BiSTItlCTS AND DIVISIONS. (Beg. G-3.) 



The grazing of any class of stock upon any part of a National 

 Forest is allowed under authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. 

 By authority of the act of June 4, 1897. regulations of the Secretary 

 or Agriculture govern the use of public lands within the National 

 Forests and are supreme, even though the State law is in conflict 

 with them. When not in conflict with the Federal law, the State 

 law is effective. 



It is within the authority of the Supervisor to close an area from all 

 grazing, to reduce the number of stock allowed upon 



Exclusion of stock. P. , ., ., .. 



it, or to prohibit its use by certain classes of stock 

 when the silvicultural needs of the Forest demand it. For instance, 

 sheep may be excluded from a timber-sale area for a certain number 

 of years after cutting; or, in a year of scarcity of mast, hogs (other- 

 wise permitted) may be excluded from the oak type. Where plant- 

 ing operations are being carried on, it will usually be necessary to 

 exclude all classes of stock. 



If silvical investigations show that grazing is responsible for the 

 scantiness or lack of reproduction over a considerable area, a portion 

 of it may be withdrawn from range use until young growth has 

 become established, several years later another portion, and so on 

 until the whole area has been treated. It is desirable, of course, to 

 secure the welfare of the Forest with the least possible friction or 

 interference with the stock interests. When it becomes necessary to 

 prohibit all grazing on an area of such an extent as to necessitate a 

 reduction of the number of stock allowed on the Forest for the pur- 

 pose of forest protection or to protect the water supply of a com- 

 munity, the Supervisor should request an investigation from the 

 District office. If it is found necessary, the Supervisor, with the 

 District Forester's approval, will take the action. Where action of 

 this sort can not be effected by a shift in ranges but will result in a 

 cut in the number allowed a permittee or in the entire exclusion of 

 his stock, copies of the letters rejecting the application or amending 

 a permit will be sent the District office with necessary explanations 

 in order that the District Forester may be in a position to answer 

 complaints. Where the cancellation of a permit is entailed, the 

 District Forester will take the action. Except in emergency cases 

 closures should be made to take effect at the beginning of the grazing 

 season and outstanding permits allowed to stand through the period 

 granted. 



When any area within a National Forest contains a growth of 



poisonous plants in such quantity as to make dan- 

 plant gerous its use for grazing and the danger period has 



been determined, the exterior limits of the area will 

 be posted with warning notices (Form 766) cautioning stockmen 

 against allowing their stock to graze within the area during the time 

 when the poisonous plant is dangerous. 



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