Axis deer are causing ongoing problems for forests, agriculture, and populated areas in Maui Nui. In response, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is seeking private landowners and lessees on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi to participate in the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP).
The program offers financial incentives to landowners who help control the axis deer population on their properties. According to DOFAW, “This program aims to incentivize landowners on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi to increase the number of axis deer removed from their properties and enhance protection efforts for the state’s threatened natural and agricultural resources.” The department states that applicants awarded a contract will be eligible for up to $50 per qualifying deer tail presented, depending on available funds.
Participants must follow all relevant laws, including Hawai‘i Administrative Rules Chapter 123 regarding game mammal hunting. The deadline for proposal submissions is February 15, 2026 at 4 p.m. Each approved participant’s involvement in the program will last 12 months. Compensation is capped by legislative funding each fiscal year; once that allocation is used up, no further payments will be made.
The DLNR highlights that watershed partnerships spend significant amounts each year constructing fences to protect native plants from feral ungulates like axis deer. Without intervention, these animals could continue harming forest health. The agency notes that recent harvest rates indicate progress in reducing both environmental damage and overall deer numbers.
