The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-11-22

Estimate Of Big Animals

according to rough estimate or big
game animals recently completed by
forestry officials of the United States
Department of Agriculture. The
largest herds of deer are found on the
national forests In California. which
shelter approximately $4,000 head.
Oregon is next to California, with a
total of $1,000 it's largest herd being
on the Santiam National Forest
Montana ranks third with a total of
IL 900 head, the largest single herd of
which grazes on the Jefferson Natl
onal Forest. Idaho is fourth with a
total of nearly $4,000.
Sixth on the list is Arizona, with
about $4,000 head of deer, 10000 of
which Craze on the Kabab National
Forest alone This forest contains
the Grand Canyon National Game
Preserve, where hunting is not allow
ed The herd on the Kalbab Forest
has often been enormously described
as the Largest herd of deer in the
world As matter of fact the
Kalbab herd is greatly exceeded by
the herds on the Trinity and Cali
fornia National Forests in California.
The number of elk grazing on the
national forests is placed at 10000,
according to the big game estimate
| The Tenton National Forest in Wyom-
ing, bordering the Yellowstone Ma
tional Park on the south, contains a
larger number of elk than any other
national forest, although several other,
notably the Olympic Forest in Wash
ington, have herds ranging from 5000
to 1000 head
On all national forests hunting is
allowed in the open season except on
areas established as Federal or
State game refugees.
During the last three years the win
ter losses of elk in the national for
ests surrounding the Yellowstone
Park have been neglible The in
crease in the herds has been high and
two or three years more of mild win
tiers and good summers may bring
another danger point with a die-off
in hard winter such as was expert
enced in 1920.
Forest Service officials point out
that a permanent increase in the elk
of the Northwest, especially around
the Yellowstone, is largely a matter
of available winter range, which is
extremely limited, the greater portion
of the old winter ranges having been
taken up by settlers for homesteads.
The recent big game census also
shows increase during the past few
years in several plants of elk made
on various national forests. The
plant made about ten years ago ON
the Sitgreaves Forest in Arizona con
sisting of about SIS head, now numbers
over $50 head, and it is possible that
the state Game Warden may permit
hunting of elk in the near future in
order to check the rapid growth.
The antelope, or pronghorn are still
in very unsatisfactory situation,
forestry officials say. The census
shows few antelope in many nation
al forests, but nowhere ARE they in
creasng. In northwestern Nevada
and southeastern oregon there is a
large antelope herd, estimated at from
1900 to 5000 head. grazing on public
lands outside of forest areas. An
effort is now being made to secure
the creation of a game refuge which
will cover the habitat of this herd
so that 1t may be protected and saved
from determination
The number of moose on the nation
al forests has been increasing in re-
cent years. The largest number is
found on the Teton National Forest
in northern Wyoming where moose
are now becoming rather, plentiful.
In addition to deer, elk and ante
lope. the estimate lists 14O buffaloes
on National forests, 81 caribou. TO-
500 mountain goats, and 1890 noun
tain sheep.
The buffaloes are mainly on the
Wichita National Forest and Game
Preserve in Oklahoma. Forty buffa-
loes, representing the increase of this
herd beyond the carrying capacity of
its range, have been given to city
parks and> geological gardens during
the last four years. One buffalo
was presented to the Republic of
Mexico and one to Monteyideo, capital
of Uruguay.
The estimate as whole indicates
that except for the antelope there has
been a slight increase in the number
of most big game animals on the ma
tional forests. The census was con-
servative and an underestimate is re-
6utuNh 40 liiOiC ilhSiy thuh an WI
estimate.
The Department of Agriculture calls
attention to the fact that wherever II
has been necessary to protect big game
animals. especially deer and elk. from
competition with cattle and sheep for
forage, the Forest Service has curtail-
ed grazing permits for domestic live
stock. Heavy reductions have been
made on the Kalbab National forest
in Arizona in order to make more for
age available for the rapidly increas-
ing deer herd. About 80 per cent of
the cattle and all sheep have been
withdrawn from certain areas in the
National forests in the Yellowstone re-
gion in favor of the elk grazing in and
near the Yellowstone Park. The
areas thus closed to grazing in that re-
gion amount to over 100000 acres of
excellent range.
AS a rule, except on the Kalbab Ma
tional forest in Arizona. the big game
animals have at this time a sufficient
amount of summer forage for their
needs. but there is general shortage