2016-07-19 - Ltr. GMAC to D. Smith DLNR

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David Smith, Administrator Division of Forestry and Wildlife July 19, 2016 Page 2 July 18, 2016. We want to begin the revision process now with a committee of hunters. We feel the State Commission's responsibility lies with game management. Hawai'i Island Game Management Plan (HIGMP) Status: Since 2010 DLNR has not returned the draft HIGMP to the original working group for comment and /or modification. DLNR promised GMAC at the March 2016 meeting that after their corrections, which they indicated have been done, they would get the draft back to the original working group, as well as, GMAC. We ask DLNR to return the current draft with their modifications to the original working group and GMAC as promised. The Wildlife Revolving Fund: Monies from the Wildlife Revolving Fund (funded entirely by hunter dollars) are obligated first to Pittman -Robertson (Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act) match requirements and don't seem to make best use of these distributions for the preservation or benefit of our game mammals. How is this being justified? How are you determining where monies are to be spent and what measures are you using to determine the benefit to our resources, particularly our game mammal resources? In many regards, from the hunter's standpoint, these are wasted dollars. We'd like to complete the game management plan and we'd like some money for our game mammals. We look forward to hearing back from your regarding these questions. Aloaah, ��a Thomas Lodge Game Management Advisory Commission Chair Cc: Chairwomen, Suzanne Case First Deputy, Kekoa Kaluhiwa James Cogswell, Wildlife Program Manager Hawai'i Island State Legislators County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.