DLNR ANNOUNCES OPENING OF BIG ISLAND 2010 SPRING BEARDED TURKEY SEASON

02/24/2010

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the opening of the 2010 Spring Bearded Turkey Hunting Season on Monday, March 1, 2010. The spring season will run 31 consecutive days through Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

The spring season will be for bearded turkeys only in specified locations. The season length, bag limits, and hunting areas are established under Title 13, Chapter 122, “Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting, Field Trials and Commercial Shooting Preserves.”

The appellate court ruling (Tanaka v. State, December 31, 2007) removed the Department’s ability to make any seasonal adjustments.

The following conditions and restrictions will be in effect:

Bag Limits and Tags
The daily bag limit shall be two bearded turkeys per hunter with a season limit of two.

All hunters are required to have a current unused turkey tag in their possession while hunting.

Tags are currently free of charge. Turkey tags are nontransferable and must be fastened with snaps and secured tightly around the neck of any bird taken immediately after the kill.

Tags may be obtained from any Hawai‘i Island Division of Forestry and Wildlife office and a number of commercial vendors. Hunters must present a current State of Hawai‘i Hunting License when obtaining tags. Turkey tags are also required on private land.

Information may be obtained by contacting Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices at the following phone numbers: Hilo: (808) 974-4221; Kamuela: (808) 887-6063 or the main office in Honolulu at (808) 587-0166. Or go the DOFAW website hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw under “Announcements.”

For more information news media may contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public information specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320