National Forests and the Inter mountain Region 



17 



RECREATIONAL USE OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN NATIONAL 



FORESTS 



WILD-LIFE RESOURCES OF THE FORESTS 



"Who can state the value in dollars and cents of the fish to the 

 fisherman, or the wild game to the hunter? Scattered through the 

 national forests in this intermountain region are some 80,000 deer, 

 about 30,000 of them in the Kaibab Forest, in northern Arizona. The 

 Teton is famous for its elk, and it is estimated that close to 9,000 of 

 these splendid animals range upon that forest. Many have been 

 transplanted, and at the present time elk are scattered over the 

 greater part of the national forests of the region. One herd of elk 

 planted on the section of the Uinta Forest centering around Mount 

 Nebo is estimated at approximately 800 head. Moose are rare, being 

 limited to about 2,000 ranging close to Yellowstone National Park 



Fig. 8. — Planting fish in a trout stream on a national forest 



upon the Teton and Targhee Forests. Mountain goats, also, are 

 rare. Probably some 2,000 of them dwell among the high, almost 

 inaccessible mountain peaks of central Idaho. Mountain sheep are 

 about as numerous, but are scattered very widely over the forests of 

 the region. 



While the management and control measures affecting this game 

 rests with the States, the Forest Service cooperates heartily with 

 the State officials in enforcing the game laws, planting fish, and pre- 

 venting trespass upon areas set aside for game. Within the national 

 forests of this region are 25 State and Federal game refuges com- 

 prising 4,600,000 acres. In addition the Forest Service itself has 

 set aside over 600,000 acres primarily for the production of game. 



Forest fires, destructive lumbering, and overgrazing would spell 

 ruin to these wild life resources. The maintenance of the forest 

 assures their preservation. 



