THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	96
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the department of land and natural resources to establish a statewide cooperative program to reduce the population of feral ungulates on public lands.

     WHEREAS, overpopulation of feral ungulates causes destruction to our natural environment by destroying crops and watersheds; and

     WHEREAS, the feral ungulate population reproduces quickly in areas that see very few hunters which has led to a significant increase in their population; and

     WHEREAS, many of the areas identified as needing greater control of feral ungulates are areas where public hunting access is limited or restricted, such as populated areas where the safety of other recreational users may be at risk or areas surrounded by private lands not accessible by the public; and

     WHEREAS, hunting is allowed and encouraged in almost all of the one million acres of lands managed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

     WHEREAS, hunting is encouraged in areas managed for sustainable game hunting as well as areas where control of feral ungulates is the management goal; and

     WHEREAS, enhancing access to public lands for recreational and subsistence hunting is a priority; and

     WHEREAS, recently the Department of Land and Natural Resources established a program dedicated to increasing access to public and private lands for hunting and increasing the inventory of lands available for public hunting through cooperative agreements with landowners, established leases, or purchase of fee title; and

     WHEREAS, feral ungulates are designated as game mammals and are therefore protected by certain laws and rules; and

     WHEREAS, reducing the number of ungulates takes serious planning and coordinated implementation backed up by a comprehensive policy that supports control; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to work with licensed hunters to establish a statewide cooperative program to reduce the population of feral ungulates on public lands; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Feral Ungulates Statewide Program