UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



I BULLETIN No. 1049 v^ 



J^P Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey, 



^^^Cru E. W. NELSON, Chief. 



Washington, D. C. 



March 14, 1922 



GAME AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE. 



By T. S. Palmer, Expert in Game Conservation. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



linportai'ce of game 



I'rincipal kinds of game in the 

 United States 



Fug game : 



Deer .-- 



Elk 



Moose , 



Small game : Rabbits 



Game birds : 



Quail 



Waterfo-n-l __ 



Value of game to the farmer ■ 



■^'auH' of game from the standpoint 



of health 



Returns from license fees 



Estimates of the value of game by 



State officials 



Limitations on excessive hunting 



Big game and quail 



P.ag limits 



Records of game killed 



Enumerations of game 



10 

 11 



12 

 15 

 15 

 18 

 IS 

 2.3 



Page. 



Methods of increasing game re- 

 sources , 2-"> 



Protection 26 



Summer shooting 27 



Spring shooting 28 



Protecting females of big game_ 28 



l^stablishing game refuges . 29 



Public hunting grounds 29 



Game refuges .. 31 



Restocking depleted areas 34 



Game birds S-l 



Deer 36 



Elk 39 



Game breeding 42 



State game farms 42 



Private game farms 43 



Cost of maintaining game 44 



Warden service 44 



Game refuges 45 



Game farms 47 



Suggestions for making a survey of 



game 47 



IMPORTANCE OF GAME. 



Game is produced in every State in the Union, but its full im- 

 portance as a national resource has not been generally recognized, 

 and the best method of insuring its preservation and increase is a 

 problem which as yet has been only partially solved. Under normal 

 conditions in the L^nited States probably more than 6,000,000 j)ersons 

 engage in hunting during the open season. The number increases 



Note. — -This bulletin summarizes present information on some of the larger problems 

 of game conservation. It is for the information of individuals and associations interested 

 in game preservation and is prepared with a view to the more general gathering of data 

 for use in making a survey of game resources. 

 79864-^22 1 



