Posted on: Friday, November 26, 2004

Four Big Island bird hunters fight expanded season

Associated Press

HILO, Hawai'i — Four bird hunters on the Big Island are challenging a decision by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources that adds two days each week to the 2004-05 game bird hunting season in some areas.

A complaint by hunters Melvin T. Tanaka, James Watt, Masaichi Takaki and Dexter Egdamin alleges that the DLNR illegally changed rules without a public hearing.

It asks for an injunction against adding Wednesdays and Thursdays, alleging the expansion will deplete the brood stock in the Ka'ohe and Mauna Kea Game Management area, portions of Pohakuloa Training Area and some privately owned lands.

State officials say the days were added — doubling the number of weekdays when hunting is allowed — after biologists predicted more birds because of abundant rain during the breeding season.