AR-News: (US) HI: Hunters sought to help clear area of alien sheep

[cathy goeggel]

Posted on: Sunday, March 21, 2004
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Mar/21/ln/ln28a.html

Hunters sought to help clear area of alien sheep

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i - The National Park Service is enlisting hunters to help clear
mouflon sheep out of 116,000 acres acquired by the agency to expand Hawai'i
Volcanoes National Park.

Federal law requires the park service to control alien species on park land,
if possible. The sheep graze on native species such as silversword, the
shrub 'ohelo and native grasses.

Mouflon sheep were introduced to the Kahuku lands in 1960 for sport hunting,
and park officials have estimated there may be 2,000 there now.

People interested in guided hunting trips to help clear out the sheep must
register by April 9 for a public lottery on April 23. The hunts will be on
five Saturdays in May and the first two Saturdays in June.

There will be no bag limit, and hunters will be encouraged to salvage the
meat.

Registration forms are available at www.nps.gov/havo as well as the state
Department of Land and Natural Resources Forestry and Wildlife offices in
Hilo and Waimea.

Application must include copies of a hunting license, hunter-education
certificate, center fire rifle firearm registration, and four-wheel drive
vehicle registration.