Wildlife Management

Wildlife Management requirements at discontinuation

1. Do one:

(a) On a rough sketch of a 5-acre area:

(1) Show and identify the chief types of plant cover.

(2) Show the location (and identify)nests, dens, runways, droppings, feedings and other animal signs.

(b) On a 5-acre area:

(1) Identify three of the chief tree, three of shrub, or three ground cover species used by animals for food, shelter, or cover.

(2) Identify by signs or sight 10 of the animal species found in the area.

2. Describer the value of three wild animals, each as sources of food, clothing and recreation; and the role of three animals each in insect, weed, and rodent control.

3. Do the following;

(a) Describe the damage to wildlife resulting from wildfire, overgrazing, unwise forest practices, soil erosion, unwise drainage, "slick and clean" farming, and water pollution.

(b) Explain the relationship between wildlife and t he natural habitat and how man controls the natural environment.

4. Explain who makes laws setting definite seasons and bag limits on hunting, fishing and trapping in your state, and the reason for the laws.

5. Do one:

(a) Make a wildlife count on each of two contrasting approximate 5-acre plots. Grazed verses ungrazed woodlots; or strip-cropped verses solid planting; or burned over verses not burned over area; or other contrasting areas.

(b) Visit a State or Federal or private game refuge or game management area with a wildlife technician and write at least hundred words on what is being done to make the area better for wildlife.

(c) Visit a game farm or fish hatchery with a wildlife technician and write a report of at least five hundred words on the pros and cons of game stocking against habitat improvement as means of increasing wildlife populations.

(d) Attend a recognized camp for at least a week where conservation is a major part of the program and describe how you will use the information you learned.

(e) Go out for at least 2 days with a commercial fisherman and describe his catch and methods used.

(f) Select one wildlife species common to your neighborhood and find out what management practices user used, or the practices that may be necessary to maintain the species.

6. Do one:

(a) Help build, stock or fertilize a farm pond.

(b) Plant stream or ditch banks to control erosion.

(c) Build a fence or plant a "living fence" to exclude stock from a woodlot, stream or pond banks, or other easily damaged wildlife habitat.

(d) Set out 200 food plants for birds and mammals.

(e) Build three check dams, deflectors, or cover devices in a stream or lake to provide shelter for fish and to help reduce erosion.

(f) Study the fish species in a pond or lake, and, if necessary, carry out such practices as may be necessary to benefit the fish.

(g) Build and set out in suitable places 10 nesting boxes or "den pipes".

(h) Plant a windbreak or hedge or other suitable winter cover for wildlife.

(i) Help plant a gully, road cut, fill or eroding area to reduce erosion, build up soil fertility, and at the same time provide shelter for wildlife.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Wildlife Management Merit Badge Pamphet, 1969 Printing