John Liggitt (cont.) Local hunters are rejecting the 1979 proposed doe hunts - 300 germit, 150 military and 150 civilian. They want complete closure of deer hunting on the post for three years, stepped up control of coyotes and lions. Deer population is much reduced because of about 5 years of extreme overgrazing (through the two drought years 1975 and 1976). Woody browse completely removed in most of south grassland and riparian strips by heavy cattle use during dry season (summer, fall). Ash and willow's high-lined. Guail likewise excluded from the open country. Ground squirrels are high following overgrazing. Now NWR is measuring percent utilization of grass, forbs, and percentage of litter left on ground. This data are completely irrelevant in explaining the scarcity of game today. The western half of the Reserve is mountainous and covered mostly with dense chaparral. As such it doesn't support much game either. Would profit greatly by some controlled burning to open the dense brush as to give some fire security. USFS has a new burning tool used from a helicopter called