Game conservation for the high school boy and girl

For several years teachers in the public schools have attempted to teach game conservation, but have been confronted with the problem of having available sufficient information on the subject. They have found an abundance of material which has been written in the field, but very little of it has been written in the language of the youth or the layman. This condition has seriously handicapped both teacher and pupil, resulting in fewer units being taught in the field of game conservation.

It has been the intention of the author to prepare a volume that would meet the requirements of the high school boy and girl in supplying subject matter material in the field of game conservation. The thesis is divided into three parts, namely: (1) The interdependence of Living Things: (2) Practical Game Management; and (3) Natural and Life Histories of Game Species found in Virginia.

The intention of Part I is to attempt to make the pupil realize the necessity and importance of conserving the natural resources, and to show how one form of life is dependent upon other forms. They must realize the necessity of man conforming to the plan of interdependence as set up by nature. Conservation of any of our natural resources must be by this plan or it is doomed.

Much has been written on the subject of game management, but relatively little has been organized for use by the general public. It has been written for the technical experts and not in a language understandable by the average person. It has, therefore, been the intention of the author to take the most practical and usable information from the many sources and translate it into material for the average person.

Suggested pupil activities were listed in most of the chapters of Part II. Two activities were analyzed in the chapter “Taking a Census of Game Populations” to give the teacher a guide to go by in developing other activities. It was the opinion, not only of the author, but of many consultants, that the content should not be procedure but should be confined mainly to subject matter. From this could evolve unit plans or job analysis suitable to the group with whom the teacher is working.

Part III deals with a relatively complete and concise natural and life history description of game species found in Virginia. It will be found that much additional information may be procured from various sources for specific groups or species. The author has attempted to compile, sort, and simplify the material so that it may be in a readable form for the average practical conservationist.