1936] MAMMALS AND LIFE ZONES OF OREGON 55 



Weights are given in grams for the small mammals, and pounds 

 and ounces for the larger species. 



The reports of the numbers of the larger mammals estimated to 

 inhabit the various districts of the national forests (table 9), while 

 rarely showing actual counts, are based on careful observations made 

 throughout the year by rangers and supervisors and are the best 

 records available of the numbers present on the forest areas. The 

 national forests of Oregon cover nearly half the State and support 

 much more than half the large game animals. The records are 

 especially valuable as showing year by year the approximate increase 

 or decrease of the species and as affording a basis for intelligent 

 control efforts, or regulation of hunting. The annual game census 

 of the Forest Service, district 6, for 1929, which has been selected 

 because the data for that year are the most nearly complete for the 

 various classes, gives the number of licensed hunters on the forests 

 as 25,873; the number of mule deer killed by hunters as 2,864; black- 

 tailed deer, 1,768; elk, 89; and black bear, 538. The report gives 

 7,113 deer and 19 elk killed by predatory animals. 



Other notes of interest in the report are 3,201 coyotes killed on 

 the forests by Biological Survey hunters, 85 by forestry officials, and 

 3,043 by local hunters and trappers. Of bobcats, 295 are reported 

 taken by the Biological Survey hunters, 12 by forestry officials, and 

 1,369 by local trappers. Of mountain lions, 9 are credited to the 

 Biological Survey hunters, 1 to forestry officials, and 134 to local 

 hunters. 



Elk, deer, antelope, sage grouse, and porcupines are reported to 

 be increasing. 



Predatory animals are reported as generally decreasing in 

 abundance. 



