Firearm and Archery Equipment

When hunting in a public area, the following conditions and restrictions apply with respect to firearms and archery equipment.

• A hunter shall carry only one legal firearm or archery device that is consistent with the hunt (a hunter may assist and carry another hunter’s unloaded firearm while in close proximity.)
• A hunter shall not possess a loaded firearm or archery equipment once bag limit is filled.
• A firearm that utilizes cartridges shall be considered unloaded if no ammunition is in the chamber or an attached magazine.
• A muzzleloading firearm is considered unloaded if the ignition component (primer, percussion cap, priming powder) is removed from the ignition system and for flintlocks, the powder is removed from the pan—the frizzen is up and the cock (hammer) is down.
• When crossing or entering a public highway or exiting a public hunting area, all fireable cartridges, muzzleloader-firing components must be removed from the firearms, including powder and projectile(s).
• Archery equipment shall be considered loaded if an arrow is nocked on the bow string.

Refer to §13-123-22 (2) of Hawaii Administrative Rules for more information.