New $10 game-bird hunting fee to help preserve habitats

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hunters interested in bagging birds will have to pay $10 for a new game bird stamp, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

All other hunting fees will remain the same when the new, five-year fee schedule goes into effect July 1.

Paul Conry, wildlife program manager, said the new bird stamp was created at the suggestion of bird hunters, who would like to see the game bird hunting program enhanced.

The revenue generated by the new stamp, which the state estimates could be as high as $50,000 in the first year, would go toward improving bird habitats.

Game bird hunters in Hawai'i have "unbelievably good game bird" options, Conry said, with more than 13 species of game birds .

In addition to the bird stamp, the bird hunter would purchase a hunting license and a wildlife conservation stamp, totaling $30 for Hawai'i residents and $115 for nonresidents.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the new schedule through the end of fiscal year 2008.

The new licenses go on sale late this month and may be purchased at local Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices, at sports store vendors, and through the forestry division's sites on the Internet.

The Internet addresses are: www.ehawaiigov.org/DLNR/hunting and www.state.hi.us/dlnr.

Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.