"It is with deep regret that I must apprise you that mouflon sheep hunting in Hawaii has come to an abrupt end. As of July 4, 2004, the National Park Service has taken over the Kahuku Mouflon Sheep Concession. There was no warning, or 90-day notice. Locks were simply changed and gates double-padlocked.
The future of the world's largest free-ranging mouflon sheep herd is in dire peril at this moment. It appears that the Nature Conservancy, in conjunction with the National Park Service, is committed to eradicating the mouflon from Mauna Loa Mountain. My family, guides and I wish to express our gratitude to all of you who booked a mouflon hunt with us over the years."
We warned you about this impending calamity back in the July 2001 issue, before it was clear that the sheep property would be turned over to the National Park Service. Back then, there was still time for a pro-hunting investor to step in and buy the property in question, and we put out a call at that time for possible buyers, including Cable TV maven, Ted Turner. No one stepped up to the plate, however, and the inevitable consequences of inaction have now taken place.
Our July 2001 report, you may recall, called for the hunting community to create its own Nature Conservancy, committed to sustainable-use conservation rather than the creation of useless "natural museums" like the one now being created in Hawaii. The need for such an organization should be even clearer now in the wake of this debacle. Anyone ready to step up to the plate?
........(continued)
