The MCBH Environmental Division has been working diligently to establish a recreational hunting program aboard MCBH to help reduce feral pig populations throughout Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB). The hunting program will be open to military personnel, civilian employees, uniformed services, and their sponsored guests. All civilians must be sponsored and accompanied by permitted personnel. Sponsors are responsible for guests’ conduct, safety, and supervision while conducting activities on base and must remain in the same hunting area. Sponsors are accountable for verifying that each person has been issued a current Hawaii hunting license and base hunting permit prior to check in. A sponsor may take no more than two guests on an individual hunt. Anyone 13-15 years of age will be allowed to hunt with a valid State of Hawai’i hunting license and must be under immediate supervision of an adult (who also possesses a valid State of Hawai’i hunting license and MCBH permit). Children under 13 years of age will not be allowed to hunt, but may accompany their parents or guardians if they have signed a liability waiver. Anyone authorized to hunt will have in their possession a proper and valid State of Hawai’i hunting license, an MCBH hunting permit, and a valid personal identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.).

Base hunting permit applicants must first satisfy Hawai’i licensing requirements prior to issuance of a MCBH hunting permit. State hunting licenses may be obtained online or in person at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813. For further details, call DLNR Forestry & Wildlife Office at (808) 587-0166 or click on the link for additional information: https://www.hunter-ed.com/hawaii/hunting-license.html

If you are a nonresident without a hunter education card, contact your local hunter education office and find out how, when, and where to enroll in a hunter education course in your home state/province. Once you get your hunter education certificate, you may go online to the Hunting License Application website and complete the non-resident Letter of Exemption form online. Once your form is processed, you will receive an email with procedures to follow that will allow you to purchase a Hawai‘i hunting license.

A MCBH hunting permit will be valid for three years with a valid State hunting license and maintained through a database managed by MCBH Conservation Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs). All sportsmen are responsible for keeping their application data and profile current throughout the licensing period.

Hunting areas will not be active if any training is being conducted aboard MCTAB. Hunting days will typically occur during weekends and holidays. Upon determining dates of hunting, an announcement will be made through the MCBH Notification Board website: https://eis.usmc.mil/sites/mcbhawaii/msgboard/default.aspx

(be sure to follow the Environmental Division for updates). In the meantime, read the Base Order on the MCBH Hunting website regarding the hunting program to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations.

Selection will be conducted on a first come first served basis, and will be prioritized as follows:

(1) Volunteer(s). (Proof must be provided during the application process for volunteer status to be accepted- see below)

(2) Military Personnel.

(3) Civilian Employee.

(4) Sponsored Civilians.

To qualify for volunteer hunting privileges, you must demonstrate environmental stewardship and be actively participating in two events supporting MCBH environmental conservation including, but not limited to, Weed Warrior events, organized beach clean ups, or assisting CLEOs with managing two hunting events with duties prescribed on the day of a hunt. You may contact the MCBH Environmental Compliance and Protection Division (ECPD) at 257-6920 Ext 6 or monitor the Notification Board for additional environmental volunteer opportunities. Upon successful completion of the pre-requisite, the ECPD will send the interested hunter a qualification letter. The volunteer letter shall identify the sportsmen, list the date, type and amount of volunteer service completed, state that the purpose of volunteer service is for hunting privileges, and be signed by the Director. Sportsmen should send a digital copy of this letter to the CLEO with the base hunting permit application in order to receive hunter selection priority. Volunteer status shall be valid for a three-month period only.

An in-person written test will be scheduled and administered by the CLEOs to confirm eligibility of interested huntsmen. Selected huntsmen will be notified no later than noon of that Friday before the set hunting dates, and will be contacted by the CLEOs to confirm their availability and hunting credentials. If the selectee cannot make the dates due to unforeseen circumstances, then the next available name in the database will be immediately notified and given the opportunity to participate on the set hunting dates.

All hunters are strictly accountable for observing all reasonable and necessary safety precautions. Only archery hunting will be allowed within the hunting area (no cross-bows). There is a 40lb minimum draw limit on both recurve and compound bows. In the use of bow and arrow, all persons hunting will be familiar with the handling and function of the bow they are using. Safety will be considered at all times while hunting. Shooting on or across roads and within areas designated as safety zones is not allowed.

Any additional questions regarding the hunting program, please refer to the Base Order or contact MCBH CLEOS at 257-6920 Ext 6 or Gordon.olayvar@usmc.mil ; John.supple@usmc.mil