2013-05-13 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2013 talking about – I’ll be \[unclear\] develop ways to outreach to the community but we need to – on this issue of resources – and one of the things was having resources in our forest is that everybody will have access \[tape gap\] forest \[unclear\] those who can afford to pay these exorbitant prices to these natural farms and so forth – and friends of mine run some of these farms and \[unclear\] not cheap – and if we have these economic hard times here – people are going to be relying more and more on the forest – like they are right now – in our other areas – our hunting areas and what have you – we need to be able to educate the public as to what we’re talking about and we need to be able to promote it – and we need to be able to promote the benefits of our natural resources – and when we talk about natural resources – we’re talking about things that we can grow ourselves – but it’s all \[unclear\] game animal – you know need to be protected and that’s of the things you could do first I think is to promote that. Educate the public as well. So, I agree. This is something – it’s our forest resources that are important to accommodate the people here. M. Bartell: Another thought on the topic is – there – I’m sure there’s other states that have done this. Right? I think, rather than starting from scratch – if we got a hold of Alaska or Arizona or Montana and I’m sure some of us have contacts - so what is the value in elk, a deer, a bear, a fish – a whatever – or the number of people hunting – I’m sure there’s a value method that they use… ?: There is… M. Bartell: There is? So, maybe having that to begin with would be a good starting point before we get really wild and…you know… Chair Sylvester: I think that’s an excellent idea, Mark. I have Tom and will go back to Rob. T. Lodge: We have, we started an article about Hawaiian hunting – and that article is being followed up with a second one. And, what I’ve done is I’ve gone to states that I’ve gone hunting in – and Tony – the other night – asked me a question about New Mexico and Texas. Mainly when I go bear hunting – I ask the fish and wildlife department there – what is the economics of just bear hunting and 400 million dollars a year? It’s down a little bit right now - but that’s been their 31