2015-04-20 Game Management Advisory Commission Mintues

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes—April 20, 2015 Referring to the Priority One and Priority Two areas. That's a very ambitious goal. With our current funding things —extremely unlikely that we'd even get close to that, Particularly removing all ungulates or fencing. There's very little fenced area. Most of that is in areas that I manage —the Natural Areas Reserves — and of that—we're still under 20% of the Natural Area Reserves. Mauna Kea, I know, is a hot topic. I don't even begin to try and bring that up. TL Yeah, no, we're — one of the things here though — in your lifetime that may not be an accomplishment, nor maybe in mine, but this is a goal that when Aila was the chairman at our meeting in Kona in September— said, yeah, if I had the money today, that's what would happen. I would do that. I mean this is —there's no — it's not, you know, we gotta get this done by 2050 or we're gonna forget it— it's like this is the plan and so it's gonna continue on. We have a plan for our kids too, given your opportunity right here in the funding and the thing over, you know, year after year after year —that would be what you're looking at, right? NA: Those are currently my marching orders, yes. TL Yeah. So that, that's our concern. It may not be for today. And it may not be for my lifetime, but I have grandchildren, one who is just now starting to become interested and I'm thrilled. You know and yes I can probably take him hunting today but will his grandchildren be able to do it and that's the issue for almost anybody here in this room. NA: I don't think that you'll find anybody at DOFAW that is an advocate for not being able to hunt in the future for anybody. There may be differences of opinion but I think everybody wants at DOFAW wants to see that continue. I say that wholeheartedly, I really do not think that... TL Well the goal of GMAC is sustainable real hunting experiences in the perpetuity. And one of the things that we have in the legislature and I don't know if that had anything to do with the reason why it got shot down or not but our suggestions were — like with NABS, for example, I know for example that in NABS before you guys start putting up the snares you have people that are going in there for days without seeing pigs. And, you know, I don't even go in there anymore, I mean it's just wasting my time, my dogs are panting and I'm not getting any game. So, ultimately, then they send in staff hunters and ultimately get a few more pigs possibly and then you get into the final stage, which usually is snaring. The question that we have is why if you go days with dogs especially— and not see game —would it be necessary even to fence? 12