2015-03-16 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes—March 16, 2015 can — I don't understand how they can do that there—which is awesome — I support it all the way—wouldn't they get shut down or come under jurisdiction straight from Fish and Wildlife like how it's always been? Is this really for nothing? Or— a suggestion — if they can do that there on state land why can't we take something like they're trying to do, which I support, on other state land maybe privatize it somehow, if that's the case, cause Pohakuloa is privatized, I guess, cause they lease state land. So this is all good what they're trying to do, but who's to say the Fish and Wildlife and these agencies won't just, you know, shut 'em down... VII. DISCUSSION: 1. Pohakuloa Training Area - Game Management Plan John Pohemus, program manager for the hunting program at Pohakuloa Training Area. John has lived in Hawaii for 40 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, started his career with DOFAW in 1997 worked for the wildlife section on Oahu and on the Big Island for about 10 years and then had an opportunity to go out and do private consulting for 7 years before getting into the game management position at PTA. The program at Pohakuloa will take a different direction from where it's gone in the past. The view of the Command — a bit more formal and more regulated process for hunting access. There will be an opportunity for the hunting community to chime in. (Handout of presentation was circulated). Basic operating principals —two disclaimers - the military's mission comes first - hunting opportunities will always defer to the military training schedule. Hunting at PTA is a privilege, not a right. And PTA Command may suspend hunting access to maintain operational use of the facility. The program objectives are to develop a formal, regulated program addressing public hunting access on to PTA. Monitoring game populations and implementing management practices as permitted under the existing state, federal and military regulations. PTA is also bound by some of the rules and regulations that are out there. To develop a set of administrative rules which will define responsibilities and procedures for access to hunt at Pohakuloa Training Area and which also includes the Keeaumoku Maneuver Area of KMA. The rules will encompass roughly 45,000 acres. Produce an operations plan outlining infrastructure needs and field activities to support the program. 2