where night hunting is permitted for coyotes include Wisconsin and North Carolina, where after-dark calling is a common tactic.
Important Note: Hawaii’s Administrative Rules under Title 13, Chapter 123 govern game mammal hunting statewide. The following cited reference should be consulted when legal wording or intent is concerned: “Title 13, Chapter 123, Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting, Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules.” Always confirm current rules with the local DOFAW office on the island where you plan to hunt.
Electronic calls are not specifically addressed in the context of coyote hunting because the species is absent. For the game birds that do have seasons in Hawaii, hunters should confirm whether electronic calls are permitted under the specific season rules for each island and species, as regulations vary.
Trapping Coyotes in Hawaii
There is no legal framework for coyote trapping in Hawaii because coyotes do not exist in the state. No trapping season, permit, or license for coyotes has ever been established by the DLNR, and none is needed.
For feral and invasive animals that do cause damage in Hawaii, the DLNR does have a depredation and nuisance permit structure. The board or its authorized representative, upon receipt of written notice of nuisance or damage to crops, vegetative habitat, or native plants by game mammals, shall initiate an investigation of the damage or nuisance and based on the investigation, may issue a permit or permits authorizing the destruction or control of game mammals responsible for the damage or nuisance.
The method of destruction or control shall be stated on the permit together with any other terms and conditions the board or its authorized representative may deem proper and applicable. This means any trapping or removal activity conducted under a nuisance permit must follow the specific conditions written into that permit — you cannot simply choose your own method.
Hawaii’s DLNR has also conducted live-trapping projects for feral animals as a conservation measure. Permit applications have been made available for feral animal salvage projects along state highways. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife organizes these efforts to protect native ecosystems and reduce vehicle collision risks. Such projects involve humane live-trapping and removal of feral animals from designated areas. Participation in these programs requires a separate salvage permit obtained through DOFAW.
For those curious about trapping regulations in states where coyotes are actively managed, see our guides on coyote hunting laws in Minnesota and coyote hunting laws in Michigan.
Landowner Rights and Depredation Rules in Hawaii
Hawaii’s landowner rules for game mammals differ meaningfully from those that apply in public hunting areas. Game mammals may be hunted year-round on private land. Hunters must possess a valid State of Hawaiʻi hunting license and have the landowner’s permission. Hunting fees, permitted hunting weapons and methods, and other prohibitions and requirements for hunting game mammals on private land are established by the landowner.
This gives private landowners significant authority over how hunting is conducted on their property. Hunting fees, permitted hunting weapons and methods, and other prohibitions and requirements for hunting game mammals on private land are established by the landowner. This differs from game bird hunting, where the State regulates hunting season and bag limits on public and private lands.
Blaze orange requirements also differ by land type. Any person who hunts, serves as a guide, or accompanies or assists a hunter in public hunting areas is required to wear an exterior blaze orange garment, which may be a shirt, vest, coat, or jacket, while they are engaged in those activities. On private land, however, the wearing of blaze orange is not a requirement on private lands unless the landowner deems it to be one.
For feral animal damage situations, landowners can seek relief through the DLNR’s nuisance permit process. The board may investigate reported damage to crops, vegetative habitat, or native plants and issue a control permit when the investigation supports it. No permit shall be issued or used for the destruction of any endangered or threatened species of wildlife. This is a firm limit on any depredation activity — even on private land, you cannot target a protected species under the guise of damage control.
In 2021, the Hawaiʻi legislature authorized DLNR to adopt, amend, or repeal any hunting rule pertaining to bag limits, size limits, open or closed hunting season, or gear restrictions by formal Land Board action at a publicly noticed meeting. This adaptive management authority means rules can change more quickly than a full rulemaking process would allow, so checking with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife before any hunt remains essential.
National parks are entirely off-limits to hunting in Hawaii. National parks are off-limits. State parks are also closed to hunting. But state forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries may open sections for hunting. Always confirm the land classification of any area you intend to hunt before entering with a firearm or archery equipment.
If you hunt in other states where coyote depredation rules are more developed, our guides on coyote hunting laws in Virginia, coyote hunting laws in Georgia, and coyote hunting laws in Tennessee cover landowner exemptions and depredation permits in detail. For general Hawaii hunting law context, see our broader guide on hunting laws in Hawaii.