36 BULLETIN 1089, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
band on the range. When two or more large bands are under one 
ownership, they should be maintained so far as practicable in separate 
herds on distinct grazing areas or on separate portions of a large unit. 
On the other hand, when two or more small bands are held by the 
same owner they can usually be combined to considerable advantage, 
provided they do not make the one herd too large. 
The greatest number of reindeer that may be run economically in 
one band under present methods of handling has not yet been de- 
termined. It may be pointed out that with the present distribution 
within a grazing unit, it may be for the best interests of both the 
range and the animals to run two or more medium-sized bands than 
one very large one. 
The following points should be carefully considered : A very large 
band, unless very openly herded, will do proportionately more in- 
jury to the range than a smaller band. On the other hand, other 
things being equal, it may cost as much to herd the small band as a 
medium-sized one. A large mixed herd may be run probably with- 
out undue injury to the range if before fawning time the does can 
be successfully segregated from the bucks, steers, and yearlings, and 
during the early part of the season the two groups run separately. 
DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL WITHIN UNIT. 
Grazing units having been established and definite numbers of 
stock allotted to each, the next problem will be to realize the best 
use of the forage within each allotment. This requires such control 
of the stock within the allotted grazing area as to bring about full 
and uniform grazing. Steps to be taken to this end include herd- 
ing, salting, and the construction of needed range improvements, such 
as fences and cabins. 
Herding. — Open herding is the best method of handling reindeer 
to avoid damage to the range and to secure the best results in the 
herd. In close herding, as frequently practiced in Alaska, the stock 
is held closely banded together at all times, whereas in open herding 
the animals are allowed to graze spread out on the range. In the 
latter case herding consists chiefly in making a big circle around the 
band each day, without disturbing it, but working in the few strays 
that get too far away from the outer grazing circle. 
While permitting the herd to spread loosely on the range and 
involving less handling or disturbance, open herding must not be 
thought of as implying lax herding, in the sense of turning the 
animals loose to wander over the country at will, to be herded only 
at intervals. Proper open herding requires constant attention, but 
with as little disturbance of the herd as possible, thereby maintain- 
ing a more natural and wide-spread grazing on the particular range 
