National Forests in the Southern Appalachians

As IS THE CASE with trees and other vegetation, the southern Appalachians have a great variety of wildlife. There are nearly 200 kinds of birds, those of interest to the sportsman including duck, rail, woodcock, snipe, plover, quail, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and doves. Among the mammals native to the region are the opossum, black bear, raccoon, marten, weasel, mink otter, skunk, wildcat, red and gray fox, woodchuck or groundhog, chipmunk, beaver, cottontail rabbit, Virginia or white-tail deer, and red, gray, fox, and flying squirrels. Fish include the following game or food species: brook or speckled trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, large and small mouth black bass, rock bass, bream, muskellunge, pickerel, and catfish. Many of the cold and rushing mountain streams are famous for their trout fishing.

From the wildlife, originally so abundant in the southern mountains, the Cherokees and the pioneers who succeeded them derived a large part of their sustenance. Gradually, however, with increases in population, lumbering, the prevalence of forest fires, and incessant hunting in season and out, this wealth of wildlife dwindled until some species were at the verge of extinction. With the protection against fire afforded by the Forest Service, more rigid and better enforced game laws, and an awakening of enlightened public opinion, conditions are now improving and game is on the increase.

As wildlife is one of the renewable natural resources of the national forests, wildlife management is an integral part of the multiple-use plan of forest administration. Because of posted land, leasing of hunting and fishing rights on large areas of private land by hunting clubs, and the purchase of hunting preserves by clubs and wealthy individuals, areas where the average non-landowning citizen can hunt and fish are becoming scarcer. The national forests will always be available, under regulated management, as hunting and fishing grounds for the general public.

Stream-improvement dams create deep pools and fast water where trout love to stay. F—386658

At the fawn farm on the Pisgah National Forest hundreds of young deer are reared as part of the program of restocking the national forests with wildlife. F—386652

On the national forests in the southern mountains, wildlife management areas have been developed by the Forest Service in cooperation with the State fish and game authorities. On these areas hunting and fishing are permitted under such restrictions that the annual kill will not exceed the annual increase, and the stock of wildlife is being built up. The revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing permits is used to finance wildlife activities within the areas, such as protection, predator control, and restocking. Since open seasons, bag limits, and other hunting and fishing restrictions vary from year to year, current information may best be obtained directly from the forest supervisors or State game officials.

STRATEGICALLY located as they are close to the South Atlantic and Gulf coast lowlands, it is little wonder that the southern Appalachians are a Mecca for vacationists. Within a radius of 200 miles, an easy 1-day motor trip, live some 13,000,000 people.

To take care of the increasing number of visitors, the Forest Service has developed a network of scenic roads and trails and a large number of recreation areas. These recreation grounds provide picnic areas equipped with shelters, rustic tables and benches, fireplaces, means for garbage disposal, modern sanitary facilities, and tested drinking water. In connection with many of them, areas have been arranged for both tent and trailer camping. Water sports are very popular in the region, and many small lakes have been created for recreation purposes and bathing facilities provided beside existing lakes and along rivers.

A secluded picnic nook on a national forest recreation area. F—386655

Adhering to the principle of the greatest good to the greatest number, the Forest Service gives first priority to development of picnic and campgrounds and sports areas for the general public. Next in priority are organization camps where mass recreation may be enjoyed by Boy and Girl Scouts, 4—H Clubs, other semi-public organizations, and groups of underprivileged children. These organization camps include sleeping, cooking, and dining quarters, sanitary facilities, recreation halls, and play fields. They are leased to organizations at moderate rates and are very much in demand.

Lower in priority, because of exclusive use by a limited number of people, are sites for summer homes. These are laid out on spur roads where privacy may be assured and are leased at reasonable annual rentals.

THE GREATER part of the territory included in the southern Appalachians is well served by railroads and a network of motor roads. These roads are of two types. Concrete or asphalt national and State highways link the principal towns together and radiate out to all parts of the United States. While most of these highways keep to the valleys, portions of them necessarily cross the mountain ranges and are notably scenic.

Leading from the highways and penetrating deep into the national forests are hundreds of miles of secondary roads constructed and maintained by the Forest Service. Although these roads are not as wide as the highways and have steeper grades and sharper curves, motor travel over them at reasonable rates of speed is perfectly safe. From them countless vistas, glimpses of waterfalls, wooded valleys, and mountain panoramas may be enjoyed.

The southern Appalachian forests afford many opportunities for mountain hiking. The Appalachian Trail, that famous 2,000-mile footpath which follows the mountains from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Mount Oglethorpe in Georgia, traverses some of the most scenic portions of the Cherokee, Pisgah, Nantahala, and Chattahoochee National Forests. Along it at intervals are open-face, Adirondack-type shelters. A detailed description of this trail from Virginia south is given in the "Guide to the Southern Appalachians" issued by the Appalachians Trail Conference, 901 Union Trust Building, Washington, D. C.

Modern highways have opened up the beauties of the national forests to thousands of visitors. This is US 64. F—366656

Intimate woodland trails tempt hikers deep into the national forests. F—386646

Many other interesting trails traverse these national forests. Some of them are adapted to horseback riding, others are footpaths leading to scenic spots in accessible by motor. Nature trails have been developed in connection with some of the recreation areas and are very popular. Along them the many varieties of trees and much of the smaller vegetation have been permanently labeled with their common and scientific names, range, and uses.