2021-09-19 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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JBF: …. the ranchers… SM: …. State of Hawai’i … JBF: …. don’t like having feral cattle there either…. SM: In the State of Hawai’i there’s no such thing as game animals… ?: Say that again… SM: In the State of Hawai’i there’s no such thing as – according to the state – that is game animals. Everything is invasive species… ?: Everything is invasive species… JBF: Well, you can be both… ?: In the common sense world you can be both… But in the eyes of State of Hawai’i it’s… SM: My point is maybe we can – instead of fence, eradicate – maybe we can find areas where we can support the animals too – not just kill ‘em all. JBF: And I think there are a lot of areas – and you all know this – there’s a lot of areas of ohia forest that have got so many weeds in them now – the lower elevation forests – those forests have very little biological conservation value and, you know, some forests can be managed for hunting some can be managed for preservation at least, and, again, I’m just reporting from university, our colleagues here that are on this meeting are from Forestry & Wildlife – they’re the ones making the land management decisions. But I think some areas can be managed for conservation, some areas can be managed for hunting. I don’t think you can do everything one every acre. I think you have to make some decisions. ?: Yeah, I agree… SM: Yeah, I agree too. You know, it’s like I mention Puuwaawaa – they’re fencing areas – I mentioned about instead of – after you fence those areas to keep the animals from them – places to have food for these animals to go to. Oh, we cannot because the federal government not going give us money. Well, no use the federal government’s money – use the state’s money. ?: Or use volunteers… SM: You know? 19