TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 21 



Recent reports from Game Refuge ID in Trinity County iiulir'afo, that 

 so many cattle are allowed to feed within this refuge that browse has 

 become very scarce for deer. Any area will support only the number of 

 big game animals for which there is an adequate food supply. A dimin- 

 ished food supply means a diminished number of deer. 



Unless more attention is paid to the imi)rovement of grazing inside 

 game refuges, these areas will not be perfoi'ming the service for which 

 they were set aside. Undoubtedly cattlemen and sheepmen will oppose 

 any restriction of grazing but there should be sufficient public senti- 

 ment to successfully close to grazing at least portions of each game 

 refuge. 



WINTER FEEDING OF GAME. 



The winter of 1921-22 like that of 1914-15 was so severe that game had 

 difficulty in securing food. To prevent starvation President Newbert 

 issued the following letter and then ordered wardens to act accordingly. 



Sacramento, Cal., 

 February 10, 1922. 

 Dear Sir: 



This is tlie time that tells the tale whether a man Ls just a meat hunter or 

 a real red-blooded sportsman. It may be that many wild birds and animals are 

 isolated in areas where it is impossible for our wardens to find them, owinjr 

 to the deep snow. Nature teaches all wild life when in need to seek man and 

 civilization. 



Therefore, residents of farms or towns are in a position to render aid by 

 feeding- these wild birds and animals. Our Commission is more than willing 

 to purchase feed to tide over these storms and will authorize the expenditure 

 of funds by our wardens. 



Wc ask all lovers of wild life to feed, temijorarily, at least, birds and animals 

 until such time as our local deputy or district office may be notified. 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, 



F. M. NEWBERT, President. 



The press gave this letter wide publicity and the response was grati- 

 fying. A great deal of hay and grain was furnished gratis by residents 

 and several hundred dollars was spent by the Commission. Hay was 

 handled by teams, sleighs, sleds and pack animals. Reports show that 

 over a thousand deer were fed, one hundred and fifty antelope, and sev- 

 eral thousand quail. The fact that only a few succumbed to cold and 

 starvation showed that the feeding was instrumental in preventing a 

 great loss. 



CARELESS HUNTERS. 



Hunting accidents continue too numerous. An incomplete compila- 

 tion of those for 1921 showed eleven persons dead and fifteen severely 

 injured as a result of carelessness. 



Nor is the loss of human life the only result which follows the careless 

 handling of a gun. The Forest Service reported that on eight of the 

 national forests of this state sixty-four cattle and three horses met death 

 from hunters' bullets during the 1921 open season. This loss to cattle- 

 men seems to be increasing year by year. Not only are cattle actually 

 killed and seriously wounded l)y careless hunters in the mountains, but 

 perhaps even more serious than this is the manner in which cattle are 

 driven from the range by the large number of hunters who camp at 



