Regarding controlling the deer population through hunting, we are very concerned about the dangers this presents to human life.
We know there are many hunters who follow the safe guidelines for hunting and we respect their rights. We live below Sun Yet Sen Park, above Maui Meadows, in a small community of homes, and we sometimes hear gunshots around us.
In the last year, we have had two close calls because of careless shooting in the direction of our homes, hunters probably not taking into account that bullets can travel a long way. One bullet passed right by one of our workers and hit a rock wall. Another time, a bullet whizzed by a guest who was enjoying the view and then was afraid to walk in that area again. If they were standing a few feet away, in the line of fire, they would have been injured or even worse.
When there are gunshots just outside our fenced boundary, we do not feel safe walking around our own land.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources offers a Hunter Education Program (hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/hunting/game_summary), which is required for getting a license, but we are concerned that there are unskilled hunters without a license who do not know safe hunting protocol.
We need to raise the bar on concern and action for public safety.
Kamala and Steve Armstrong
Kula
