2019 06-25 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – June 25, 2019 I wanted to show you guys – I got a couple more pictures to show – this is actually guinea grass that was eight – almost nine feet tall – this is a project I did with 100% goats – so actually you guys can see how this grass is. It’s amazing what you find in the grass when you clear it. And look at the hapuu like that, that the goats actually left behind. This is 100% goats that did this project right here. And like I mentioned, I’m really confident in the goats staying in their fencing with that. This was actually right in a subdivision in Hilo that I did this project so... As you guys can see. BKK: Before you start a project – what are some of the things you look for as far as in the area – what animal to use – what area the animal shouldn’t go towards – and then if you find native species how do you protect them? MC: Great question cause with that one – when we go to a project to look at – of course, every project is different and unique cause this is the Big Island. We will watch, of course, what types of vegetations to see what kind of arsenal we’re gonna bring in -goats or sheep or how much goats to how much sheep to bring in. Cause it’s always a balancing act – you want them to finish the project at the same time eating all vegetation. If we do notice native plants in the area – there is a few projects that we wrap them up with the electric netting so the animals won’t touch them or in other situations we’ll just put 100% sheep to ensure that they won’t hurt the plants. SM: It’s kind of puzzling, yeah, when you get ‘em in Puuwaawaa and they saying that sheep is eating all these native plants up there and they’re grazers, yeah? So kinda no jive with what they’re telling us. MC: It’s totally not jiving. Maybe when they taking these datas – I don’t want to try bash anybody – I’m not here to do that – I didn’t get to see the circumstances what was going on - it sounds like it was just a massive over grazing – over population, which, of course, that is a major problem. So if they’re eating all the native trees and plants that means they’re starving and they’re going for that Vienna Sausage, which of course they want their steaks and filet mignons. SM: That’s why it’s kind of puzzling, what we’ve – we’ve been told. MC: I gotta say for the research I’ve been doing all this time – I’m a full time shepherd – I live with my animals. I go to sleep next to my animals – I wake up next to my animals – I see everything they do and that’s a little puzzling on – just regular grazing that they were eating all of that – that’s – I don’t think that’s correct info. BKK: Stanley, do you have any more questions? Go ahead Teresa. 9