A unit of Lasting Forests
Sustained forests; sustained profits
evolving since March 30, 1999
of an Alternative Wildlife Resource Management
The Reconnaissance
Wildlife agency and enterprise employees are asked to visit areas to discuss their wildlife values. In some cases, these are general visits, others to begin considering land purchase, in some cases they are officual inspection trips, partially to observe expenditures of federal tax funds dedicated to wildlife conservation and restoration.
This brief unit provides suggestions for such trips, often called reconnaissance.
- Clarify the objective. Society can rarely afford to pay people to have fun in the outdoors. Before the trip or soon within it, get everyone to express their opinion of why the trip is being taken. There are often hidden agendas, grievances not in the open, jvalue judgements being sought for which you may not be qualified.
- Study maps before you depart. Use the internet if no maps are provided. Study maps where such study is convenient. Being uncomfortable can result in haste and you overlooking key features and relationships.
- Study the boundary. This provides the physical context of the management system. Outside variables are as important to animals as things within the ownership. Consider all of the factors about boundaries for which precise data may some day be collected.
- Compute a boundary index, C. The index is the well-known circularity index. The minimum boundary length is the circumference of an area of the same size as the one being visited. Compare the actual to the theoretical length. The ratio is simply
T = Theoretical length of boundary in feet
T = 2 x 3.14 x ((Acres x 43,560)/3.14)0.5
C = Estimate of Actual Boundary Length/ T
The larger this index, the more difficulty there will be in management, cost of maintenance, poaching, trespassing, etc.
- Think about the species area curves. The larger the area, the larger the richness. The greater the difference in elevations, the greater the richness. If these do not occur, try to inquire about the reasons.
- List the species seen (and sign) and discussed. Others that are very likely present can be listed. (Get a list from a local state data base.)
- Discuss potential users of the species. Hunters, trappers, birdwatchers, etc. Note major seasonal differences.
- Who services such people? List stores, rentals, boat docks,ORV rentals, etc. Work on imagining the benefit package that animal-related activities and forms might provide.
- Note signs of intensive use by people
- Note signs of intensive use by animals (grazing, browsing, tracks,kills, scratch and scrape marks)
- Note unusual plants
- Note age of stands and plant communities (wildlife are more a function of age than plant community type)
- Note distribution of key spots such as water, cliffs, salt, winter key areas, elk calving areas, etc.
- Sketch general access, especially foot trails
- Discover how area and its services will be evaluated How will payoffs be judged. Who will evaluate. When? What are the performance measures likely to be?
- Are there nearby future developments? dams, industrial development, land for sale?
- Set up future meetings, conversations, means to answer questions.
- Schedule a report of the visit. when and to whom
Go to the top.
Other Resources:
[ HOME | Lasting Forests (Introductions) | Units of Lasting Forests | Ranging | Guidance | Forests | Gamma Theory | Wildlife Law Enforcement Systems | Antler Points | Species-Specific Management (SSM) | Wilderness and Ancient Forests | Appendices | Ideas for Development | Disclaimer]
This Web site is maintained by R. H.
Giles, Jr.
Last revision July 20, 2000.