Land Planning Report 



range. In order of importance these are, first, the 

 white-tailed, or Virginia, deer of the Eastern and 

 Northern States, extending west and invading the 

 general territory of the mide deer in the northern 

 Rocky Mountain region. Second in importance is the 

 mule deer, commonly called the blacktail, of the more 

 arid West, from the Rocky Mountains west to the 

 Cascades, reaching the Pacific coast in southern Cali- 

 fornia and extending southward into Mexico. Third, 

 the true blacktail of the Pacific coast region, the close 

 relative of the mule deer, occurs from California north 

 to southeastern Alaska. And, fourth, the Arizona 

 whitetail of the mountains of southern Arizona, south- 

 ern New Mexico, and western Texas, has a main range 

 extending far south along the Sierra Madre of Mexico. 

 As these four members of the deer family are quite 

 distinct and also differ considerably in the character of 

 terrain occupied, their relations to one another should 

 be clearly understood and considered in connection 

 with plans for land utilization. 



Elk-: The elk, one of the largest and most majestic 

 members of the deer family, had a range measured 

 originally by the width of the continent, from Penn- 

 sylvania to California. Unfortunately so large an 

 animal can be destructive to agricultural interests, and 

 like the buffalo, its displacement in densely settled com- 

 munities was inevitable. Thousands have remained, 

 however, in the wilder parts of the Rocky Mountain 

 region, chiefly in and around Yellowstone National 

 Park, and in the mountains nearer the Pacific coast 

 in Oregon and Washington. These elk are of special 

 interest, as they constitute the only really large herds of 

 big game remaining in the United States, exclusive of 

 Alaska, but while comparatively numerous they are 

 mere remnants of the former great herds. 



In the West, the elk were accustomed to summer 

 largely in the high mountains and to migrate to winter- 

 ing areas on the lower mountain slopes and the sur- 

 rounding plains, where there was less snow and abun- 

 dant food. Occupation of the grasslands at the lower 

 levels for agricultural purposes or for grazing stock 

 forced many of the elk to winter in the higher and more 

 inaccessible mountains, where they suffer pitifully, 

 many dying from starvation and disease in hard 

 winters. The result has been the elk problem about 

 which so much has been written. 



The preservation of the elk is a land utilization 

 problem of major importance. Elk of a northern group 

 are fed in winter in Yellowstone National Park by the 

 National Park Service. Those of a more southern 

 group winter in the Snake River drainage, in Jackson 

 Hole, Wyo. Here the Winter Elk refuge, embracing 

 4,500 acres of meadow land, maintained by the Bureau 

 of Biological Survey, together with supplemental feed 

 provided by the Wyoming Game Commission, has 

 repeatedly prevented a final disaster. Several thou- 

 sand elk frequently congregate on the feeding ground, 



where they crowd close about the wagons from which 

 the hay is distributed, and the spectacle thus presented 

 is one long to be remembered by the fortunate visitor to 

 the place. But such large concentrations are unde- 

 sirable, and the feeding facilities are inadequate. In a 

 solution of the problem of winter range and forage for 

 these elk, about 12,000 acres of additional land are 

 urgently needed. Authorization for the acquisition of 

 this land has now been obtained, and actual acquisition 

 is under way. A bill providing for the acquisition of 

 the lands selected has been before Congress for several 

 years. 



Elk are hardy animals, adapted to a fairly wide 

 range of conditions. Owing to their large size they 

 are more destructive to agricultural interests than the 

 smaller deer, and for this reason they should not be 

 introduced in the vicinity of farming communities. 

 In some of the wilder and more mountainous parts 

 of the West, however, the range of the elk might be 

 extended. Under proper management, surplus elk 

 should afford not only rare sport but an ample supply 

 of excellent meat for the fortunate hunter. As hunting 

 is prohibited in national parks, the provision of open 

 hunting grounds for elk should be given careful con- 

 sideration in connection with any plans for park 

 extension. 



Management oj Beavers and Other Fur Animals: The 

 original range of the beaver included practically the 

 entire country. This fine fur bearer is at home along 

 streams in suitable places from the lower Rio Grande 

 and the lower Colorado River on the Mexican boundary 

 to near timber line on the highest mountains. It is 

 easily trapped and was eliminated or reduced to small 

 numbers in many localities, where it should be restored 

 and colonies increased as a major asset. Like many 

 other kinds of wdldlife, beavers require expert manage- 

 ment. The location of their dams may in some places 

 seriously injure other important human interests. 

 Roads or fields may be flooded, or valuable timber 

 killed. Fortunately beavers can readily be trapped 

 and moved alive and uninjured to sites where their 

 activities will do no harm. At low elevations streams 

 desired for trout fishing may become too sluggish and 

 warm owing to the impounding of water by beavers, 

 but cold, swiftly flowing streams at the liigher elevations 

 are more likelj' to be improved for these fish, as the 

 dams tend to equalize the stream flow and prevent 

 erosion. In many forested sections food is abundant 

 and general conditions are still suitable for beavers. 

 Under proper management the value of the annual fur 

 crop from this source alone could be made to reach 

 high figures. 



Other fur bearers, as the muskrat, marten, mink, and 

 raccoon, should be more adequately managed, with a 

 view to developing neglected wildlife assets. 



Forest Game Restoration: Along with the clearing of 

 forests incident to settlement in the eastern United 



