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



back rider to pay for their recreation. Harvesting fur is a business 

 proposition with the trapper, and it is just as reasonable for the 

 farmer or other landowner to receive pay for his part in providing 

 fur animals and allowing others to use his land in taking them as it 

 is for the owner of woodland to be paid for permitting others to 

 cut the timber. There is no denying the fact that the farmer or 

 other landowner is put to expense in producing game and fur and in 

 allowing others to use his land in taking it. 



If farmers are to provide wildlife and allow the public to utilize 

 it, adequate incentiA^es must be provided. In most cases, they may 

 be nothing more than adequate protection of property and individual 

 rights by control of wildlife and of the hunters and trappers, but 

 in (others money payments may be required. 



If the problems oi providing wildlife and hunting opportunities 

 for the public are to be solved, wildlife-conservation activities of all 

 kinds must be removed from the influence of pressure groups. Ad- 

 ministrative officials, the public, the farmers, and the sportsmen must 

 be taught to realize that the recreational, social, and esthetic values of 

 wildlife greatly exceed its economic value: and that wildlife is a 

 natural resource that all have a right to enjoy. The rights of in- 

 dividuals must be respected and protected even if this restricts public 

 utilization of wildlife. The user must become willing to pay an in- 

 creased amount and the farmer must be willing to accept a large part 

 of the return for his efforts on behalf of wildlife in the form of such 

 intangibles as recreational, esthetic, and social enjoyment. 



The study indicates the need for a coordinated conservation pro- 

 gram that will make wildlife production and utilization an inherent 

 part of land use and soil conservation programs; and for recognizing 

 the rights of individual landowners as well as the rights of the wild- 

 life users in all wildlife-conservation programs. 



It is recommended: (1) That wildlife conservation in all its phases, 

 including research, education, and administration, be protected from 

 the influence of pressure groups, with all conservation personnel placed 

 on a stable merit basis; (2) that a comprehensive research and educa- 

 tional program be maintained in each State with participation by the 

 game commission, the agricultural college, the extension service, the 

 agricultural experiment station, and the Federal Government; (3) 

 that each State enact and enforce sound wildlife-conservation legis- 

 lation, including laws and regulations adequately to control wildlife 

 users, and to protect farmers and others against excessive wildlife 

 damage and against trespass; (4) that the State game commissions 

 and the public recognize that farmers and other landowners are the 

 producers and custodians of wildlife on their land, and that they are 

 entitled to protection and compensation in some form for efforts on 

 behalf of wildlife: and (5) that cooperative consideration of wildlife- 

 conservation problems be continued jointly by the Bureau of Agri- 

 cultural Economics. United States Department of Agriculture, and 

 tlie Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the 

 Interior. 



SUMMAEY 



The aborigines of this country used game and fur animals only 

 for essentials. Today the emphasis is placed upon recreational and 



