46 CIRCULAR 63 6, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



voirs from wliich surplus game and wild fur replenish overhunted 

 covers in the immediate vicinity, and when only li<;htly hunted they 

 act to some extent as refuges for game and wild fur. Such holdings 

 are most frequently confined to lands of low value. When the higher 

 priced, more intensively used agricultural lands have been closed to 

 public hunting the principal object has been to restrict trespass and 

 not to provide hunting or to improve conditions for game and wild 

 fur. The money expended in the management of privately owned 

 areas varies from inconsiderable sums to many thousands annually, 

 depending on the interest and financial standing of the operator. 



As some owners consider game and wild fur and the opportunities of 

 hunting them a valuable business and social asset, they exercise their 

 control to provide recreation for friends and business associates. Pos- 

 sibilities in this direction have not been fully realized but are being 

 increasingly appreciated. Opening of some lands now closed to hunt- 

 ing might be encouraged by calling to the attention of their opei-ators 

 the fine opportunity to entertain associates. By building up coverts 

 and increasing the carrying capacity of the land, the owner or even 

 the renter can make his invitation to hunt a real privilege — a decided 

 business and social asset. 



Game management on privately owned units has not proved a de- 

 pendable source of revenue. Encouragement of such units on land 

 already posted against public use might tend to relieve the pressure on 

 open areas, but unless the land had been previously closed, their addi- 

 tion to the total not available for public hunting would only intensify 

 the existing situation that is undesirable from the viewpoint of the 

 hunting public and the State conservation departments. 



CLUB-OWNED AND CLUB-OPERATED HOLDINGS 



Small sportsmen's clubs seldom own enough acreage to provide hunt- 

 ing for their members. The holdings commonly consist of a small area 

 surrounding a clubhouse, trap-shooting grounds, rifle range, etc. 

 Members must depend on open land for their hunting. 



Holdings owned and operated by the wealthier clubs are, in general, 

 more elaborate and provide hunting and fishing for members and 

 guests. The memberships are restricted and fees are usually quite 

 high. Although conditions are generally more favorable for the pro- 

 duction of wildlife, the acreage of these organizations to each user is 

 usually much greater than that of the open areas. On account of the 

 exclusive and restrictive elements such clubs are often opposed. 



In general, land owned by a club and operated as a hunting preserve 

 is in a wild state, and the only agricultural use ordinarily made of the 

 land is for w^ell-distributed wildlife food patches. So far as known, 

 no club operates for the production and harvesting of upland game on 

 high-grade agricultural land. Waterfowling clubs are occasionally 

 located on fertile acreages, but as their land requirements are re- 

 stricted to a narrow shore-line, they do not materially encroach upon 

 agricultural lands. 



CLUB-LEASED LANDS 



Clubs that do not have sufficient finances to own and maintain lands 

 often lease extensive acreages for their exclusive use. They seldom 

 are able to make any worth-while effort to improve environmental con- 



