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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
the pig population must be removed annually to effect control, and that the potential damage to
recovered habitat and the risk of new weed introductions is too great.
Response: The Service recognizes its strong legal encouragement to offer public hunting on national
wildlife refuges when this recreational use can be conducted in a manner that is compatible with the
purpose(s) for which the refuge was established. Based on the compatibility determination found in
Appendix B, we have determined that public hunting is not compatible with the purposes of the
Refuge. Use of public recreational hunting as a tool to meet the overall goals of the Refuge’s
ungulate control program was not successful in the past. Reduction and ultimately eradication of
ungulates is necessary to achieve the required level of protection and eliminate disturbance to
endangered species. Recreational hunting is unlikely to achieve the desired goal of reducing pig
populations in managed units by >70 percent annually, in order to assure control objectives are
achieved where more efficient methods are available (Hess et al.2006). Additionally, keeping
ungulate populations at levels required to provide public recreational hunting is not compatible with
the Refuge’s purposes of protecting listed species and the habitats they rely on.
We believe it is most efficient and effective to control ungulates through staff efforts and/or by
contract. Bids for such contracts would be solicited from the public and would not necessarily
preclude a contractor from using the services and expertise of local hunting groups to complete the
work. Such contracts would have strict stipulations to prevent negative impacts on native species as
well as be required to obtain liability insurance, be permitted to carry a firearm, have gone through
the State’s Hunter Education Program and carry a State hunting license/permit, and any other
stipulations identified in the contract solicitation.
One commenter indicated public hunting is addressed only for pig hunting, avoiding other island
game species.
Response: We agree. We modified our hunting compatibility determination to reflect that hunting of
game birds is not compatible because the flight paths of the endangered nēnē and wild turkeys
overlap.
One commenter felt the discussion of hunting in the Draft CCP/EA offered abundant speculation and
opinion, and little that is factually accurate. Others stated there is no substantiated evidence of
hunters purposefully pursuing game into impenetrable vegetation or cutting or pulling endangered
plants, and it is speculative to say public hunting has negative impacts on such resources. Another
asked if other public uses are allowed in the area would not have the same impacts as hunters.
Response: We have reviewed the language included within our hunting compatibility determination
to ensure it is more objective and accurate. Unlike other public use opportunities, such as wildlife
photography and bird watching, which occur on identified roads or paths to keep people from
negatively impacting Refuge resources, hunting is not an activity that has similar infrastructure in
place to protect resources and guide the user. Hunting is a pursuit of a wild animal that can go
anywhere and the hunter follows. This unguided pathway through Refuge habitat could inadvertently
impact native vegetation and restoration efforts as well as disturb habitat for native species.
Additional concerns about impact to Refuge resources are the inadvertent spread of nonnative weed
species through Refuge habitats. Given the many other hunting opportunities on the rest of the
island, it is unknown what invasive plant species seeds or other reproductive plant medium may be
K-12 Appendix K. Public Involvement