An invasion of wild pigs has led state wildlife officials to open up the trails above several residential neighborhoods in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA to hunters, but hikers are being reassured that they will not have to worry about being struck by errant arrows.
A yearlong pig hunt, including full-moon hunts with knives and dogs, began last weekend in areas along the Honolulu Mauka Trail System in the Koolau Mountains overlooking the growing Honolulu and Waikiki skyline.
"The Honolulu Mauka Trail System is normally off-limits to hunting due to the level of public use and because it is situated adjacent to the community. But the persistence of feral pigs requires measures to control damage they have caused," said Peter Young, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, in announcing the hunt.
Hunting is allowed on Wednesdays and Sundays from dawn until dusk until Feb. 4, 2008.
Hunters are only be allowed to use dogs, knives or bows and arrows. Archers are not shooting at shadows, said Dave Smith, the department's Oahu wildlife manager. They usually set up far off any established trail and must be relatively close to their target, particularly in dense forest areas, he said.
"They're usually shooting at things that are 10 or 20 meters away. So, they're one of your most selective and most careful type of hunters because they have to have perfect shots or they're just not going to be successful," he said.
Along with the Wednesday and Sunday hunts, the state will also allow a night hunt every two months when the moon is full.
(AP)
美國夏威夷檀香山發生一起野豬入侵事件後,野生動物當局決定開放幾處住宅區山上的步道供狩獵用,不過他們向登山客保證,不必擔心會被射偏的箭擊中。
為期一年的獵豬活動於上週末展開,活動包括滿月夜可以刀和獵狗狩獵,地點在蜿蜒於柯歐勞山脈的檀香山毛卡步道沿線,山上可遠眺檀香山和威基基市。
國土及自然資源部主席彼得.楊宣示活動開始時表示︰「檀香山毛卡步道因為民眾使用頻繁而且緊鄰社區,平時禁止狩獵活動,不過我們必須採取措施來控制野豬持續帶來的破壞。」
獵豬活動即日起至二○○八年二月四日,每星期三和星期日,從清晨到日落。
狩獵者只能使用狗、刀或弓箭,國土及自然資源部的歐胡島野生動物管理主任戴維.史密斯表示,弓箭手不會看到影子就射箭,他們通常會遠離任何民眾經常通過的道路,而且必須靠近目標射擊,尤其是在濃密的森林區。
他說︰「他們通常會射擊十公尺或二十公尺外的獵物,可以說是最謹慎小心的獵人,因為他們得一箭命中,要不然不會成功。」
除了週三和週日的狩獵活動,夏威夷也將每兩個月開放一天滿月狩獵夜。
(美聯社╱翻譯︰鄭湘儀)
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