Two 19-Year-Olds Suspected of Illegal Hunting at Oprah Winfrey’s Hawaii Ranch

Two 19-year-olds arrested last month on a public road on the grounds of Oprah Winfrey’s ranch in Hawaii are suspected of illegal night hunting, state officials said.

Luke Allen and Ty Muno were arrested just before midnight June 21 after officers caught them using a hunting spotlight on a public road that runs through the talk show host’s property in Kula, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said.

Upcountry Maui residents were not actively hunting at the time, but DLNR Wildlife and Resources Conservation officers found a loaded shotgun, a loaded rifle and ammunition in the couple’s truck.

Police determined that Allen and Muno were allegedly hunting at night on Winfrey’s private property without permission.

The rifle Allen was carrying was not registered, officials said.

The two men were taken to the Maui Police Department in Wailuku for booking. The case was forwarded to the Maui County Prosecutors Office for review.

Invasive axis deer are rampant on Maui and other Hawaiian islands.

“DLNR contacted Upcountry ranchers last month about their efforts to prevent illegal poaching in the area and we agreed to cooperate. The arrests did not occur on the property,” Winfrey’s production company, Harpo, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press.

With postal wires