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Hawaii Hunting Laws

Hawaii requires a rifle producing at least 1,200 ft-lb of muzzle energy for game-mammal hunting without dogs, and it bans suppressor ownership outright.

Rules checked against Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife regulations, August 30, 2026.

At a Glance

Wildlife Agency
Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife
Regulations Year
2026
Coverage
Verified against primary sources
Verified Rules on File
11
Rules Pending Review
0
Zones With Special Rules
0
Official regulations → Verify with Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife →

Check a Cartridge in Hawaii

Results update as you choose.

Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.

Sourced Rules

Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.

Rifle

1 rule
White-tailed / Mule Deer Feral Hog

For game-mammal hunting without dogs, rifles must have a muzzle energy rating of at least 1,200 ft-lb. With dogs, a rifle of ≥.22 Magnum or any centerfire qualifies instead.

"Cartridge firing rifles with a muzzle discharge energy rating of less than twelve-hundred foot pounds [are prohibited]."

HAR § 13-123-22 · verified Aug 2026

Shotgun

1 rule
White-tailed / Mule Deer Feral Hog

Shotguns must use 00 buckshot or larger for game mammals.

HAR § 13-123-22 · verified Aug 2026

Handgun

2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer Feral Hog

Handguns: single-shot/revolver barrels ≥4.5" (semi-auto ≥5"); straight-wall ≥.357 with a case ≥1.25", or necked ≥.223; bullets under .43 caliber must be expanding; carried in plain view; hunters must be 18 or older.

HAR § 13-123-22 · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer Feral Hog

Handgun bullet construction is regulated by caliber class.

HAR § 13-123-22 · verified Aug 2026

Muzzleloader

1 rule
White-tailed / Mule Deer Feral Hog

Muzzleloaders must have at least a .44-caliber bore; breech loaders are barred during muzzleloader-only hunts.

HAR § 13-123-22 · verified Aug 2026

All Weapons

1 rule
All species

Possessing a suppressor in Hawaii is a class C felony carrying a mandatory five years, so hunting with one is never an option. The ban has no exception for a federally registered suppressor.

Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices

"(a) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following shall be prohibited: ... mufflers, silencers, or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged f..."

HRS § 134-8(a) and (d) · verified Oct 2026

Federal Rules That Apply in Every State

These federal requirements apply in Hawaii on top of state law.

Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species. 50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist. 50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules. 50 CFR § 32.2(k)

Sources

DLNR DOFAW — Game Mammal Hunting (HAR § 13-123-22) Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources · retrieved August 30, 2026
HRS § 134-8 — Ownership, etc., of automatic firearms, silencers, etc., prohibited; penalties Hawaii State Legislature (official Hawaii Revised Statutes) · retrieved October 11, 2026

How to Use This Page

Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife regulations are the final word.