In the Open — The National Forests of Washington 



Twenty- 

 Six 



Deer, bear, mountain lion, and smaller game, such as grouse, quail, and 

 pheasants, are found in portions of the Olympic Forest. For the camera enthusiast 

 there are mountain parks, dense forests, snow peaks, glaciers, lakes, cascades, and 

 waterfalls, and wild animal life. Of the latter, the Olympic elk are of the greatest 



interest to the average moun- 

 tain visitor. It is estimated 

 that there are more than 5,000 

 elk to be found within the 

 Olympic National Forest. They 

 are often seen in bands of from 

 20 to 100, particularly in the 

 larger mountain meadows and 

 valleys of the central and 

 western slopes. Approximately 

 2,000 of these animals winter in 

 the Hoh Valley alone. The 

 other popular haunts are the 

 Oueets, Elwha, Ouinault, Sole- 

 duck, and Bogachiel Valleys, in 

 the order named. There is no 

 open season for killing elk, 

 though there is no law against 

 hunting v/ith a camera. The 

 blacktail is the only species of 

 deer known to range in the 

 Olympic IMountains and may 

 be killed only during the month 

 of October. Black bear are 

 fairly common, and cougar are 

 rather frequently found. The 

 large timber wolf, a menace to young deer and weak elk during the season of deep 

 snows, is becoming rare. Wildcat, marten, fisher, beaver, marmots, squirrels, rabbits, 

 mountain beaver, and chipmunks are the more common smaller wild animals. 



The Forest Supervisor's headquarters is at Olympia, and district rangers are 

 located at Port Angeles, Quilcene, Hoodsport, and Olson, Wash. 



Falls and canyon on Soleduck River 



