The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybrids; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands, and the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area on the island of Hawaii.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybrids; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands, and the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area on the island of Hawaii.
Aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, a bird endemic to Hawaii.
Control schedules dates are Feb. 10 and 11, and May, 4 and 5. There will be no closure for May 3, but DOFAW will be collaring animals. Public access to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands, the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area and Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be restricted and allowed by permit only for public animal salvage purposes on Feb. 10 and May 4 at 7 a.m. and Feb. 11 and May 5 at 6 a.m.
The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open.
The temporary closure is needed to minimize the dangers of incompatible uses in the forest area and safely conduct animal control activities. To implement the closure, the Hale Pohaku and Kilohana gated entrances and the gate behind Mauna Kea State Recreation Area will be locked at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 and reopened at 7 p.m. Feb. 11, and locked 7 p.m. May 3 and reopened 7 p.m. May 5.
Copies of the map illustrating the area subject to aerial shooting on these dates are available for inspection at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife Hawaii island offices.
Because of high public participation, telephone call-ins to the DOFAW Waimea office at 887-6063 for receiving salvage permits will be conducted from 9 a.m. Feb. 3 to 10 a.m. the day before each shoot. One permit will be issued per call per vehicle for one day only.
Applicants can have their names added to a standby list for additional days, should all slots not be filled by other applicants. No standbys waiting at the gates will be allowed access. The driver, occupants, vehicle license plate and make/model of vehicle are needed when calling in.
A maximum of 15 permitted vehicles will be allowed at the Ahumoa location and 15 permitted vehicles at the Puu Mali location.
Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to the permitted public for salvage Feb. 10 and May 4 at Ahumoa. Permittees must meet at Kilohana hunter check station at 7 a.m. sharp. Carcass salvage also will be held Feb. 11 and May 5 at Puu Mali. Permittees must meet across from the Waimea veterinary office on Mana Road at 6 a.m. sharp.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are required, and access permits will be issued. There is no guarantee that animals will be able to be salvaged.
Salvage locations are subject to change.
Contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo at 974-4221 or in Waimea at 887-6063 for additional details regarding meat salvage or access permits.