Aspen fencing in northern Arizona: A 15-year perspective

Aspen clearcuts in the 1960s and 1970s on the Peaks Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona failed to regenerate successfu lly because of browsing primarily by elk. Since 1985, over 400 acres have b een successfully regenerated using fencing of various designs to exclude el k. The expense and visual impact of establishing and maintaining over 20 mi les of fence along with continued damage to aspen greater than 3.0 inches d .b.h. outside the fenced areas have resulted in the Arizona Came and Fish D epartment increasing the elk hunting permits by 400% in an effort to reduce the elk herd in the area of the San Francisco Peaks.