STOCK ON RANGES IN NATIONAL FORESTS 213 



fore the ground was dried out sufficiently in the spring 

 and the young grass was hardly started. It was simply 

 a race to see who would get into the mountains first and 

 thus obtain possession of the best ranges. The result 

 was that the grass on thousands of acres was destroyed, 

 when if the stock had been kept off for a short time 

 longer the feed would have been so far advanced that it 

 could not be injured. 



In handling stock on the National Forests the ranges 

 are divided into districts, each of which is in charge of 

 one or more forest rangers. The rangers see to it that 

 the stock of each permittee is as nearly as possible kept 

 upon the range assigned to it, and that each respects 

 the rights of the other. Sheep are not allowed to be 

 bedded down more than six successive nights in any 

 one spot, nor near the banks of running streams, springs 

 or other watering-places. 



Stock driveways are established wide enough to admit 

 of reasonable grazing en route, over which stock may be 

 driven under a permit, which is in most instances 

 granted without charge. The exceptions are where the 

 trip is of such a length that the stock is upon the forest 

 for an unusually long period and derives more or less 

 benefit from it. By this means the stockmen who are 

 not permittees are given opportunity to cross back and 

 forth to reach either their private lands or ranges upon 

 the Government lands surrounding a national forest. 



Elimination of Tramp Stockmen. On the National 

 Forests the tramp stockman, and this applies equally to 

 both sheep and cattle, has been practically eliminated. 

 No more can men whose sole possession is a herd of 

 sheep and a few pack burros sweep over the country 

 regardless of the rights of others, taking the cream of 



