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Requirements January 1957 until June 1972

1. Do one:

(a) On a rough sketch of a five-acre area--

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

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

(b) On a five-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, ten of the animal species found in the area.

2. Describe 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. (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 the 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 five-acre plots. Grazed versus ungrazed wood lots; or strip cropped versus solid planting; or burned-over versus 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 500 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 500 words on the pros and cons of game stocking against habitat improvements 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 two 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 are 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 wood lot, 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 ten 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.

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* As a 4-H'er, complete a club project in this subject. Or as an FFA member, meet these or equivalent requirements through the FFA supervised farming program.