Two 19-year-old Maui residents, Luke Allen and Ty Munoz, found themselves in hot water after Department of Land and Natural Resources officers arrested them near Kula on Oprah Winfrey's ranch property for suspected illegal night hunting. The late-night pursuit taking place just before midnight on June 21 involved the alleged use of a spotlight for hunting along Thompson Road, which despite being public, runs through the private lands of the Oprah Winfrey Ranch, as reported by KITV.
Officials said they recovered a loaded shotgun and rifle from the teens' truck and further investigations revealed the two lacked valid hunting licenses; the rifle in Allen's custody was also unregistered, the situation compounded by them not having received permission to hunt on private premises at such a nocturnal hour. CBS News affiliate KGMB notes the seriousness of the matter as both young men now face charges related to firearms and hunting violations.
While the type of game targeted in the alleged illegal hunt has not been specified, the Oprah Winfrey Ranch area, like larger parts of Hawaii, grapples with the issue of invasive axis deer populations. The case, which has sparked a certain degree of notoriety due to its association with celebrity-owned property, has been referred to the Maui County Prosecutors Office for consideration of charges, as disclosed by law enforcement authorities overseeing the matter.
Amidst ongoing concerns regarding poaching and illegal hunting on Maui, the actions of Allen and Munoz have brought attention back to the tension between conservation efforts and local hunting practices, Winfrey's production company Harpo emphasized their cooperative stance on preventing illegal poaching in an emailed statement "Last month, DLNR reached out to Upcountry ranchers regarding their efforts to prevent illegal poaching throughout the area and we agreed to cooperate," reported CBS News, the investigation surrounding this incident is ongoing.
