This image shows a male axis deer. Citing the animals’ impacts on natural resources, economic interests and public safety, Hawai“i state officials are looking for proposals from Maui landowners to decrease the number of axis deer on the landscape.

Facing continuing problems with the high number of axis deer in Maui County, state officials are looking for private landowners’ help to take some of the animals off the landscape.

The department has put out a request for proposals giving eligible private landowners and lessees of Maui Nui another opportunity to participate in “targeted axis deer control.”

The program is managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the goal is to incentivize landowners on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi to help decrease axis deer populations.

This is the department’s fourth request for proposals related to axis deer on Maui, as the department says the growth of deer populations on the islands has caused issues with natural resources, economic interests and public safety.

According to the department, recent harvest rates suggest “a promising trend toward minimizing environmental and economic damage to property and land and reducing the overall deer population.”

If selected, contracts will run 12 months — approximately Dec. 20, 2024 to Dec. 20, 2025 — with the possibility of a one-year extension.

A $25-$50 per deer reimbursement throughout the life of the contract is pursuant to the existing fee schedule. All axis deer harvest efforts must abide by the law. The deadline to submit proposals is 4 p.m. Nov. 25.

Dozens of axis deer can be seen in a clearing in this image provided by the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Dozens of axis deer can be seen in a clearing in this image provided by the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The department says multiple awards will be made under its new request for proposals, and participation is voluntary.

Proposals will be selected on a competitive basis from available funds. Ranking criteria will include the number of axis deer to be harvested and impacts to overall population control goals.

For more information, go to hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/24906.