Army closes Pohakuloa to hunting due to ‘vandalism’

The Army recently closed the Pohakuloa training area closed to hunting due to “vandalism, theft and destruction of government property.”   That’s a good one!  The Army takes the land by fiat, fires all manner of weapons, including depleted uranium, then accuses hunters of ‘vandalism’.

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http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091218/BREAKING01/91218035/Pohakuloa+Training+Area+closed+to+hunting

Updated at 1:22 p.m., Friday, December 18, 2009

Pohakuloa Training Area closed to hunting

Advertiser Staff

The Army said it will temporarily close all public hunting in its Pohakuloa training areas because of recent vandalism, theft and destruction of government property.

Mike Egami, public affairs liaison officer for U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, said gate locks were shot out at the

Big Island training range, and a generator was missing.

The damage probably occurred over the past couple of weeks, he said. Bird hunting and pig and goat hunting are allowed under certain conditions at the training range.

Department of Army police are conducting a thorough investigation of the incidents.

The Army acknowledged the inconvenience to wild game hunters, and said it expects to complete the investigation in a timely manner. Pending the results of the investigation, a final determination will be made concerning continued use of Pohakuloa training area hunting grounds.

Current status updates on the temporary hunting suspension are available by calling the PTA Hunters Hotline at 808-969-3474.

Further questions may be directed to Egami at 656-3152.