An increase in game numbers, as such, is not necessarily 

 undesirable. The development and maintenance of a desirable 

 wildlife habitat and the production of a reasonable amount of 

 big game for public use and recreation are legitimate functions 

 of the national forests. Nevertheless, in accomplishing this objec- 

 tive, all grazing animals — both domestic livestock and big game — ■ 

 should be brought into and kept in balance with the grazing 

 capacity of the available range. 



The policy of the Department of Agriculture is to handle big- 

 game problems on the national forests in cooperation with the 

 States. Under this policy the Forest Service is required to deter- 

 mine the extent to which the national forests will be devoted to 

 wildlife production along with other uses, and in cooperation with 

 the State fish and game or conservation departments, to formulate 

 plans for securing and maintaining desirable populations of wild- 

 life species. Also, the Forest Service cooperates with State officials 

 in planning and carrying out orderly utilization, in accordance 

 with State laws, of wildlife on national-forest land. This may 

 include special open seasons designed to remove surplus numbers 

 where they exist. 



There are a good many places in the West where the deer and 

 elk populations have outgrown their forage supplies, and numbers 

 should be reduced to grazing capacity. In some areas it is desir- 

 able to increase the present rate of progress in reducing oversized 

 game herds. The "no sportsman kills a doe" philosophy has for 

 many years exerted a powerful influence against sound game 

 management and control. Most State game authorities have 

 received public support in their efforts toward proper protection 

 of the wildlife resource, but few of them have received adequate 

 backing for its needed utilization. 



24. Are increases in permitted livestock allowed on under- 

 stocked ranges, and are permittees given the benefit of 

 increases in grazing capacity resulting from sound man- 

 agement? 



Yes. The present policy permits increases in livestock numbers 

 on understocked ranges. If increased grazing capacity results 

 from adjustments in rate of stocking, range reseeding, construc- 

 tion of range improvements, or good management by the per- 

 mittees and occurs within 10 years after an adjustment, it is 

 recognized as a benefit to be distributed equitably among the 

 users of the allotment or unit. If there is just one user, he is 

 allowed to utilize the increased grazing capacity. 



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