CHAPTER XIII 

 CONCLUSIONS 



THE findings of this survey were made available from time to time to the com- 

 mittee drafting the *Game Policy adopted by the American Game Confer- 

 ence, December 2, 1930. The "seven basic actions" proposed in that policy for 

 the country as a whole are also, in my judgment, the basic actions needed for game 

 restoration in this region. The manner of their application is indicated in the 

 following captions. 



1. Extend public ownership and management of game lands just as jar 

 and as fast as land prices and available funds permit. Such extensions must 

 often be for forestry, watershed, and recreation, as well as for game purposes. 



The largest opportunity for public ownership and management of game lands 

 lies in the extension of national, state, and county forests in the Forest and Hill 

 Belts. Acquisition of public forests is gathering headway in the Forest Belt, but 

 not in the Hill Belt. Missouri is the "key log" in this jam. Her traditional oppo- 

 sition to public forests might well be reconsidered. Her sportsmen, as well as her 

 lumbermen, should have a voice in this matter. 



The next largest opportunity lies in the public acquisition of migratory bird 

 lands. Minnesota and Wisconsin have made a small-scale start, which needs to be 

 greatly enlarged in all the states. 



Minnesota, and to some extent Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri, have a 

 fast-fading opportunity to acquire wilderness game lands. No action is as yet 

 visible except in Minnesota. 



Michigan is the only state so far to apply real game management to her public 

 holdings. A rapid development in this respect may be expected to follow the 

 crucial first step of acquisition. 



2. Recognize the landholder as the custodian of public game on all other 

 land, protect him from the irresponsible shooter, and compensate him for 

 putting his land in productive condition. Compensate him either publicly or 

 privately, with either cash, service, or protection, for the use of his land and 

 for his labor, on condition that he preserves the game seed and otherwise 

 safeguards the public interest. In short, make game management a partner- 



* Copies are obtainable from the American Game Association, Investment Bldg., 15th 

 & K Sts., NW, Washington, D. C. 



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