2017-08-22 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 22, 2017 KS: This is Kanalu again. We have corporate meetings for all the wildlife managers – not just the game but game, non-game a couple times a year and so when it was going through the session we did read it in that meeting and discussed it as a group, yeah. TL: OK. Now the other thing and again we have to thank this gentleman here up front hiding from us – is we’ve been pushing game management for a long time and one of the successes that I see that came out of Tony’s efforts is the fact that we did get a Game Commission statewide actually funded and into position right now, of which we’ve heard from our two island representatives – via these two gentlemen or commissioners earlier and so this is one of the things and game management and I think Kanalu what you’re doing right now is really important, but, you know, one of the things we talked about game management, ah, would you care to... WC: I can... Advocate for game and game management. The goal of a game manager or wildlife program manager is to advocate for game and game management. Our position as the goal of game manager and wildlife program manager is to not push an environmental agenda but to promote, protect and preserve public hunting. Our position in that a game manager and wildlife program manager should / need to look at each piece of property with a focus on integrating game management and resources toward meeting specific goals representing a long term sustainability model. TL: One of the things that was a disappointment to us or to me, anyway, I don’t know if those of you have had a chance to look at that other game management plan that was sent back to us to look at – but a lot of that game management plan that came back to us from the state that we’re reviewing right now was a \[unclear\] for environmentalism and, you know, the purpose of a game manager in my position is that should be an advocate for our game – should be an advocate for this HCR, you know, in game sustainability and I’m just curious if you folks model after that. When you look at a game manager and I’m talking about Shyla right now, who’s here – she should be and we’re hoping to have had her here – she’s willing to come back and talk to us about this but I think to some degree she’s still in tutelage but, you know, a game manager should be looking at game management. We don’t see a reason for a game manager, I mean, it’s there – the environmental issues are there as a product of the HCP but the focus should be on how much game can we have in an area, if any, and we should be managing that area for game and I’d just quickly like your thoughts on that. Not that I knew you were going to be here. WC: And I have a comment on that when he’s done. SB: This is Steve Bergfield, I believe that Shyla is doing a good job from just starting and she’s taken on a lot of those roles but I’d also believe that, you know, there’s a learning curve like you referenced and it doesn’t – especially 30