The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-06-23


we'll adapted to their needs. About as many elk
can be kept such range as cattle on an equal
of fair pasture. There should be th1ckets
enough to furnish winter browse, but this should
be supplemented by supply of winter forage.
Except when deep SHOWS cover the ground, elk
will keep in good condition ordinary pasture
and browse, but system of management that pro-
vides other food regularly will be found more sat
isfactory. Hay and fodder are excellent win
ter forage, but alfalfa hay has proved to be the
best dry food for both elk and deer.
Elk are much less nervous than ordinary deer
and less disposed to jump fences. When they
escape from an enclosure they usually return of
their own accord. If tame, they may be driven
like cattle. Ordinarily ivefoot fence of any kind
will contine elk
The cost of stocking an elk preserve is not
great. Usually surplus stock from geological parks
small private preserves may be obtained at low
cost, varying with the immediate demand for the
animals
deer of the United States. Including the half
dozen geographic races that within bor
ders, it is distributed most of the country
except Nevada and the major portions of Utah.
Arizona, Washington, Oregon and California. It
is extinct in Delaware and practically so in num-
Der of states in the middle west South of our
borders a number of closely related species
In view of the wide natural range of the Vir
ginia deer it's adaptability to nearly all sections
the United States cannot be doubted Testimony
to its hardness in parks and preserves is not
so unanimous that concerning the elk; but the
general experience of breeders is that with suitable
range plenty of good water and reasonable care
in winter, raising this deer for stocking preserves
or for venison may be made profitable any
other livestock industry. Not only do deer thrive
on land unsuited for cattle horses, but like elk
they may be raised to great advantage in brushy
or timbered pastures fully stocked with cattle or
horses, the food of deer rarely includes grass
Advocates Of the Angora goat industry state
within
acres of land not suited to tage to the pasture
of horses, cattle or sheep, which we'll adapted
to goats Much Of this land is suited also to deer
and elk and can be utilized for these animals with
less injury to the forest cover than would result
from browsing by goats
Virginia deer have often been bred in parks for
pleasure in large preserves for sport but the
economic possibilities in raising them have re-.
ceived little attention. Recently breeders have
recognized the fact that they are profitable under
proper management and would be much more so
were conditions for marketing live animals and
venison moro favorable.
The chief obstacle to profitable propagation of
deer In the United States Is the restrictive char
acter of state laws governing the killing sale and
transportation of game. Many of the states, fol-
lowing precedent, lay down the broad rule that all
the game animals in the state, whether resident
migratory, the property of the state. few
states except game animals that under pri.
vate ownership legally acquired"
The laws concerning the season for killing
and the sale of deer often equally embarrass-
ing to those who would produce venison for profit.
The owner of domestcated deer cannot legally kill
his animals except in open season.
Instead Of hamperng breeders by restrictions.
at present. state laws should be so modified as
to encourage the raising of deer, elk and other
animals as source of profit to the individual and
to the state.
1t is believed that with favorable legislation
much otherwise waste land in the United States
may be utilized for the production of venison so
to yield profitable returns and also that this
excellent and nutritious meat, instead of being
denied to 80 per cent. of the population OF the,
country may become as common and as cheap ~
our markets as muffin.