Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program FY17_FY21

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• Improve game bird habitat annually by clearing 70 acres of dense and otherwise undesirable introduced vegetation in the Kapapala cooperative hunting area. • Annually clear and plant, up to 5 acres food plots for game birds in the Kapapala Ranch Cooperative GMA, and maintain livestock watering sites to take advantage of cattle grazing to maintain desired vegetation stages. C. Expected Results and Benefits This project will improve at least 70 acres per year of wildlife habitat degraded by undesirable growth in the Kapapala CGMA and will clear and plant five (5) acres in the area. The game bird habitat improvement is expected to encourage game birds by 15 to 20% per year. Additionally, enclosure fences around cleared areas and control of livestock water in cooperation with ranch mangagement will direct the grazing activities of ungulates and create a desired edge effect for game birds. These activities are expected to eventually double the carrying capacity for game birds and reduce the threat of total habitat destruction by wildfire from fuel overload. D. Approach. Mature, dense stands of fayae bush and guava will be cut and the stumps poisoned by trained technicians in Kapapala Ranch CGMA. Once removed, cleared areas are managed to maintain desirable vegetation stages by mowing, select herbicide, planting and grazing cattle. Managed cattle grazing can be an effective method to maintain habitat with minimal use of manpower and equipment. In areas where managed grazing is not practical, game bird habitat will be maintained by mowing, and controlled burns. Cleared patches will be planted with food crops and areas fenced to control cattle overgrazing. E. Location. This project will be conducted primarily in Kapapala Ranch Cooperative GMA. 5-Yr Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 1 Year 4 Year 5 Total $15,000 1 $35,000 1 $35,000 1 $35,000 1 $35,000 1 $175,000 Project 16 W-26-GH-02 Game Habitat Management: Hawaii County - West Hawaii District A. Need Food, water and cover are all important elements of habitat management for game species. Goals for upland game bird habitat management are based on providing and improving these three resources. Typically, upland game birds in the West Hawaii District occur in early successional habitats and/or open canopy forests. This is because most gallinaceous bird species rely on walking and running for general movement over flying. As such, habitat that is easy for them to move through will reduce predation from predators using dense cover for ambush. The management techniques to increase ground mobility of upland game birds include mowing, prescribed burns, and utilizing livestock 29