2015-8-16 Target Shooting: Existing Facilities

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BIG ISLAND TARGET SHOOTING Existing Facilities, Recent Police Action, and Future Opportunities Existing Facilities There are an estimated quarter million firearms in the possession of Hawaii Island residents. That number increases substantially every year as the Island's population expands. Ninety percent of those guns are rifles and pistols. There is no publicly accessible outdoor target shooting facility anywhere on the Island where they may be legally possessed and fired. Absent such a facility, Island residents are drawn to use one of the several makeshift shooting areas that have evolved over time on public lands. One well known and long used such "target range" is located near the 16 -mile marker on Saddle Road. The shooting site lies within the Hilo Watershed Reserve, where activities are governed under DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) Administrative Rule, Chapter 13-104, Rules Regulating Activities within Forest Reserves. Section 13-104-9 prohibits firearms in Forest Reserves except as permitted by Department Hunting Rules. Section 13-104-20 provides for issuance of Special Use Permits for activities "which are considered compatible with the functions and purposes of each individual area". The Hilo Watershed Forest Reserve is also a designated Hunting Area. Licensed hunters in compliance with other restrictions presented in DOFAW Administrative Rules, Chapter 13-122 or 13-123, Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting and Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting, respectively, may possess and discharge firearms in the course of pursuing game animals. There is no provision under the existing hunting rules for hunters to sight -in (target shoot) their firearms, nor is there a specific prohibition against doing so. There is ample evidence to indicate the 16 -mile site is an active shooting range. Land is cleared and shooting backstops are provided. Fired brass and shell casings litter the area, along with other detritus, including discarded targets, shot -up appliances, and other indicators of significant shooting activity. There are no posted signs to indicate that shooting is prohibited at that location. Recent Police Action In recent times, certain DLNR Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DOCARE) officers issued citations and, in some cases, confiscated firearms from citizens engaged in target shooting at the 16 -mile location. It is not clear whether this action was initiated at Department direction, or whether it was conducted on the officers' own authority. Rather than addressing HAR 13-104, Rules Regulating Activities within Forest Reserves, individuals were cited for violations of HAR 13-123, Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting, even though it was obvious they were not "hunting" (pursuing wild animals for food or sport). Specifically addressed were Section 13-123-3(1) [hunting license], Section 13-123-22(2) [prohibited firearms], and Section 13-123-22(7) [wearing apparel].