PTA to open areas for bow hunting

Army officials are opening several training areas for bow hunting from 5 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Training Areas 1-4 will be open for bow hunting of mammals, only. Training Areas 17, 19 and 20, which are fenced conservation areas, will also be open for bow hunting of mammals to support ongoing protection efforts for threatened and endangered species.

All hunters must check in and check out at either the Kilohana Hunter’s Check-in Station, located on Saddle Road between mile-markers 43 and 44, or the Huluhulu Hunter’s Check-in Station, located at the intersection of Mauna Kea Access Road and Saddle Road near mile-marker 28. Check out time is no later than 7:30 p.m. each day. No early access to hunting areas is permitted, and shooting sheep with blue collars is not permitted.

Hunting passes will be provided at the check-in stations beginning today after 5 p.m. These passes must be signed and placed on the vehicle’s dashboard. Hunters who do not have a signed hunting pass on their dashboard will be barred from hunting for 30 days.

Hunter access to Training Areas 17, 19 and 20 is through Keekee Road gate. Hunter access to Training Areas 1-4, is through any of gates 1-10 on East Saddle Road.

Firearms, alcoholic beverages, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and/or recreational vehicles are not allowed in the training and hunting areas.

For more information, call the PTA Hunter’s Hotline at (808) 969-3474, visit www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/pta and click on the “Hunting” tab, or refer to instructions on the hunting pass.