The new era., 1910-06-30

well adapted to their needs About as many elk
can be kept on such range as cattle on an equal
area OF fair pasture. There should be thickets
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 on ordinary pasture
and browse but system of management that pro-
vides other food regularly will be found more sat
sfactory- Hay and corn fodder are excellent win
ter forage,ab 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 enclosure they usually return of
their own accord. II tame. they may be driven
like cattle. Ordinarily fye-foot fence of any kind
will con1ne elk. tft.1a 81 ois-r --a ri
, 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 ft'. W
The Virginia or Whitehall deerlis the common
deer OF the United States. Including the half
dozen geographic that occur within bor-
ders, it is distributed most of the country.
except Nevada and the major portions Of Utah.
Arizona. Washington Oregon and California. 1t
is extinct in Delaware and practically so in mum.
ber of states in the middle west. South of
borders number OF closely related species occur.
a NJ In view, of the wide natural range Of the Vir-
gnia deer It's adapability to nearly all sections of
the United States cannot be doubted. Testimony
as to its hardness in parks and preserves is not
SO unanimous as that concerning the elk; but the
general experience OF breeders Is that with suitable
range, plenty Of good water and reasonable
In winter, raising this deer for stocking preserves
or for venson may be made profitable any
other livestock industry Not only do deer thrive
on land unsuited for cattle or horses but like elk.
they may be raised to great advantage In brushy
timbered pastures fully stocked with cattle
horses, the food OF deer rarely includes grass.
Advocates of the Angora goat industry state
that within the United States there $50 900
of land not suited to tilage to the pasture
ada Dted
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 or 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 profitable under
proper management and would be much more SO
conditions for marketing live animals and
venison more 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. are the property of the state. few
states except game animals that under prt
vate ownership legally acquired" ..-
The laws concerning the season for killing
and the sale Of deer are often equally embarrass.
ing to those who would produce venison for profit.
The of domesticated deer cannot legally kill
his animals except in open season.
Instead of hampering breeders by restrictions.
at present state laws should be SO modified as
to encourage The raising of deer. elk and other
animals 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 50 per cent. of the population Of the
country may become common and as cheap IN
markets mutton.