Questions and Answers 



dians had no matches and they used 

 small campfires that they tended care- 

 fully; so, it is improbable that they set 

 many fires. But with the coming of the 

 white man, and the cutting and clear- 

 ing of timber, fires became more nu- 

 merous and widespread. 



What shall I do if I discover a fire? 



Try to put it out at once. If that is 

 impossible, report it by telephone or in 

 person to the nearest Federal or State 

 ranger, ranger station, fire warden, or 

 the forest officer. Remember : Minutes 

 count in reporting fires. 



Is our concern about fire a purely 

 modern worry? 



No; Ezekiel xx: 47: "Behold, I will 

 kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour 

 every green tree in thee, and every dry 

 tree: the flaming flame shall not be 

 quenched, and all faces from the south 

 to the north shall be burned therein." 

 Exodus xxii: 6: "If fire break out, 

 and catch in thorns, so that the stacks 

 of corn, or the standing corn, or the 

 field, be consumed therewith; he that 

 kindled the fire shall surely make 

 restitution." 



What is the most destructive agent 

 of our forests, other than man? 



Forest insects and diseases account 

 for more than double the losses each 

 year than does fire. 



What is the most desirable forest 

 environment for wildlife in general? 



It is the forest or woodland in which 

 there is a mixture of food-bearing and 

 cover-producing plants (from trees to 

 grass), plus water and escape areas, 

 all within the daily travel range of the 

 wildlife. Contrary to a general belief, 

 such conditions do not always exist in 

 mature forests. 



Do deer compete with domestic 

 livestock for forage on the forest 

 range? 



If the numbers of deer and livestock 

 are adjusted to the available food sup- 

 ply, there will be no conflict. Generally 



speaking, deer feed on browse; cattle 

 and sheep prefer grasses and weeds. 

 Competition exists only where live- 

 stock and deer, or both, are present in 

 excessive numbers. 



What is meant by a "buck law"? 



A buck law is a hunting regulation 

 that permits the killing of only antler- 

 bearing males. It is desirable when the 

 goal is to reestablish a herd. When 

 herds are already established and in a 

 healthy condition, however, the buck 

 law is unnecessary, and its continued 

 use complicates proper management. 



Can one tell the age of a buck deer 

 by the number of points on its antlers? 



The points are not a reliable guide. 

 A fully developed set of antlers usually 

 indicates good health and maturity. 

 Old deer often carry fewer points than 

 young, growing bucks. 



Do I have to have a Federal permit 

 to hunt or fish on a national forest? 



The State fish and game laws usually 

 govern hunting and fishing on the na- 

 tional forests. 



What forest creatures are most to be. 

 feared? 



The common ticks. They may carry 

 the Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a 

 disease dreaded over a large part of the 

 United States. In tick areas, inspect 

 your body and clothing twice a day. 

 If you find a tick attached to your body, 

 remove it carefully to prevent infection 

 through skin abrasions or cuts. Use 

 tweezers if available. Be sure to re- 

 move the head of the tick. Paint the 

 spot where the tick was attached with 

 iodine or alcohol. The best protection 

 against possible infection is inocula- 

 tion with the tick shots developed by 

 the Public Health Service. 



What poisonous snakes are in the 

 forests of the United States? 



The rattlesnake is the most widely 

 distributed poisonous reptile. The 

 others are the cottonmouth or water 

 moccasin, copperhead, and coral snake. 



