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WILDLIFE co ~ ~ Stackyard Fencing ~ 1. Question - What is the rationale behind the provision of stackyard fencing as a mitigation measure? Answer - The critical factor in the maintenance of populations of western big game herds is the amount of available winter feed; because this is often hard to find, large numbers of deer and elk are attracted to haystacks on nearby farms, This results in damage claims being filed against the States by the farmer, In order to reduce the number and size of claims filed, the States reduce the size of the herds involved. Therefore, by preventing this depredation with game-proof fencing, it becomes unnecessary for the States to limit game herd sizes, 2, Question - Will stackyard fencing be effective? Providing materials for stored crops protection on a once-only basis will generally have a useful life of less than 10 years, thereby making this solution a temporary solution, Answer - The plan for stackyard fencing was developed in cooperation with the States of Colorado and Wyoming, It would provide the ranchers material to build hay storage areas that would exclude deer and elk. This would reduce game damage to stored hay but would not eliminate it, nor would it elimi- nate the necessary efforts of local conservation officers to keep damage under control in the winter months, The solution would be temporary if indeed the materials lasted only 10 years and were not replaced. The Bureau assumes that if the material were effective in protecting a rancher's hay, he would maintain and replace it in such a manner that it was not a temporary measure, since such rehabilitation would constitute good range management, "Panel type" stackyard material may have a useful life span of only 10 years but permanent stackyards constructed of wooden posts and woven wire should have a considerably longer useful life and are utilized by the State of Colorado today. 3. Question - What protection is planned to prevent damage to cultivated crops or grass? Answer - There is no way to prevent such damage.