FORTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 159 



APPENDIX F 



COMMISSION POLICY STATEMENTS 



DEER MANAGEMENT POLICY FOR CALIFORNIA 



1. To produce and maintain a maximum breeding stock of deer on all wild lands of 

 California, public and private, consistent with other uses of such lands, and to utilize, 

 through public hunting, the available crop of deer produced annually by this breeding 

 stock. 



2. To maintain for deer the best possible range conditions in conformance with 

 other interests and uses ; to expend funds for the improveemnt of deer ranges wherever 

 such ranges are open to public hunting, and to aid and encourage private landowners 

 to improve their deer ranges even though hunting is limited. 



3. To keep deer populations in balance with local forage supplies and conflicting 

 uses. 



4. To assure a carryover of a maximum breeding stock of deer consistent with the 

 forage available on each local unit of range. 



5. To permit the harvest of all surplus animals, of either sex, over and beyond what 

 the range can carry in healthy condition. 



6. To limit the acquisition by the State of deer lands, access roads thereto or 

 rights of way to those cases where unusual benefits will derive from the expenditure 

 of moderate sums. 



7. To control populations of deer that are rendering appreciable damage to valuable 

 crops, orchards, vineyards, or gardens, by regulated public hunting where possible ; 

 elsewhere permit shooting will be relied upon. 



8. To work out with other interested parties an equitable allocation of forage for 

 deer and livestock where conflict or competition exists, and thereafter to regulate the 

 deer herd according to such agreements. 



9. To give primary consideration to deer in allocation of forage where the demands 

 of deer and other big game species, native or introduced, may conflict. 



10. To manage deer herds on the basis of natural forage without recourse to arti- 

 ficial feeding. 



11. To reopen to deer hunting, following prescribed legal procedures, such existing 

 refuges as are not actually needed to protect depleted herds, and when need for spe- 

 cial local protection arises, to close such areas temporarily. 



12. To hold local public hearings in any area where the commission intends to apply 

 deer herd management regulations. Notice of such hearings will be given in papers of 

 local distribution. The opinions of local groups of sportsmen, ranchers, and other 

 interested parties will be heard and given consideration before final adoption of rules 

 and regulations for any special hunt for deer. 



13. To regulate the numbers of deer predators on the basis of local deer needs con- 

 centrating control efforts on understocked ranges or ranges where hunters are fully 

 harvesting an annual deer crop. 



14. To make impartial objective surveys of the deer herds annually in order that 

 the commission may be supplied with authentic information for its guidance in 

 establishing hunting regulations and planning other aspects of deer management. 



15. To inform the public concerning the mechanics of deer management and the 

 requirements to maintain healthy and productive herds. 



Adopted June 27, 1950. 



INLAND WATER FISHERIES 



The basic objective shall be to supply the best possible fishing for the greatest num- 

 ber of anglers with the minimum of restrictions and regulations necessary to insure 

 a continued supply, fair distribution, and proper utilization. 



