594 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



is just as essential as the regulation of numbers of livestock if over- 

 grazing of the range and depletion of the herds is to be prevented. 

 An increase of more than 100 percent in big-game animals generally 

 on the national forests during the past 10 years, and overstocking on 

 specific areas, emphasize the need of applying the same principles to 

 game management as have proved of such benefit to ranges used by 

 livestock, namely, the limitation of numbers to the capacity of the 

 range. The application of such principles is difficult if not impossible 

 so long as the State attempts regulation by laws applying broadly to 

 the State as a whole. Before they can be applied there must be a 

 recognition of the fact that each area is a unit by itself, capable of 

 supporting a given number of a certain species of animals and no 

 more. Until this principle is accepted there will continue to be areas 

 that might support large numbers but are prevented from doing so by 

 over-kill, and other areas where the kill is far less than the productive 

 capacity of the range justifies. The former is a state of unproduc- 

 tiveness, the latter a most destructive form of land use which inevi- 

 tably leads to overgrazing, with all its attendant evils, and in extreme 

 cases even to final extinction of game. 



Better to visualize the problems involved, it is estimated that the 

 national forests now support approximately 12,700 antelope,' 50,600 

 black and brown and 3,700 grizzly bears, 969,000 deer, 97,000 elk, 

 7,800 moose, 22,000 mountain goats, and 12,500 mountain sheep, 

 and at least 10 important species of fur bearers. Game and nongame 

 birds are also important. As each locality has its own particular 

 problem, so does each species of animal involved. The problem, 

 therefore, of coordinated land use is of some magnitude. It cannot 

 be solved by arbitrary State laws or regulation, but rather by 

 systematic planning and adjustment. 



Since both domestic and wild animals subsist on the native vege- 

 tation, conflict arises as numbers of either or both classes approach 

 the full capacity of range. This condition brings about the need for 

 adjustment, often in the way of reservation of specific areas for game, 

 but more generally in the way of reduction in numbers of either or 

 both classes. 



Adjustments to provide reserved areas are indicated in the dis- 

 cussion of range management and in the statement relative to game 

 refuges. In the latter case, however, total exclusion of livestock is 

 not attempted, nor is it desirable, but the domestic livestock capacity 

 is reduced. This, together with the areas closed for game, is equiv- 

 alent to about 12 percent of the entire range capacity of the national 

 forests. It should be understood also that some species of game 

 occupy all areas, and that nearly 50 million acres of land in the 

 western national forests which cannot be used by domestic stock 

 because of topography, dense timber, and brush constitute some of 

 the very best game range. 



In general, the national forests have ample summer range for 

 present numbers of game animals, and in some cases a large increase 

 could be provided for. But winter range, owing to high elevation 

 and deep snows, is inadequate in most cases for even present numbers. 



The needs of the present situation may be briefly stated : 



1. More basic knowledge on the life and feeding habits of the 

 various species of animals and birds. 



