Douglas Daily Dispatch

Official Survey
Chiricahua Game
And Make Report
Deer Are Found to Be
Plentiful and Protected
By Natural Retreats.

By D. G. PROTASSN

According to the members of a party consisting of representatives of the U. S. biological survey, the U. S. forest service, the Arizona game and fish commission, and the Arizona Game Protective association, who made a co-operative examination of the Chiricahua division of the Coronado national forest during May, "Arizona now has an unusually progressive and constructive game code."

This party made a very comprehensive examination of the forest to determine the number of deer in the Chiricahuas, to learn the extent to which the feed was being utilized and what damage, if any, being done, what plants were being utilized most and whether or not additional protection was needed either for the game or the feed.

The party consisted of nine men, most of them specialists in this type of work and men who have had years of experience along these lines. They rode the Crest trail by Center camp and Monte Vista lookout to Turkey creek ranger station, and returned to camp via Bootlegger trail and Rock creek. The next day they rode north along the Crest trail and down Horsefall canyon into Pinery canyon, south into Pine creek and up this to Barfoot park, and over other parts of the forest.

They inspected the range, plants fed on and extent to which utilized. They found "In order of importance, species adapted to game animals are: Snowberry, mahogany, gamble oak, live oak, willows and aspen. Some utilization is being secured of various weeds and the dry land sedge." The lower portions of the range are apparently being used more than the higher. They found, however, that no noticeable injury was being done to the conifers.

Their report says "During the past year a game census was secured by forwarding a questionnaire to several stockmen and two rangers. By this process it was estimated that there are approximately 2,500 deer on the Chiricahuas. Judging from the signs and the number of deer seen by members of the party, it is believed that this estimate is most conservative. The consensus of opinion is that there are probably two-and-a-half times that number." They found that "hunting and predatory animals have maintained a balance between available feed and number of animals. Due to the fact that the area contains a number of natural refuges where little or no hunting ever will occur, there is little danger of depletion of the herd or the removal of a greater number than good management would dictate."

In their summary of conclusions and recommendations they stated that "In this particular case we are not confronted with the disposal of surplus animals but rather with maintenance of the herd at about its present number."

They consider that "the introduction of turkeys is a desirable form of game propagation."

They recommend "that the entire Chiricahua division be left open to hunting deer during the season established" except "that in order to protect recreational interests around Rustler and Barfoot parks, these areas be closed to hunting." "That adequate game warden service be secured properly to protect turkeys and prevent violation of the game code." "That control of predatory animals be continued" and "that active co-operation between the interested agencies be continued and the public be furnished with facts in regard to the conditions prevailing."

The establishment of refuges is one of the points to be discussed tonight at the Game Protective association meeting at the city hall at 8 o'clock. Other things to be considered will be changes in the game laws considered desirable by local sportsmen, the stocking of the Chiricahua mountains with game animals and birds, the selection of delegates to attend the state convention in Phoenix on Oct. 5 and the selection of officers in the state association for the next year.

Everyone who is interested in these things should attend this meeting and voice their opinions on the matters under consideration. Everyone is invited to attend but only those members in good standing will be allowed to vote.