About 50 axis deer were recently spotted around the fence line dividing Maui Nui Botanical Gardens and Keopuolani Regional Park, surprising the staff at the gardens during a Thursday afternoon. This influx of deer is concerning as the gardens function as a seed bank and host various rare native and endemic plants of Hawaii. Executive director Tamara Sherrill expressed the urgency of the situation, stating that if a large herd were to invade overnight, it could result in significant damage to the botanical gardens.
The presence of deer near the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens highlights the ongoing challenge of managing these invasive species, which pose threats to the local environment, agriculture, and even public safety. Each year, private and public hunters typically cull around 7,000 deer in Maui County, which includes Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, but recent control programs have successfully increased this figure to approximately 17,000 for the current year. This rise is attributed to expanded public hunting efforts and a new incentive program targeting landowners for deer reduction. The state’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) has been encouraging landowners to seek funding for additional deer population control measures, with proposals due by November 25 and funding to commence on December 15.
The area neighboring the botanical gardens is a county-managed park. Sherrill believes that barking dogs might have prompted the deer toward the garden fence, marking the largest herd she has observed in her more than 20 years with the organization. “Fortunately, the fence has remained intact since I started here,” she remarked. However, axis deer have long threatened the gardens; in a past incident, a single buck managed to slip through a hole in the fence, causing minor damage.
Managing deer populations on county land is particularly challenging, especially within parks where the presence of deer raises public safety concerns, according to Sherrill. To mitigate the deer population issue, the state has issued 17 emergency proclamations since early 2022 to secure funding for population control initiatives. Initially introduced to Hawaii in the late 1860s as a gift to King Kamehameha V, axis deer have multiplied to an estimated population of approximately 34,000, which is almost half of the estimated 2022 figure of 60,000. Current estimates indicate the population is still nearly double DOFAW’s earlier estimate of 18,000 deer from January. Jeff Bagshaw, an outreach specialist for DOFAW based in Maui, noted that more precise surveying methods, including drones and infrared technology, have led to updated population counts.
Research shows that each deer inflicts about $50 to $275 in damage to agricultural crops annually. A study from 2012 indicated that deer have cost local farms, ranches, and resorts over $2 million. The goal for the anticipated deer culling in 2024 aligns with state objectives to reduce the population by 15,000 to 20,000 annually, to minimize environmental impact while allowing for some deer to remain for hunting and recreational purposes.
Landowners and state lessees are crucial in current control efforts through the DOFAW program, which has established a monetary incentive of $25 to $50 for deer tails. While the division could not specify how many of the 17,000 deer culled this year were linked to this program, participants are generally expected to take one deer for every 10 acres of land, with a minimum requirement of 50 deer for properties of at least 500 acres. During the last cycle beginning in January, all 17 participating landowners in the program received funding. This initiative, now in its fourth cycle, is recognized as the most effective control strategy, affirmed by County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura, a pivotal figure in establishing the Maui Axis Deer Task Force in 2021.
Nevertheless, ranchers are seeking further improvements, particularly advocating for the inclusion of night hunting in the harvesting activities permitted under DOFAW contracts, as indicated by Brendan Balthazar, vice president of the Maui Cattlemen’s Council. Balthazar, who has operated Diamond B Ranch on Maui’s southeastern coast since 1968, revealed that deer have significantly impacted ranching operations, resulting in a 50% reduction of his cattle herd, which currently numbers just over 420 heads. By this year alone, nearly 450 deer have been culled from his ranch through the program.
The state has allocated $6.1 million for the 2024-25 budget to combat the invasive deer, with Maui County contributing an additional $300,000 earmarked for Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Landowners and state lessees on Molokai and Lanai are also eligible for the DOFAW program, with ongoing efforts to estimate deer populations on those islands.
Despite the mitigation strategies, deer continue to invade urban areas, leading to hazardous encounters on roadways, which often go unreported. Last May, deer were seen wandering through Kahului Airport, with additional reports indicating risks posed to aircraft at Kalaupapa Airport on Molokai. The DOFAW remains particularly concerned about the threat deer present to watersheds, given their crucial role amid climate change and the ongoing challenges of fresh water supply and food resources in the state.
Completely eliminating the deer population is not a feasible goal, as communities advocate for their preservation for food and recreational purposes. However, challenges abound due to regulatory hurdles and costs that hinder the incorporation of venison into the food supply chain. Balthazar also noted that many deer culled on his ranch were buried rather than utilized. Some hunters have expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s approach to deer control, claiming that large landowners often restrict hunter access to their properties.
This deer population issue is compounded by historical hunting practices that have led to an imbalanced gender ratio. Traditionally, hunters target deer with larger antlers, leading to fewer males competing for breeding. “The harem’s all the much bigger for the rest of the males,” Bagshaw explained, noting that decreased stress results in increased breeding opportunities. Hawaii’s unique ecology, lacking additional predators, further exacerbates the problem. In contrast, the deer’s natural habitat in South Asia maintains a balanced gender ratio of one female for every male. In Maui, however, it’s estimated that there are nine does for every buck, affecting the ecological dynamics significantly.