306 UNITED STATES FOREST POLICY 



million head of stock which spend from one to forty days in the forests 

 while crossing to private lands, and several hundred thousand more 

 are grazed by settlers and campers under free permits. A total of 

 over 33,000 permittees are using the ranges in the national forests. 



The Forest Service is working out more effective means of co- 

 operation with the stockmen, through a recognition of the various 

 livestock associations, of which there were 359 in 1917. These asso- 

 ciations may adopt and request the enforcement of special rules 

 designed to secure better conditions for the stock on the range, and 

 such special rules, when approved by the district forester, are en- 

 forced by the Forest Service and are binding upon all permittees 

 using the range. Thus the Forest Service endeavors to cooperate 

 with the stockmen in securing the fullest utilization of the range ; and 

 the attitude of the stockmen is more helpful and friendly as a 

 consequence. 



Free range privileges are given in an increasing number of cases. 

 In some portions of the forests, notably in the Sierra Nevada of 

 California, the demand for range accommodations for animals be- 

 longing to campers and tourists has become so great that it is neces- 

 sary to set aside considerable areas for their use. The amount of 

 grazing land required by settlers is increasing with the increase in 

 the number of homesteaders in and adjacent to the forests, each set- 

 tler being permitted to graze ten head of milch, work, or saddle 

 animals free of charge. Large numbers of livestock belonging to the 

 Indians residing in or adjacent to national forests are also grazed 

 free. 



Efforts are being made to increase the value of the range in still 

 other ways. For several years the Forest Service has tried to work 

 out effective means of destroying predatory animals. Men were even 

 employed to hunt and trap, and forest officers were urged to help 

 where possible, by hunting and trapping, and by using poison. In 

 1916, this work was turned over to the Biological Survey, but even 

 after that, the Biological Survey furnished some forest officers with 

 traps, ammunition, and poison. The Biological Survey had previously 

 carried on the work of destroying prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and 

 other range-destroying rodents.^ 



7 Forest Bui 72, 97. , 



