Santa Cruz Island Idea

[Kickaha]

The general consensus seems to be that $300 is a reasonable price for a non-guided pig hunt at one of the central and northern California ranches.  I personally think this is high.  My question is, what would YOU be willing to pay for a trip to Santa Cruz Island hunt similar to the upcoming public pig hunts?

These would be (a) non-guided, (b) 2 hunters per area, © 2 nights, (d) transportation included, (e) camping as in the public hunt, (f) 60 qt. ice-chest limit, etc.

My idea is to start a letter-writing campaign suggesting that the state start these paid public hunts.  The price would be their cost or, hopefully, less.  The main cost would be the transportation.  If the upcoming public pig hunts go well for them and we can provide a much less costly alternative for the remaining pigs, they might go for it.  At least they might be willing to offer a few more hunts before rolling out their super-fence.  

So, how much would you, personally, be willing to pay to hunt Santa Cruz Island?

 

[Marty]

Maybe having the cost cover the transportation.  Roughly $2000 for drop/pickup air service divided by 10 hunters.  
I don't think hunters should have to pick up additional funding for DFG personnel.  That's why we buy tags.

 

[Speckmisser]

I'm pipe dreaming here, but I guess a nominal charge would be in order.  

How much is it costing the State to hire the eradication experts?  If we paid half the state half that amount they'd be better off.  

On the other hand, would we be as effective as the pros?  That's a big question, given the time frame there.  Remember, the state isn't trying to make this a sustainable hunt...  it's extermination.  They don't want sport hunters, they want killers.  Whoever goes over there is there to kill swine... big ones, little ones, old and young...  and every hunter that goes over and comes back empty handed pushes the bottom line.  

But I don't think it's unreasonable for the state to try a pay-to-play strategy before they kick out for the pros to come in.  

 

[Kickaha]

This is all based on the likelyhood that (a) they may already be thinking along those lines (after all, if they want to eradicate, then why have this initial public pig hunt?), (b) they are happy with the results of the public pig hunt (both in terms of the numbers of pigs taken and in terms of how well the individual hunters behave, and © they're open to the idea of saving money.  

Even if they only charge for transportation, it should be well below what professionals would charge.  However, since it is an eradication, they would likely only keep it up as long as hunters both filled out all the spots and returned with a decent amount of meat.

(Edited by Kickaha at 11:56 am on Feb. 11, 2002)

 

[T F Coyote]

Don't waste your time with the DFG.  You need to talk to The Nature Conservancy and the NPS; They own the island.  They might listen to suggestions of "paying pig eradicators," but I doubt they'll provide anything, including transportation.

Good Luck.

 

[Marty]

Boat charter would do just as well and cost less than air lifting hunters.  Might get in some trolling along the way as well.  
If the DFG or NPS would not help with access, then UCSB biology staff that are trying to protect their botanical projects might be a way onto the island...
http://nrs.ucop.edu/reserves/scir/highlts96-97.html

Name of Station: Santa Cruz Island Reserve

--------------------
Affiliation(s): University of California Natural Reserve System, University of California Santa Barbara

Location; Latitude: 34° 00' N Longitude: 119°44' W Elevation of Station(m)- From: 0m To: 742m

Give Directions to Station: Air or boat charter to the island.

Dominant Plant Community in 25 words: Chapparal, coastal sage scrub, coastal grasslands, oak and pine woodlands, coastal maritime scrub

Bodies of Fresh Water, Number?: None Total Acres: 0 Streams Present? Yes Total Miles: 6-8 perennial

Marine Acces?- Yes No. of Boats: 3 Dive Room?: No No. of Showers?: None Intertidal Area (#ac.)?: Approx. 70 miles of coastline

Area Owned(#ac.)? None Total Area Available for Research (#ac.)? 54,250 acres

Facilities
--------------------

How Many Beds Does the Station Offer In (below)-
Dorm: 28 Dorm Rate/ Day ($): 4-6 Cabins: 12 Cabin Rate/ Day ($): 8-10

Cabins with Kitchens(#)?: None Rate/ Day($): N/A Tent Spaces(#)?: Many Rate/ Day ($): 4-6

Fresh Water System (Aquaria) Gal./Min.: None Saltwater System, Gal./Min.?: None


Keywords of significant past and ongoing research (25 words): Insular biogeography, chumash, archaeology, insular ecology, endemics, marine biology, geology

Faculty or Staff Expertise Keywords (25 words): Kit fox, vegetation

No. Undergraduate Research/Intern Opportunities/Yr?: None Paid (Y/N)?: No

Contact-
--------------------

Name: Dr. Lyndal Laughrin Address: Santa Cruz Island Reserve, University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106 Voice Phone: 805-967-2224 Fax Phone: N/A E-Mail: laughrin@lifesci.ucsb.edu Website:N/A

Name: Donna Moore Address: Natural Reserve System, Marine Science Institute University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 Voice Phone: 805-893-4127 Fax Phone: 805-893-8062 E-mail: donnam@msi.ucsb.edu Website: N/A

Island Info Links:
http://www.fabuloustravel.com/adventures/stcruz/stcruz.html
http://www.nps.gov/chis/press082801.htm

 

[Kickaha]

Lots of good ideas.  Thanks!

 

[Eric Mayer]

They used to have hunts on Santa Cruz Island, unfortunately for us these hunts were not killing off the pigs soon enough.  Money will change hands between the NC, NPS and whomever they hire to do the shooting.  They have had this planned for years and are only offering the hunt to appease the vocal hunting crowd that have decried the shut-down of hunting on the island.  My question is when does a non-native species become native?  The goats that were recently shot (and left to rot) on that island have been there for hundreds of years, wtf is that??  The whole situation pisses me off...

Eric

 

[RIFLEMAN]

Eric,  

   The definition of native as it applies to wildlife would be those species that were not introduced directly or indirectly at the hands of man.  
    Feral hogs, goats, and sheep can reduce an island to a pile of rocks in no time at all.  The mongoose was introduced to Hawaii to eat the rats that were eating the sugar can.  They preyed on the Nene (Hawai's state bird) to the extent that the goose is now threatened.  
Goats were not naturally occurring on the islands and had a detrimental effect on the island habitat.  

 

[Eric Mayer]

Like Wolves, Ferrets, etc.?  hehe

Eric

 

[RIFLEMAN]

Eric,

 Ferrets yes, wolves...let's not open that can of worms!  :>)