Efforts to control the population of invasive axis deer on Maui have intensified this year, with an estimated 17,000 animals killed—more than double the annual average.
Despite measures to control the population, the deer continue to encroach on critical areas, threatening ecosystems, agriculture and public safety.
Axis deer, first introduced to Hawaii in the 1860s as a gift to King Kamehameha V, have since multiplied to tens of thousands. This year’s record cull was driven by a state-led initiative that incentivizes landowners to participate in population control efforts. Under the program, hunters and landowners are paid up to $50 per deer tail, leading to a surge in control efforts across Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
A Growing Problem for Maui’s Environment
The invasive deer have been particularly problematic for the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, a sanctuary for Hawaii’s rarest native plants. On a recent Thursday afternoon, a herd of 50 deer crowded against the garden’s fence, raising alarms about the potential for widespread damage.
“One night, with a herd like that, and a lot of our garden would be destroyed,” Tamara Sherrill, the garden’s executive director, said to The Associated Press (AP).
In addition to endangering native vegetation, the deer have been wreaking havoc on Maui’s watersheds, agricultural fields and roadways.
The Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) has issued 17 emergency proclamations since 2022 to fund population control efforts, emphasizing the deer’s impact on Hawaii’s fragile ecosystem and water security.
According to DOFAW, about 34,000 deer survive in the islands, almost half the estimated 2022 population of 60,000.
In addition, the current population estimate is still almost double the DOFAW’s 18,000-head estimate from January. Jeff Bagshaw, a Maui-based outreach specialist for the division, said the difference results from newer and more accurate surveying methods, including drones and infrared imagery.
The tail-for-cash program has proven effective with 17 landowners joining the initiative this year. Participants are required to kill one deer for every 10 acres of land with a minimum of 50 deer per 500-acre property.
According to County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura, who was instrumental in the 2021 formation of the Maui Axis Deer Task Force, the program, now in its fourth round, is the most effective control measure.
Despite the program’s success, some ranchers have criticized its restrictions, such as prohibitions on night hunting, which they argue would increase efficiency.
Brendan Balthazar, a rancher who has managed Maui’s Diamond B Ranch since 1968, noted to the AP that the deer have taken a toll on his cattle operations, saying that they’ve had to cut their cattle herd in half.
A Complex Balancing Act
While the state aims to reduce the deer population to sustainable levels, eliminating them entirely is not on the table.
Axis deer have become a cultural fixture, providing food and recreational hunting opportunities. Yet, their unchecked breeding exacerbates the problem. A lopsided gender ratio—nine does for every buck on Maui—fuels rapid population growth, and there are no natural predators to regulate their numbers.
The state continues to grapple with how to manage this delicate balance as efforts now focus on using new tools like drones and infrared surveys to better monitor the population, while continuing to involve landowners and the public in control measures.
As Hawaii invests millions in deer management, including $6.1 million from the state budget and $300,000 per county, concerns remain over if Maui finds a long-term solution.