RELATING TO HUNTING.

SB3043

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3043

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to hunting
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1
.
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The legislature finds that the welfare of
both wildlife and hunting dogs is being severely compromised under certain
hunting practices currently occurring in the State.
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Disturbing incidents have been documented in
which wild pigs are subjected to prolonged torment, mutilation, and suffering
at the hands of hunters who permit dog packs to attack and injure the animals
for extended periods before dispatch.
�
Numerous videos circulating on social media
platforms show pigs being tied, immobilized, and attacked by multiple dogs
while hunters look on without intervening to end the animal's suffering.
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These practices exceed any reasonable
understanding of humane hunting and constitute cruelty.
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The legislature further finds that the
welfare of hunting dogs themselves is frequently neglected.
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Reports from veterinarians, animal shelters,
rescue groups, and community witnesses indicate that dogs are often kept in
substandard conditions, denied veterinary care, deprived of adequate nutrition,
and abandoned in remote areas when injured or deemed no longer useful for
hunting.
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This cycle contributes
substantially to shelter overcrowding and increases the burden on public and
nonprofit animal welfare organizations.

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The legislature additionally finds that the
Kauai Humane Society has recently reverted to a kill-shelter model due in
significant part to the increasing influx of abandoned and injured hunting
dogs, further demonstrating the urgent need for improved regulations and
welfare protections.
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While the
legislature recognizes the cultural, subsistence, and land‑management
roles of hunting in Hawaii, it also finds that cruel or inhumane practices are
neither culturally justified nor environmentally necessary.
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State agencies, responsible hunters, and
animal welfare experts agree that clearer standards are needed to prevent
animal cruelty, reduce unnecessary suffering, and promote responsible wildlife
management.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
direct the department of land and natural resources to adopt rules that:

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(1)
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Establish
humane dispatch requirements for the taking of feral pigs;

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(2)
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Prohibit
practices that constitute torture or torment;

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(3)
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Regulate
the safe and humane use of dogs in feral pig hunting, including limits on pack
size;

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(4)
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Require
minimum health and welfare standards for hunting dogs;

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(5)
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Update
hunter education requirements to include humane methods and animal welfare
protections; and

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(6)
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Designate
the torture of wildlife, game mammals, and feral pigs as cruelty to animals in
the second degree.

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SECTION
3
.
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Chapter 183D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

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"
�183D-
�
Humane
dispatch of feral pigs; rules.
�
(a)
�
No
later than July 1, 2027, the department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
91 establishing standards for the humane dispatch of feral pigs during hunting
activities.

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(b)
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Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall
include but not be limited to:

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(1)
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Acceptable
humane methods of dispatch;

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(2)
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Prohibited
practices, including torture, torment, mutilation, prolonged suffering, or unnecessary
delay in killing the animal;

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(3)
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A
prohibition on catch-and-release hunting;

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(4)
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Standards
on the permissible involvement of dogs in dispatch;

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(5)
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A
definition of "limited contact" between dogs and feral pigs; and

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(6)
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Requirements
ensuring any restraint is brief and solely for the purpose of swift, humane
dispatch.

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(c)

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In adopting rules pursuant to this
section, the department shall consult with licensed veterinarians, local animal
shelters, and responsible hunting stakeholders, and may consult with national
nonprofit organizations incorporated for the purpose of providing or furthering
the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals.

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�183D-
�
Hunting dog welfare standards; rules.
�
(a)
�
No later than July 1, 2027, the
department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 establishing minimum
health, safety, and welfare standards for dogs used in feral pig hunting.

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(b)
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Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall
include but not be limited to:

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(1)
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Kenneling
and housing standards;

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(2)
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Nutrition
and clean drinking water requirements;

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(3)
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Veterinary
care requirements;

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(4)
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Protective
equipment standards;

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(5)
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Mandatory
use of tracking devices labeled with owner information;

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(6)
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A
prohibition on abandonment of hunting dogs;

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(7)
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Limits
on the number of dogs used in a single hunt, as determined appropriate by the
department to protect animal welfare and promote humane dispatch; and

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(8)
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Any
additional measures necessary to ensure humane treatment of dogs used for feral
pig hunting.

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(c)

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In adopting rules pursuant to this
section, the department shall consult with licensed veterinarians, local animal
shelters, and responsible hunting stakeholders, and may consult with national
nonprofit organizations incorporated for the purpose of providing or furthering
the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals.
"

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SECTION
4
.
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Section 183D-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

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"
�183D-28
�
Hunter education
program.
�
(a)
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The department shall establish a hunter
education program to provide instruction in hunter safety, principles of
conservation, and sportsmanship.
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Upon
successful completion of the program, the department shall issue to the
graduate a hunter education certificate which shall be valid for the life of
the person.
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This certification shall be
rescinded by judicial action upon the conviction of a wildlife [
and/or
]
or

firearms violation.
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No person shall be
eligible for a hunting license unless the person possesses a valid hunter
education certificate or meets the requirements for exemption provided in
subsection (b)(2), and is either:

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(1)
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Born after December 31, 1971; or

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(2)
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Born before January 1, 1972
, and has
never been issued a hunting license in the State.

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(b)
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A person who meets the minimum age
requirements adopted pursuant to subsection (c) shall be exempt from the
requirements of subsection (a) if the person:

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(1)
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Was born before January 1, 1972, and at
one time possessed a hunting license issued by the State; provided that the
person shows satisfactory proof to the department that the person had possessed
the hunting license;

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(2)
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Has successfully completed a course or
program of hunter education and safety that is approved by the International
Hunter Education Association and meets the requirements of Chapter 12 of the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid Manual, as revised;
provided that the person shows satisfactory proof in the form of a certificate,
wallet card, or other document issued by a state, province, or country
evidencing successful completion of the course or program; or

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(3)
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Obtains a three-day or a seven-day
hunting license pursuant to section 183D-22(b)(3) to hunt on a private and
commercial shooting preserve, accompanied by a hunting guide licensed pursuant
to section 183D-25.5; provided that:

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(A)
�
All hunting shall be conducted on a
licensed private and commercial shooting preserve and under the direction of a
hunting guide who has successfully completed a Hawaii hunter education
certification course and meets the requirements of section 183D-25.5;

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(B)
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[
Prior to
]
Before
licensing,
a hunter safety class and field training session shall be provided to the
licensee that includes hunter safety and hunting equipment use and safe
discharge;

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(C)
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While hunting under these provisions, a
hunting guide shall guide not more than two unaccompanied clients at any time
while hunting;

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(D)
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All h
unting guides and clients shall
wear a hunter safety blaze-orange outer garment while hunting;

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(E)
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The private and commercial shooting
preserve operator, hunting guides, and clients agree to be subject to
inspection while engaged in hunting activities by department representatives or
authorized law enforcement officers; and

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(F)
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The private and commercial shooting
preserve owner and operator assume responsibility and liability for public and
hunter safety while operating under these provisions and agree to report any
injuries to the department.

Upon
application and satisfaction of the requirements of paragraph (1), the
department shall issue a written exemption that shall be valid for the life of
the person.
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The department shall develop
and maintain a list of approved hunter education courses described in paragraph
(2) for reference by the public and license agents.

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(c)
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The department, by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, shall establish
minimum age requirements for issuance of the hunter education certificate, or
the exemption therefrom, required to obtain a hunting license pursuant to
section 183D‑22(a)(3).

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(d)
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The department may establish a hunter education officer position to
administer the program, outline all phases of instruction, conduct general
supervision of individual programs, and distribute information on the program,
or may contract the program to a qualified organization.

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(e)
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The department may construct, operate, and maintain public outdoor and
indoor target ranges for the program.

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(f)
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The department shall prepare reports as may be necessary to seek
approval under Public Law 91-503 for federal assistance in this program of
hunter safety, conservation, and sportsmanship.

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(g)
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The hunter education program shall include:

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(1)
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Instruction
on humane dispatch methods for feral pigs, including proper shot placement and
humane knife application;

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(2)
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Education
on animal cruelty laws, including conduct that constitutes torment, torture, or
unnecessary suffering;

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(3)
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Instruction
on the humane and responsible use of dogs, including the definition of "limited
contact";

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(4)
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Examples
of conduct that violates humane dispatch or dog welfare standards;

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(5)
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Instruction
on recognizing signs of distress in animals and avoiding prolonged suffering; and

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(6)
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Any
additional training required by rules adopted by the department pursuant to
this chapter.
"

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SECTION
4
.
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Section 711-1109, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:

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"
(1)
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A person commits the offense of cruelty to animals in the second degree
if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:

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(a)
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Overdrives, overloads, tortures,
torments, beats, causes substantial bodily injury to, or starves any animal, or
causes the overdriving, overloading, torture, torment, beating, or starving of
any animal;

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(b)
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Deprives
a pet animal of necessary sustenance or causes that deprivation;

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(c)
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Mutilates,
poisons, or kills without need any animal other than insects, vermin, or other
pests; provided that the handling or extermination of any insect, vermin, or
other pest is conducted in accordance with standard and acceptable pest control
practices and all applicable laws and regulations;

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(d)
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Keeps,
uses, or in any way is connected with or interested in the management of, or
receives money for the admission of any person to, any place kept or used for
the purpose of fighting or baiting any bull, bear, cock, or other animal, and
includes every person who encourages, aids, or assists therein, or who permits
or suffers any place to be so kept or used;

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(e)
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Carries
or causes to be carried, in or upon any vehicle or other conveyance, any animal
in a cruel or inhumane manner;

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(f)
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Confines
or causes to be confined, in a kennel or cage, any pet animal in a cruel or
inhumane manner;

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(g)
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Tethers,
fastens, ties, or restrains a dog to a doghouse, tree, fence, or any other
stationary object, or uses a trolley, trolley with swivels, pulley, cable,
running line, or trolley lacking swivels at each end that is designed to attach
a dog to two stationary objects in a configuration that endangers the dog,
including preventing the dog from obtaining necessary sustenance;

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(h)
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Tethers
or restrains a dog under the age of six months unless the dog is engaged in an
activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner;

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(i)
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Tethers
or restrains a dog by a tow or log chain;

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(j)
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Tethers
or restrains by means of choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar unless the
dog is engaged in an activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner;
[
or
]

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(k)
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Assists another in the commission of
any act specified in paragraphs (a) through (j)[
.
]
; or

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(l)
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Uses
one or more dogs to torture, torment, or knowingly cause prolonged suffering to
wildlife or game mammals, as defined by section 183D-51, including feral pigs,
during or in preparation for hunting activities.
"

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SECTION 5.
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Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR; Hunting;
Feral Pigs; Game Mammals; Animal Cruelty; Dog Welfare Standards

Description:

Requires
the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules regarding safe and
humane hunting practices of feral pigs and hunting dog welfare standards.
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Establishes requirements for the hunter
education program instruction.
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Includes
the use of dogs to torture wildlife or game mammals as torture in the second
degree.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.