2017-08-22 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 22, 2017 3) Hunter Check Station - at tree planting road – some members of the pig hunting community expressed poaching concerns with this area during the off-season and also opportunities for volunteers to man during the season maybe better data might come of that also. So that’s another suggestion. 4) Cooperative Game Management Areas – on other state lease lands. Not sure of the prospects here and would not want to distract from managing game on lands we already can public hunt but if there are easy ones to consider here perhaps we should. 5) Just the thought of this now having gone to Oahu and seen inaccessibility of the department to the community. I would like to facilitate talk story sessions with the Big Island hunting community with either myself, all Big Island Commissioners and DOFAW – if they would like to join in .I just need a venue so if anybody can throw some ideas out for a meeting. Future State GMAC Meetings – I will try to teleconference in from DOFAW Hilo – produce access to this meeting for local Big Island community and conserve on the budget of my flying wherever we can per the Sunshine Law public will be notified if we can get this going. 6) This item is not necessarily in order but one that came out of the commission priorities. Vice Chair Buchanan and others mentioned the concerns of Big Island hunters – an idea to go area by area and figure out what we are doing is a serious task but one I think the community needs. We do not know whether we are coming or going with our public areas. What is stay and what is to open and to fenced and eradicated in the future or what can we do nothing with? This is a fundamental core root of our problem. An area may be designated for game production or perhaps mixed-use but little to nothing is allowed for game production or mixed-use pending reviews, assessments, and bureaucratic red tape that seems to never get done. I am not sure progress in this field can ever be made. Decisions for priorities from the top are always leaned towards environmental community causes. I feel our game exists by accident – hardly by design. I feel hunting exists as this control measure or statutory obligation – not as a legitimate concern interest group among the public. This is pretty obvious. Everyone knows this but I wanted to assure the County GMAC and community this is also echoed at the state level – at the State GMAC. However, the last thing I want to leave the community with is communication. I want a venue to hold a regular hunting community get-together at least for East Hawaii. I know Jon is working on the same. I’d like some ideas and help from the community on this one. Thank you. Ryan Kohatsu. 3