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About Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 1960)
PAGE TWO THE DEMING CREEK BURN can be seen outlined In part in this photo taken during a re cent show-me trip of the area. Photo by McGee 1 . -- -. . .V ' V ft ' GEARHART MOUNTAIN looms up through a panel of trees in this shot taken by Roberta McGee while on a show-me tour of the area under the auspices of the Forest Service last summer. The group on the tour was given a thorough indoctrination in conversation practices in the timber country. - Photo by McGee K.f -t-V 'id,? NtJ.-'-S.-:-! gliimmmmmmmmmi'He m.mmmmm .w jr.an p.-.- BITTERBRUSH. main staple of the deer diet for the Gearhart area, is being studied her I.- cL Dunnino as ha outline the study plot plan to the members of last summer's show- . trip through this area. HERALD AND . NEWS, KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON V l ft S ( t x ' 1 Photo by McG.o Show-Me Trip Forest Area Proves Of Interest To Correspondent By ROBERTA McGEE Have you ever wondered about the beautiful forests that nature has provided for us? No doubt you have and you have probably wondered, too. about what is being done to protect and develop these natural resources of water, game, timber and forage that are pro duced in these forests and are a part of the heritage that na ture has blessed us with. Your de sire to know' about these tilings is well founded, for you. are a part owner in them. Each citizen of these United States owns a part of these forests just as surely as they own the home they are build ing or buying. These forests are important to everyone, they pro duce the very life-blood upon which this great nation survives and grows. To stimulate your in terest in this subject and to learn how a small part of this public land is being managed we would like to invite you to share in our experiences on a show-me-irip through the Ely District of the re- mont National Forest. This show-me-trip of the Dem- ing Creek Burn Area was care fully planned by Frank Dunning assistant ranger and Ellis Gross, head ranger of the Bly District ranger station. In the party mak ing the tour were Dillard Shipler, science and math teacher at Bo nanza High School; Mrs. Shipler; Chuck Steber, principal of Bonan za school; Ellis Erwin, coach and industrial arts teacher at Bonanza Bly teachers, Mrs. Otto Olson fifth grade; Mrs. Walter Cambron fourth grade, Mrs. Warren Jone ichiet, first grade; Miss Sandra Lindsey, science and PE; Jack Jones, sixth grade and Roberta McGee, correspondent; Ellis Gross, Frank Dunning and Gene Pierson, forest service personnel. The tour started at 9 o'clock May 23 at the Bly ranger station The wind was blowing and the air brisk. Herbert Hadley, district as sistant, started the conducted tour over the station grounds by lead ing the way up to the cab of the emergency lookout which is main tained at the station. The cab is 7x7 feet and it felt mighty com fortable to get in out of the wind. In the center of the cab was sit uated an instrument called a fire finder. The operation of the in strument was demonstrated. The lookouts go through an extensive training course for fire detection before they are stationed aloft. There are permanent lookout sta tions that are 7 x 14 feet and con tain living quarters for lookouts who are on duty all summer, from July 1 to October 1. Planes have been used for pa trolling the region after lightning storms for about three days, then they wait awhile and patrol again, as sometimes a fire known as a sleeper" pops up from the light ning. A "sleeper . is a fire that smolders for several days before exploding into flame. Planes are- also used during a large forest fire area to check how the (ire is progressing. Horsefly lookout was opened for one week during the dry spell in April. There are three lookouts manned during the summer. They are Fishhole Mountain, Horsefly Mountain and Lookout Rock (located south slope of Gearheart Mountain). After descending the steep steps of the tower the group walked to the new crew quarters which will house the fire suppression crew and timber stand improvement crew. The crew quarters are in a barracks-type building 24 X 42 feet, which will house a crew of 10 men. The building is complete with shower facilities and lock ers. It is finished attractively in soft colors to help make the quar SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 1960 Through Big ters have a real comfortable feel ing of relaxation. These improved facilities will enable a full crew to be available for the necessary work to be done during the sea son. Meals for the men are taken at the two local cafes. The fire suppression crew is made up of about a fourth to a half of forestry students and the balance by local residents hired as crew members. At 9:30 a.m. we boarded the two carryall panel trucks which were equipped with radios. Gross and Dunning each , taking a group with them. The first stop of the tour was the Deer Hurdle Plot. This bitter- brush hurdle and study plot was viewed closely and the effects of browsing by deer and cattle in the (Gearheart area) Bly winter range ot the Bly deer herd, which in nor mal times browse the brush back and the effects can be seen. The purpose of this type of plot is to determine the use made of certain types of plants by the deer and permitted livestock. Bitterbrush is usually the most desirable plant in the area and to a deer it is like ice cream to a child. To establish this use the fol lowing steps are followed: 1. Three plants of about equal size and vigor are selected. 2. These plants are tagged with identifying numbers and photo graphed. 3. Two of these plants are fenced to exclude all grazing use by both deer and livestock. The third is left unprotected. 4. Each year following the graz ing season for the permitted stock, the fence around one of the plants (the same one each year) is re moved. This plant is then available for deer browsing. 5. Approximately the same time each year the plants are all repho tographed and a study made of the actual use made on the plant by deer and livestock. Through a succession of years, readings and recordings of the ac tual use by livestock and deer are computed and we can determine the actual competition between deer and livestock. From that we determine the allotment of live stock for that area, This was the first year for this experiment. The Dave Campbell ranch was viewed on the way up and showed what good a little water can do to the ground. Juniper trees can't stand too much water and where there is irrigation the - trees are dying out. These trees are. being replaced with forage plants. Juniper trees are of little value. Dave Campbell was chosen the Oregon Grassman of the Year in 1957 and was also the district win ner for the Oregon . Cattlemen s Association of the same year for this land improvement project. ' The juniper trees were high skirted in many areas due to the area being overgrazed by deer in the wintertime. Juniper isn't eaten unless there is nothing else to eat. The forest service is trying to control the deer herd by cooper ating with the state game com mission. It has been quite a chore convincing the sportsmen that we (Continued on Page 3) THE COVER . This was about as close to a winter scene as Herald) and News photographer We Guderian could come this year. The picture was taken - early this week at Moore Park and shows the road winding up toward the mailt viewpoint.
