HomeMy WebLinkAboutShooting Range - WHT March 2, 20186A • 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.