16 MISC. PUBLICATION 24 7, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



tion and repeated fires have run rampant, the number of game animals 

 has decreased markedly. But on the national forests, where game as 

 well as timber and other resources have been used, but managed and 

 kept productive for 30 years, the number of game animals increased 

 150 percent within the period 1924-38. In fact, as exploitation has 

 continued in the West, ranges used by big game have been so restricted 

 that now almost 75 percent of the total western big-game range is 

 within the federally owned forests. 



On most of these national forests the numbers — and in many cases 

 the species — of wild game may be increased still further by adequate 

 game management. Just to remove the causes which have lead to 

 destruction or decimation of wildlife species will not be sufficient. 

 More constructive action than merely enforcing most present game 

 laws is necessary. Modern game management must also devise 

 ways and means to make more favorable environments and thus 

 produce more, and more varied, wildlife. It must, for example, 

 build dams — as has been done on the Coconino Plateau in Arizona— 

 to impound water and provide nesting and resting places for migra- 

 tory birds and make possible the introduction of fish in areas where 

 there were neither birds nor fish before. 



Modern game management also envisions the introduction of species 

 of game animals in localities from which they have previously been 

 exterminated. With careful selection of environment and such modi- 

 fications of current land uses as may be necessary and practicable, 

 this is often feasible. Witness, for example, the introduction and 

 successful building up of some 125 new elk herds on certain western 

 national forests. 



There are, as has been said, many areas on which the number and 

 species of wildlife can be increased. But there are also some areas 

 which are already too heavily populated with big game, where the 

 herd has increased far beyond the carrying capacity of the winter 

 range to support it. Damage to forage crops, heavy winter losses 

 through starvation, and accelerated erosion have resulted. On these 

 areas, modern game management calls for such adjustments as will 

 protect both the big game and the forage upon which it lives. 



RECREATION 



Recreation contributes largely to the health, happiness, and welfare 

 of our people. Once considered by some people a luxury, it has now 

 become a necessity in which forests play an important role. They 

 provide rest and relaxation, return rich dividends in physical health and 

 spiritual and mental well-being; so recreate the body and mind that 

 man may tackle with renewed vigor his everyday, bread-and-butter 

 tasks. Through recreation, forests also make an important economic 

 contribution. Farmers and businessmen in many forest regions have 

 their markets greatly expanded through purchases made by national- 

 forest visitors, and local people add to their incomes by furnishing 

 quarters for vacationists. Summer homes and resorts in many towns 

 and counties are a chief source of taxes. It is estimated that at least 

 $250,000,000 is spent annually in communities on or adjacent to na- 

 tional forests in connection with recreation. 



The national forests afford an example of the enormous growth 

 forest recreation has made in the last two decades. In 1917 the 



