36 BULLETIIT 1089, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



band on the range. When two or more large bands are under one 

 ownership, they should be maintained so far as practicable in separate 

 herds on distinct grazing areas or on separate portions of a large unit. 

 On the other hand, when two or more small bands are held by the 

 same owner they can usually be combined to considerable advantage, 

 provided they do not make the one herd too large. 



The greatest number of reindeer that may be run economically ir 

 one band under present methods of handling has not yet been de- 

 termined. It may be pointed out that with the present distribution 

 within a grazing unit, it may be for the best interests of both the 

 range and the animals to run two or more medium-sized bands than 

 one very large one. 



The following points should be carefully considered : A very large 

 band, unless very openly herded, will do proportionately more in- 

 jury to the range than a smaller band. On the other hand, other 

 things being equal, it may cost as much to herd the small band as a 

 medium-sized one. A large mixed herd may be run probably with- 

 out undue injury to the range if before fawning time the does car 

 be successfully segregated from the bucks, steers, and yearlings, anc 

 during the early part of the season the two groups run separately. 



DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL WITHIN UNIT. 



Grazing units having been established and definite numbers o1 

 stock allotted to each, the next problem will be to realize the besi 

 use of the forage within each allotment. This requires such contro 

 of the stock within the allotted grazing area as to bring about ful 

 and uniform grazing. Steps to be taken to this end include herd- 

 ing, salting, and the construction of needed range improvements, sucl 

 as fences and cabins. 



Herding. — Open herding is the best method of handling reindeei 

 to avoid damage to the range and to secure the best results in th( 

 herd. In close herding, as frequently practiced in Alaska, the stocl 

 is held closely banded together at all times, whereas in open herdin^ 

 the animals are allowed to graze spread out on the range. In th< 

 latter case herding consists chiefly in making a big circle around th 

 band each day, without disturbing it, but working in the few stray 

 that get too far away from the outer grazing circle. 



While permitting the herd to spread loosely on the range anc 

 involving less handling or disturbance, open herding must not b' 

 thought of as implying lax herding, in the sense of turning th' 

 animals loose to wander over the country at will, to be herded onb 

 at intervals. Proper open herding requires constant attention, bu 

 with as little disturbance of the herd as possible, thereby maintain 

 ing a more natural and wide-spread grazing on the particular rang< 



? 



