KANGE MANAGEMENT ON THE NATIONAL FOKESTS. 51 



sheep will be on fresh feed during the cool hours of the morning and 

 evening, when they graze best on the summer range. 



The herder should be with his sheep, ordinarily, from the time 

 they begin grazing in the afternoon until they are shaded up the fol- 

 lowing forenoon. This is necessary to prevent straying and as a 

 protection against predatory animals. Coyotes, especially, attack 

 sheep most frequently in the late evening and early in the morning. 

 Bears usually attack the band during the night. In some localities 

 the herder remains with his sheep all the time, carrying his camp 

 outfit, provisions, and, if necessary, drinking water, on a pack ani- 

 mal, usually a burro. This practice is desirable in all localities ; but 

 where feed is good and the range untimbered, or only partly tim- 

 bered and not too brushy, good results are obtained where the herder 

 leaves the sheep for a short period during the middle of the day, 

 while they are resting. This matter, therefore, should be adjusted 

 to the local conditions of range and the class of herders. 



The sheep should be allowed to begin grazing soon after daybreak 

 so that they will fill up before the heat of day. Their course of travel 

 can be directed by the herder, and, if necessary, the leaders should 

 be checked so that the herd will spread out quietly over an area 

 sufficient to provide forage for the morning. Until the sheep settle 

 down to rest after the morning grazing the herder should move 

 quietly around the outside of the herd, keeping track especially of 

 the leaders, but not disturbing them except where necessary to check 

 them or change their direction. 



Between 7 and 9 o'clock in the morning during summer the sheep 

 usually settle down to rest. They will not move far during the re- 

 mainder of the warm part of the day and need not be disturbed. The 

 herder should go around the outside of the band occasionally to see 

 that none of the sheep are straying off. 



During the time that the sheep are resting the herder has several 

 hours to do his main cooking for the day. Where the burro system 

 is followed he usually makes a cup of coffee before starting his sheep 

 at daybreak. When the sheep shade up he unpacks his burro and 

 does his cooking. Herders wdio do not remain with the sheep all 

 the time, carrying their provisions and cooking outfit, return to the 

 herder's supply camp while the sheep are resting and do their cook- 

 ing and camp work for the day. Herders who follow this plan usu- 

 ually eat two meals at the supply camp each day, one upon arrival in 

 the morning and one before leaving to round up the sheep and re- 

 main permanently with them during the night. The herder's sup- 

 ply camp should be moved often enough so that he will be able to go 

 around the band occasionally while they are resting. During the 

 scouting trips around the band a bedding place for the night should 

 be selected; and, if the burro system is not being followed, the 



