WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 795 



180,000,000 acres of well-handled public land, of the possibility of 

 saving our big game, whenever we wish to do it. 



3. Deer and Wild Turkey. — It is well known that deer and wild 

 turkey are more abundant in the Edwards Plateau country in Texas 

 than in many similar places, and that the receipts of many ranch 

 owners from hunting leases are important ranch assets in the region. 

 It will be remembered that the county agents of six Edwards Plateau 

 counties in Texas estimated the income derived from outside hunters 

 entering these counties to hunt at not less than a million dollars in a 

 single season (1935-1936). 



The Edwards Plateau situation, like the others, convincingly indi- 

 cates the entire practicability of building up the deer and turkey pop- 

 ulation over a vast section of the Southwest which at present is char- 

 acterized by a shortage or even absence of these excellent game ani- 

 mals. 



There are some rather simple measures, however, that wdll have to 

 be adopted if American wildlife is to be properly maintained and in- 

 creased. The willingness and ability of the public to do these things 

 will be a measure of their real desire for game. Here are some of the 

 essentials : 



1. Support a strong educational program, including research, teach- 

 ing, and extension, so that the present and future generations will 

 have the facts, and will be inspired to act in the light of them. 



2. Take politics out of the state game departments in all instances, 

 so that merit and good behavior will be the sole criteria for service in 

 conservation administration. 



3. Give the responsible state agency full powers and responsibilities 

 to set seasons and bag limits, and to make other regulations regarding 

 the taking of game and the conservation of wildlife, subject to legisla- 

 tive approval. 



4. Give the game department money enough to work with. The 

 easiest way to do this, at present, is to adopt the so-called universal 

 hunting license law, which, while it means a slightly increased cost of 

 hunting, will afford the sportsman a chance to get something when 

 he goes afield. 



5. Provide food and cover for wildlife. For the most part this can 

 best be done, not by an expensive planting program, but by protect- 

 ing the native vegetation from overgrazing, and letting Nature her- 



