Recreational Bow Hunting Program at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows

Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii has a recreational bow hunting program for feral pigs at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB). The program provides high-quality bow hunting opportunities. Providing quality recreational opportunities sustains the morale and welfare of troops and supports personnel as part of the US Marine Corps mission. Department of Defense personnel and members of the general public are eligible to participate.

Program Basics
• Hunting areas in MCTAB are open to hunting during some weekends and Federal holidays, only when training exercises are not taking place.
• Only hunting of feral pigs are allowed. A bag limit of one pig, per hunter, per day is imposed.
• Archery equipment (long bows, recurved bows, compound bows) is the only form of hunting allowed.
• Hunting with firearms is NOT permitted. It is unlawful to possess a loaded firearm in MCTAB.
• Hunting with dogs is NOT permitted.
• No fee is charged for obtaining a Base hunting permit.
• To ensure the safety of hunters and a high-quality hunting experience, only a small number of people are permitted within hunting areas at any one time.

Qualifications
All persons 13 years of age and over may apply for a Base hunting permit. Persons 13 through 15 years of age are allowed to hunt only when under immediate control and adjacent to their licensed parent or guardian. Hunters must:
• Pass required background check to access MCB Hawaii property.
• Possess a valid Hawai‘i State hunting license.
• Possess a valid MCB Hawaii Base hunting permit.

Obtaining a Base Hunting Permit
Individuals must pass an in-person, written test administered by MCB Hawaii CLEOs. The written test contains questions about Hawai‘i State hunting regulations, Base hunting regulations, and hunter ethics. Contact MCBH.HUNTING@usmc.mil to schedule a testing time.

Safety, Security, and Protection of Resources
• Hunters must abide by all applicable State Hunting Rules and Regulations (Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) §13-123 Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting) as well as Base Order Hunting Regulations 1711.1.
• Hunting areas are NOT active if any training is being conducted aboard MCTAB. Hunting days will typically occur during weekends and Federal holidays.
• Hunting is allowed in a defined area in the interior of MCTAB, away from beach areas.
• A no-shoot zone is in effect on the interior of the MCTAB boundary next to residential areas and the golf course to protect life and property.
• Certain areas of MCTAB are off limits to hunting to ensure protection of sensitive resources. This includes wetlands located along Waimanalo Stream and the cemetery located on the south-east side of Hunting Area 1.
• Hunting areas are regularly patrolled by Conservation Law Enforcement Officers. People in violation of Federal, State, and Base laws, rules and regulations will be cited and prosecuted.
 

MCB Hawaii Fishing Regulations

Base Order P1710.1 (Jun 2012) - Changes to the Fishing regulations occurred on Jun 2017. Included in the revisions are species bag and size limits and equipment restrictions.
State Fishing Regulations apply on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. In Addition to State and Federal Laws, MCBH Has Its Own Prohibitions & Restrictions!

Gear Restrictions: The following are excerpts of regulations & restrictions. For questions regarding the MCBH fishing regulations, please contact MCB Hawaii Conservation Law Enforcement at MCBH.HUNTING@usmc.mil or (808) 257-6920 Ext 6.

• ONLY Barbless Circle Hooks may be used when fishing! Crimping down the barb on hooks is permissible.
• Only 2 poles allowed for every person actively fishing.
• Attend your fishing gear at all times.
• PROHIBITED to use gill nets, lay nets, or cross nets. Throw nets must have a minimum stretched mesh size of more than two inches.
• Crab nets shall be more than three feet in diameter and limited to three nets per person.
• Spear guns must be registered with MPD (Base Security and Access Control Order). You must accompany children under 13 years old if they are using or possessing a spear gun (“arbolete” type).
• Scoop nets may be used for the capture of bait fish (nehu); however, the nets with handle cannot exceed three feet in length.

Prohibitions:

• If you Cannot Identify the Species- Catch & Release ONLY!
• No Rod & Reel Fishing at Pali Kilo Cove
• No Chumming or Dumping Food Scraps in the Water to Lure Fish anywhere on MCBH
• No Collection of Seahorses
• No Collection of Marine Animals for Personal Use.  You shall not collect marine animals for commercial sale or use in personal aquariums on MCBH.
• Release of Aquatic Animals in MCBH Waters.  Do not release any type of aquatic animal in MCB Hawaii waters because it may contribute to non-native animal invasions.
• Taking or Damaging Coral or “Live Rock.”  State Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 13-95 prohibits taking, breaking, or damaging, with any implement, any stony coral or live rock. Many animals depend on rocks or coral to survive.
• ‘Opihi (Limpet) Picking.  Do not take limpets (otherwise known as ‘Opihi) on MCBH. The number of ‘Opihi are declining in Hawaii due to over-picking.
• Wana (Sea Urchin).  Do not take Wana (sea urchin) on MCB Hawaii. The number of Wana on base are declining and the venom from their sting may be hazardous to your health.
• Ula (Spiny Lobster) and Ula papa (Slipper Lobster).  Due to massive declines of lobster populations in the waters of ‘Oahu, fishing of these animals is prohibited on MCBH.
• Crabbing is prohibited in the Mokapu Central Drainage Channel (MCDC) or the Nu’upia Ponds Wildlife Management Area.

All fishermen must have on their person, at all times, appropriate identification and/or documentation establishing their eligibility to fish while on MCBH and render it upon request!

Without Permits: Active duty, retired and reserve military personnel, their dependents and house guests, civilian personnel permanently employed aboard MCBH, current MPD animal control officer auxiliaries, civilian personnel who were employed and retired aboard MCBH, and children younger than 13 years old when accompanied by a person entitled to fish, do not need fishing permits.

Requires a Permit: All persons 13 years of age or older, who are not entitled to fish as listed above, must have a fishing permit. All permits will be valid for 3 months and issued on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Permit holders may fish from: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ after sunset daily
• Permit holders are ONLY allowed to fish at the Fuel Pier & Ft. Hase
• Attend all of your fishing gear at all times

Map of MCBH Fishing Areas

Catch Regulations