Shooting Range - WHT March 2, 2018

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6A • Saturday, March 3, 2018 • EST HAWAII TODAY Ready, aim,. fire" DI1'SIR WORKING ON RULES, SIGNS FOR ISLAND'S ONLY PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE BYTOM CALLIS • HAWAII TRIBUNE -HERALD HILO With the state Land Board designat- ing 40 acres off the Daniel K. Inouye Highway as a shooting range, HawaiiIsland gun owners .now have a place to legally practice their marksmanship The clearings in ahunting area near mile marker 16 had long been used by hunters and other gun owners as an unofficial range, according to.the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. "The short-term plan was to mitigate an immedi- ate need by designating the area as a public shooting. range under state taw, said Robert Farrell, Division of Conservation and Itesou=,rOnfwment adnun-.. istrator,. "anemaied statement1$ ; ti.'- • .However, -the intent Is' to piovide opportu- nities for the public at large and not just hunters The board approved the authorization during its Feb. 23 meeting in Honolulu, making the area the only official shooting range on the island. DLNR says that designation went into effect immediately, though no improvements have been A sign with bullet holes marks the boundary of unit D of the Hilo watershed, and lists hunting rules. TOM CALLIS/TRIBUNE-HERALD made to the area and no rules have been posted. A valid hunting license or watershed permit is required to enter the area. Hunting in the area is limited to weekends and holidays, but Farrell said the intent is to allow the shooting range to be used seven days a week. No :.gun owners were priesen, ;when a reporter meted the learings T hursday mormng,... The area is: unimproved and shooters bring their own targets. A few targets, some propped up by rocks, were left behind, and spent shells are scat- tered on the ground. Farrell said in the email that DLNR will make improvements to the range, including signage. A kiosk with rules also will be posted, he said.