On winter game ranges where from one to several feet of snow is common, 

 the plants best adapted to range reseeding would be of little value to 

 the game. The need for tall grasses such as giant wildrye, and shrubs 

 such as willow, aspen, serviceberry , and bitterbrush is indicated. 

 Very little progress has been made in developing practical methods of 

 propagating these species under range conditions, although germination 

 and some other initial phases of propagating bitterbrush and other shrubs 

 have been studied by research workers at the California and Intermountain 

 stations . 



More experimental work is needed tc develop methods of improving big 

 game winter range. But at this time about the only help that can be 

 offered is to suggest that the species and methods mentioned for other 

 range areas be used where they are adapted and where they would be of 

 value either for forage or erosion control. 



Gully and erosion control on steep or critical watersheds is a special 

 p roller: which frequently requires expensive contour trenches or other 

 mechanical structures in combination with reseeding and cannot be 

 discussed adequately in this guide. 



Much can be done, however, tc prevent more of these critical situations 

 from developing by prompt use of some simple procedures on many of the 

 smaller areas and gullies that are now actively eroding. Seeding on 

 plowed contour furrows has been effective on some steep barren slopes, 

 but these furrows may ba dangerous if improperly used. 



The best way to treat gullies, where possible, is to revegetate the 

 areas from which the run-off is coming before treating the gully itself. 

 Where this is impossible because of rocks or shallow soil on the source 

 area gully erosion can sometimes be reduced temporarily by direct treat- 

 ment, such as by dragging poles or brush into the gully and broadcasting 

 seed of adapted species on the gully walls, k brush drag or improvised 

 harrow can sometimes be dragged along the gully sides to help cover the 

 seed. Biennial yellow sweet clover, smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, 

 and tall oatgrass have been used successfully. Effectiveness of this 

 treatment has been demonstrated on Lewis Creek near Vigilante Experimental 

 Range headquarters, Beaverhead National Forest. Generous amounts of 

 seed may well be used and repeated seedings may be necessary in order 

 to establish a stand. Seeding should be done in the fall or very early 

 spring. 



Ranger stations and other pastures , because of their location and the 

 special needs they serve, are probably the most valuable portions of 

 the range. Still, frequently they are the most abused and neglected. 

 Many of them could be improved by proper management and reseeding. The 

 methods and species described for use on similar situations on the 

 range may be used on pastures as well, but where the strategic value 

 of the pasture is high, intensive methods of soil preparation, seeding, 

 and management are easily justified. 



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