The Coconino sun., 1924-10-24
GOVERNMENT SAYS
KAIBAB DEER HERD
MUST BE REDUCED

The Kaibab deer herd which has
been protected against hunting and
natural enemies since 1905 is increas-
ing so rapidly it is estimated that the
herd now numbers over 10000, with
an annual increase Of five to six thou
sand fawns.
The problem with which the depart
ment of agriculture is now faced, ac-
co1ding to the U. S. forest service, is
how to keep this herd within the limits
which the region will support To
/ help solve this problem the secretary
of agriculture secured the services and
the advice of number of gentlemen,
who are experts ia game and forage,
to act as special committee to in
vestigate the situation on the ground
The particular problems which the
committee was asked to investigate
were to check the estimate made by
the department of agriculture officials
and the rate of increase; to estimate
the size of the herd which can be
maintained on the Kaibab national fof-
est in a thrifty condition and to what
extent the herd can be helped by a
further reduction IN grazing of DO
nestle stock, considering the need of
local settlers, and if the herd can
thereafter be maintained without an
annual reduction and what the reduc
tion should be and how accomplished.
The committee was composed OF
John B. Burnham, chairman, repre-
senting the American Game Protective
association, Haywood Cutting of the
Boone and Crockett club, T. Gilbert
Pearson of the Audubon society and
the National Parks association,e and
T. W. Tomlinson of the American
Livestock association.
AS a result of the detailed investl- |
cation made by the committee they
reported that, in the opinion of the |
members the official estimates of ap-
proximately 10000 and the increase
Of five to six thousand fawns per year
is conservative. Furthermore, from
The testimony given by local witnesses
examined during the investigation, the |
number may be considerably in excess |
Of that amount
Regarding the food supply and the |
competition with domestic stock they |
found that the immediate withdrawal |
Of all livestock from the forest would /
not help the ultimate situation, be-
cause it would only postpone tempor /
arily their inevitable starvation, which /
was freely predicted would occur "
he excessive increase is not checked.
The committee found, in the first five
days spent in the game preserve, that
nearly all Of the deer seen were in
poor condition although the inspection
was made at time when the deei
should have been in the pink of con-
lftirp Tb1r ovrat, oYOVlioJ ~ h,c, h,.n11c
As to what should be done with the
domestic stock the committee suggests
that all domestic stock except those
belonging to local settlers who are en-
irely dependent upon the forest for
moved. The Grand Canyon Cattle COM
oany which originally grazed the
greater portion of the Kaibab forest, :
having at one time 10000 head of cat
lie and horses, has been eliminated
md none of its cattle have grazed on
he forest during the 1924 season and
Is permit has been finally disposed Of.
This leaves only the small stockmen
.bove referred TO which the committee
cit it would be unjust to deprive of
,razing privileges and furthermore
hat the few stock held by these set
fers would not materially affect the
ood supply Of the deer due to their
lifferent grazing habits.
In conclusion the special committee
'tates that it is generally conceded
hat the present herd in the Grand
'anyon game preserve is much great
r than the range can support in a !
hrifty condition, and the committee
eheves that the immediate remedy is
0 reduce the herd so per cent and re-
move these as quickly as possible This