HILO – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is issuing permits for control of feral goats in the makai portion — and feral goat and feral sheep in the mauka portion — of the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a (PWW) Forest Reserve, pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123, “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting,” §13-123-9, “Nuisance or crop damage.” This program will be conducted on weekends, starting Sept. 28, 2013, and ending Oct. 20, 2013.

For PWW Makai (below Mamalahoa Highway), the program will be limited to archery for the first three weekends, followed by one weekend of muzzleloader for feral goats. There is no bag limit on goats. Deboning is not allowed, but quartering feral goats is permissible with skin attached for identification purposes. For safety purposes, a maximum of 50 permittees will be allowed per day.

For PWW Mauka (above Mamalahoa Highway), the program will be limited to archery for the first three weekends followed by one weekend of muzzleloader for feral goats and feral sheep. There is no bag limit on feral goats and non-typical rams. One typical ram can be harvested after two non-typical rams are harvested and checked-out by the same permittee. Whole carcasses (entrails can be cleaned but with attached genitalia on carcass) need to be inspected at checkout. For safety purposes, a maximum of 50 permittees will be allowed per day.

For permit assignments, call the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Kamuela at (808) 887-6063. Permits will be assigned from 8 a.m. until slots are filled on Sept. 25 for only one day of the FIRST weekend of the program for either PWW Makai or PWW Mauka. A valid hunting license is required to apply for a permit. A maximum of five permittees will be allowed per call and only one slot per hunter is allowed. Participation for the remainder portion of the program will be on a first-come, first-served basis at the hunter check station on the day of program.

Permittees are to check in at the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a check station between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. and must be checked-out by 6 p.m. Vehicle passes will be given at the hunter check station. Stand-bys will be allowed after noon for the first weekend and as slots become open for the rest of the program.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Division of Forestry and Wildlife Offices in Hilo at (808) 974-4221 or in Kamuela at (808) 887-6063.