7028 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-33- the carrying capacity of a substantial fraction of the existing winter range. Within the general limits of the area these elk now use in the winter, two blocks of land could be acquired for this purpose. These lands could then be developed and managed to increase their quality as elk winter range. In this way, the carrying capacity of the entire area now used by wintering elk could be increased enough to maintain the existing herd during severe winters, and to keep elk depredations on project lands to an acceptable level--at least no worse than it is ^ now. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has identified 16,335 acres of land that could be acquired and managed as winter range for elk. These lands include 8,220 acres in private ownership, 5,510 acres of Federal land, and 2,605 acres of State land (Plate IV). It is estimated that the cost to purchase them would be $1,790,625. This estimate is based on 8,325 nonirrigated acres of State and private land at $125 per acre, and 2,500 acres of irrigated private land at $300 per acre. No cost is allocated against the 5,510 acres of Federal land. Since these lands are already supporting elk during the winter, acquisition alone would neither increase their carrying capacity nor preclude increased depre- /' dations on project lands. Therefore, domestic livestock use on these lands would have to be carefully controlled in order to make additional forage available for elk.