Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
The Refuge determined that criteria used in previous compatibility statements and in the 1991 Sport
Hunting Decision Document were not enforceable, and circumstances on the ground have changed.
Public Review and Comment:
This determination was issued for public review and comment as part of the Hakalau Forest NWR
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment between August 16, 2010-
September 15, 2010. An open house was held and written comments were solicited from the public
during this period for the CCP via news release, website posting, extensive mailing as well as e-mail
list, and circulation of Planning Update 3. Comments were received related to public hunting and
were addressed in Appendix K.
Determination:
__X_ Use is Not Compatible
_____ Use is Compatible
Stipulations Necessary to Ensure Compatibility: Not applicable.
Justification:
The Service proposes to re-close the Refuge to public recreational hunting because it is not
compatible with the purposes and goals of the Refuge. Public recreational hunting will not meet the
goals of the Refuge’s ungulate control program. Reduction and ultimately eradication of ungulates is
necessary to achieve the required level of protection and eliminate disturbance to native species. The
highest priority Refuge goal of protecting endangered species and their habitats is being realized as
habitat improvements are made and native species diversity is gradually restored. Recreational
hunting is unlikely to achieve the desired goal of reducing pig populations in managed units by >70%
annually, in order to assure control objectives are achieved where more efficient methods are
available (Hess et al.2006). Failure to maintain the highest level of pressure on pig populations and
selective removal of larger pigs could result in population increases through ingress by additional
pigs that use smaller territories and reproductive response in the pig population.
The Middle and Lower Maulua Tracts are remote and have no established routes of access from offrefuge
areas. The boundaries remain unmarked and unfenced. Levels of use by hunters, proper
access, invasive plant introduction and dispersal, and the impacts of recreational public hunting
within the remote areas of the Refuge would be difficult to monitor or regulate. Enforcement of
endangered plant protection, hunting regulations, and Refuge IPM weed prevention programs would
not occur within remote areas of the Refuge.
Mandatory 10- or 15-year Reevaluation Date:
___________ Mandatory 15-year reevaluation date (for wildlife-dependent public uses)
___________ Mandatory 10-year reevaluation date (for non wildlife-dependent public uses)
B-24 Appendix B. Appropriate Uses and Compatibility Determinations