The deer trample the land, damaging the nests of ground-nesting endemic bird species. This became a much larger problem recently, when drought led to Molokai deer dying of starvation by the hundreds—although not in large enough numbers to put their population in any jeopardy.
And, in truth, Hawaii has taken some measures to keep the deer population from spreading: It is now illegal to move deer from one island to another, and when they were illegally brought to the Big Island in , it took only a few years for the government to remove them all.
Even in Maui, the Department of Forestry will remove deer from particularly delicate ecosystems, especially watersheds or places where there are endangered species, provided those places are on state land.
Muise also handled removing the deer from the Big Island, a few years back. That may not sound like all that ambitious of a plan—only 30 percent? All the steel must be imported from the mainland, and constructing long expanses of fencing on extremely rugged state lands, over rivers and creeks and mountains, is a major undertaking.
But for whatever efforts the Department of Forestry has taken, the process for actually eradicating these deer from Hawaii would be insanely expensive and maybe impossible; while the Department can remove deer from state land, that land is often remote and rugged and not really the preferred habitat for the deer. Getting permission from every private landowner with deer on their property, and figuring out the liability situation for having government agents with guns there, all in the service of somehow killing and removing more than a hundred thousand deer?
The state constitution, dating back to at least , has included a clause meant to protect the traditional subsistence practices of Hawaiians. And the axis deer, of course, had arrived a couple of decades prior to that date. So the law that protects traditional subsistence practices applies, just barely, to a wildly destructive invasive species. Not only is the Department of Forestry not allowed to completely eradicate axis deer from Hawaii, it is theoretically required to ensure that the population is stable and secure.
But it would have to, if it came to that. Deer hunting, although only years old, has legitimately become a tradition on the islands of Molokai, Maui and Lanai. Deer, especially but not exclusively in the more rural parts of those islands, is a major part of the culture.
Many families have extra chest freezers to store axis deer, and you can find it on the grill at backyard barbecues. The deer also serves a pretty vital role as a source of protein. While Hawaii was perfectly capable of feeding its own population prior to European contact, the late 19th and early 20th centuries destroyed Hawaiian agriculture.
Instead of planting crops that could feed the Hawaiian people, such as taro, breadfruit and coconut, Europeans and soon, Americans tore all that out to plant the crops that could feed foreign imperialists, such as sugarcane and pineapple. By , Hawaii was, according to a University of Hawaii study , in desperate straits: Only 37 percent of its food was grown locally. The rest was, and remains today, imported, at great expense and significant risk, mostly from the mainland United States.
On Lanai, for example, the 3, or so residents rely in large part on the barges that deliver their food. Those on Lanai and Molokai, and to a lesser extent Maui, have to figure out some other way to feed themselves, and the incredibly abundant axis deer are a major part of that equation. Fresh produce imported from the mainland is quite expensive in Hawaii, and backyard gardening is more than just a hobby for many Hawaiians.
But as anyone who lives near a deer population knows, there are few things deer like more than absolutely destroying a carefully planted garden. They are damnably difficult to keep out, requiring at least an eight-foot fence, which is not affordable for most people. So the deer provide subsistence, but they also might take some away.
The Department of Forestry is engaged in an awkward dance regarding the deer. Frankly, the Department of Forestry would love it if hunting was even more common than it is. Commercial operations have been slow to take hold. It is legal to give hunted meat to anyone you want, in the United States, but to sell it, it has to be inspected. And that hunter can only take that one shot; the USDA regulations for humane commercial hunting strictly require that the animal be rendered unconscious immediately, with a single shot to the skull.
An annual study by insurance company State Farm found that the odds of a Hawaii driver hitting a deer are 1 in 8, Lottery results will not be given over the telephone. Hunters are encouraged to attend the public drawing to determine the results, or wait for their validated tags to be mailed to them. All deer hunters archery, muzzle-loader and regular rifle are required to carry their deer tag s and valid hunting license on their person at all times while in the hunting area.
Deer tags are non-transferable between hunters and all fees are non-refundable. There will be no make-up weekends or standby permits. Deer tag s must be fastened to the carcass immediately after taking a deer. All hunters shall be required to preserve their game in a condition that will enable the identification of sex and species The introduction of axis deer on the Big Island in by a Big Island hunter and rancher and a Maui pilot spurred the rule change The ruling by Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara thwarts state plans, at least for now, to conduct aerial hunting of feral ungulates such as Eradication of feral sheep, goats, swine, cattle and axis deer is necessary to protect habitat, according to the lawsuit, and state officials want to kill unwanted species from the air Due to a Dec.
Pending approval of rules regulating game mammal hunting, tag fees may be implemented for this hunt. The desired abundance of game differed significantly among stakeholders, species, and islands. The desired abundance scores were higher for axis deer, mouflon, and turkeys compared to pigs, goats or doves. Enjoyment at seeing game and the cultural value of game were widespread explanatory variables for desired abundance Given our findings we recommend managers design separate management plans for each island taking into consideration the values of residents Due to the Appellate Court ruling, each hunter will be permitted to take only one antlered buck deer 3-inch antler minimum [a strategy designed to maintain the herd] The University of Hawaii Maui College's Office of Continuing Education and Training, in conjunction with the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui and EdVenture, is offering a three-part course to help interested students explore the feasibility of developing an axis deer byproducts operation Axis deer are native to South Asia.
The state brought a few deer to Maui in the s to expand hunting opportunities for veterans The Maui Axis Deer Working Group last year estimated that there are about 7, axis deer on the island Lawmakers grapple with hunting-ground preservation March 14, Hawaii, Washington Times.
An amended bill that would require Hawaii to make reasonable efforts to protect hunting grounds A September aerial survey counted about 8, deer in East Maui Axis deer were introduced to Maui in Because of a Dec. Annual Reports. Bird Calls Blog.
Go Birding. Live a Bird-friendly Life. Stop Birds from Hitting Windows. Take Action on Urgent Issues. More Ways to Give. Join BCA. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Privacy Policy. Audra Sellers said there were 54 vehicular incidents involving deer in There were 20 deer collisions in No human fatalities occurred in any of the collisions.
If motorists see deer, they should look for the rest of the herd because there are probably more, Sellers said.
Stay in your lane; swerving could make you lose control of your vehicle or hit another vehicle. Also, she advised to watch for the animals, especially during dusk and dawn, when they are most active. If colliding with a deer, pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe, Sellers said. Use lights and hazard lights; stay inside the vehicle until it is safe.
Then, call police to let them know about injuries or roadway hazards. Finding a plan for management requires accurate data on population, habitat, breeding, movement and more, experts have said. The challenge is that data are varied, and a Maui group meant to study axis deer for management purposes disbanded years ago due to lack of funding. The decade-old company that employs crews from Maui and other islands also specializes in the use of FLIR forward-looking infrared radar technology, a thermal imaging tool used for population assessments and U.
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