Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program FY17_FY21

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Kekaha Game Management Area (GMA) to increase game bird productivity. • Maintain approximately 330 hunting area boundary, safety zone and instructional signs to manage public hunting. • Maintain existing jeep roads and trails in all public hunting areas to facilitate hunter access to both sustained yield hunting areas and to areas needing ungulate control. • Maintain existing boundary fences, cattle guards and exclosure fences to keep feral livestock out of the forest reserve areas, natural areas, and sites where remnant listed endangered plants occur. • Maintain hunter campsites in remote areas to encourage hunting pressure in areas needing animal control. • Maintain five storage buildings necessary for protection of materials, equipment and supplies from theft or damage caused by exposure to the elements. • Maintain game vehicles and heavy equipment to keep them in good running condition in order to complete game operation and maintenance jobs. • Replace game trucks and equipment when they are due for retirement. • Hire one game technician to accomplish the operations and maintenance jobs. C. Expected Results and Benefits The maintenance of game bird and mammal infrastructure in public hunting areas, forest reserves, natural areas and portions of State Parks (open to hunting) will enable DOFAW to satisfy the recreational mandates for its public hunting program, as well as manage hunting activity for the benefit to threatened and endangered species and native ecosystem protection. D. Approach Thirteen mailbox -type hunter checking stations and seven small building -type hunter checking stations, five storage buildings and campsites need regular maintenance such as cleanning, painting, and routine repairs when damaged by vandals or severe weather. Forty gamebird water units in the Kekaha GMA need regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them operational. Occasionally, water needs to be hauled by tank trailer during exceptionally dry periods. Newly planned gamebird feeding sites in the Wailua GMA and Hunting Unit L will also require annual maintenance. Eighty miles of existing jeep roads, and fifty miles of trails used by hunters for access require annual maintenance after storm damage, weed overgrowth, and rutting from heavy use. Approximately 330 hunting area management signs, for designating hunting area boundaries, safety zones, and instructions to hunters need to be checked for loss and vandalism requiring repairs or replacement. Approximately 0.75 miles of existing boundary fence, cattle guards, gates, and game range and plant protection fencing require regular checks for needed repairs, and replacement of broken fencing when it occurs. Game vehicles and heavy equipment need to be maintain and/or replaced to keep the game program running smoothly. The purchase of a new marine boat for game management along the Na Pali Coast is needed for year- round work. Maintenance of the boat is needed to keep it in good running conditions. 22