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.