Feral Ungulate Management Plan for West Hawaii HCR17-3

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Feral Ungulate Management Plan for West Hawaii to Address H.C.R. No 17 Introduc?on Over the last decade West Hawaii has seen an increase in the popula?on and eﬀects of feral goats and pigs. This management plan is created to address the issue these animals present and to provide possible solu?ons. Goats and pigs are non-na?ve ungulate species introduced to Hawaii. In public hun?ng areas they are designated as game mammals (HRS 183D-51). In all other spaces, unmarked or unbranded goats and pigs belong to the property owner or lessees of the land on which the animals are then running (HRS 142-44). Given these facts the responsibility for these animals and the damage or threats they may present may change as they move from one property to another. Current Popula?on Es?mates, Hun?ng Regula?ons, and Watershed Protec?on The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) monitors and manages goat and pig popula?on levels in public hun?ng areas only. On all other lands (i.e., commercial, residen?al, etc.) there are no restric?ons for removal of goats and pigs. Animals can be removed freely at the behest of the landowner or lessee. The primary public hun?ng areas for goats in West Hawaii are Puu Anahulu GMA and Puu Waawaa Forest Reserve. Seasons and bag limits for these two areas are as follows: Puu Anahulu – Open season is March through June with open hun?ng days being weekends and state holidays. The season bag limit is 2 goats and 1 pig/day. The means of take is archery. There are 38 available days for hun?ng. During this season, there is an average of 900-1200 hunter trips which results in the harvest of 80-130 goats and 10-30 pigs. Puu Waawaa – Open season is the ﬁrst 4 weekends of August as an archery hunt followed by 3 weekends of a muzzleloader hunt. The open hun?ng area is makai of highway 190. Over the last decade DOFAW has also added hun?ng days using an ungulate control permit. There is also a special youth and disabled archery hunt through the month of August in the mauka safety zone area. The season bag limit is 3 goats and 1 pig/day. During the ungulate control program there is no limit for goats or pigs. There are 16 available days for hun?ng (9 days of archery and 7 days of muzzleloader) under the normal chapter 123 rules. Generally, the ungulate control program has increased the available hun?ng days from 16 to 24. During this season (and addi?onal ungulate control programs), there is an average of 1,000-1,400 hunter trips which result in the harvest of 350-500 goats. DOFAW is the only agency with any type of steady, programma?c removal of goats from the landscape in West Hawaii. Annually, these programs remove 400-650 goats.