FOREST A2TD RANGE RESOURCES OF UTAH 95 



and hatching seasons is necessary. A series of relatively small game 

 sanctuaries is an excellent conservation measure for game animals 

 and game birds. These sanctuaries also provide areas for the observa- 

 tion and study of game species. 



USE OF SURPLUS 



A check must be placed on fish and some forms of game so that 

 they will not increase beyond the capacity of an area to support them 

 in a healthy condition. The amount of forage available for big game 

 particularly should be determined and the number of game animals 

 restricted accordingly. Removal of surplus may be by a natural drift 

 or by transfer alive to other sections, or by hunting. 



FLEXIBLE ADMINISTRATION 



Flexibility in matters of protection, propagation, and utilization 

 is necessaiy. During a favorable season greater numbers may be 

 removed. Unfavorable circumstances may justify additional protec- 

 tion. For this reason, it is desirable to have considerable authority 

 vested in a commission or commissioner who may take appropriate 

 action as circumstances indicate. 



RELATION OF FISH AND GAME TO OTHER RESOURCES 



Big-game species are more or less competitive with livestock as 

 grazers on the range. This is particularly detrimental to game 

 animals where forage upon which they must depend in winter is 

 heavily grazed by domestic stock. Overgrazing of any area inten- 

 sifies the conflict. A moderate grazing of summer ranges by domes- 

 tic stock is seldom detrimental, as the game generally occupies the 

 rougher sections not easily utilized by domestic stock. But game 

 animals directly dependent upon the forage supply may themselves 

 become so abundant as to damage range or cause unjustifiable con- 

 flict with the established use by livestock. This is often overlooked 

 in game-protective measures. In excessive numbers, game may even 

 be directly detrimental to forests by destroying young trees. On 

 the other hand, the value of game from both a recreational and an 

 economic standpoint justifies the maintenance of the greatest supply 

 consistent with other interests. 



Destruction of plant cover and game food, either by fire or over- 

 grazing, is detrimental to game birds and, owing to the increase in 

 erosion, indirectly to fish life. 



Watershed protection helps fish life, and if it results in forage 

 conservation, it may benefit game. In like manner, an overstocking 

 by game would be detrimental to water conservation by destroying 

 the protective cover. The formation of reservoirs is beneficial to 

 fish life, but the alternate raising and lowering of the water may 

 destroy aquatic vegetation and thus adversely affect the production 

 of food for fish or water birds. The development of an inexpensive 

 and efficient screen to prevent fish entering irrigation ditches would 

 prevent the loss of thousands if not millions of fish annually. 



Conservation of the forests is very essential in maintaining a 

 proper environment for both fish and game. Forests provide homes 

 and protective cover for game birds and animals and have a favor- 



