The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-02-17
CARRIERS ELK FOLLOWING
THE HAY WAGON.

| CHEYENNE, Wyo., Feb. H.
There are farms and farms
chicken farms, rabbit farms, ALI.
gator farms, frog farms, oyster
farms, lobster, farms, squat
farms, goat farms, skunk farms
and pelican farms-but ]. ]. Car
ter of Jacksons Hole, Uinta coun-
ty, has farm probably unique in
the world.
He raises elk.
There have been tall stories
lately having to do with chicken
farms, and the hefty profits to be
derived therefrom. Carter lets
'em all talk much as they are of
mind to.
But in the six years he's been
puttering along with his herd of
pet elk-S0 head in it now and the
numbers growing-he's cleaned
up some $4,000 and had his
health, his living and a good time
besides.
Carter supplies many elk to
city ZOOS. He has been paid as
high as $500 for single bull elk
delivered to the railroad alive for
shipment to some park. There is
also good profit in slaughtering
them. The meat sells at high fig
ures. The skeletons and skins,
ready for mounting in full fig
ure, have a ready sale, while
heads, teeth and horns can always
be disposed of to a fraternal or
der and to clubs and hotels for
TROPHIES.
The sharpest demand is for the
younger animals. Yearling does
fetch from 500 to 5000, depend
ing upon their condition, and
fawns of either sex sell for from
$40 to 800.
Taking into consideration the
fact that elk are no harder or more
Expensive to raise than cattle, any
farmer can appreciate these fig
ures. The herds are very prolific,
usually producing calves to equal
SIS per cent of the number of
adults each year.
The speckled fawns can be
shipped as soon as they are old
enough to leave their mothers.
They are easy to handle, and as a
rule they thrive well in their new
habitats and grow to be large,
handsome animals.
Jacksons Hole is the last stand
of the noble elk in the western
United States. The Hole is a siz-
able valley, embroidered all
around with such a network of in
terlaced, difficult mountains that
the depression might originally
have been blow of Titan's fist
In the valley and on the slopes
of the mountains leading down
into it live, it is estimated, $4,000
wild elk.
This is more than were in the
valley a few years ago. They have
been increasing rapidly, benefit
ed by rigid game laws.
Twenty years ago the noun
tains of Wyoming and Colorado
swarmed with elk, antelope and
deer. That was about the time
Carter settled in Jacksons Hole
He used to ride from his ranch
the few miles to the postoffice at
Jackson and see thousands of elk.
The majestic beauty of the ami
mails appealed to him.
A few years ago Carter saw
the elk were going just as he had
seen the buffalo go. He saw the
commercial possibilities in rear
ing them.
He obtained state permission
and spent one winter pursuing the
elk with lasso. He kept at 1t
until he had roped and hogtied II
young animals and hauled them
to his corral in wagons. From
their natural increase he has sold
scores and still has his herd of so
adults and score of fawns. They
are as tame as cattle.
This winter has been a hard
one on the wild elk of Jacksons
Hole. 1t is estimated 1000 have
died of starvation. So ravenous
has been their hunger that they
have been breaking through
ranch fences and eating the hay
meant for Carter's herd.
The state has appropriated
$1,000 for feeding the wild elk,
and 1t is common to see thousands
of them, dociIe as lambs through
hunger, following the state hay
wagons.
It has been pitiful this winter
when Carter has found some
starving elk fallen dead from hun
ger Just outside the corral, while
| inside the so fat cousins, belly
deep in snow. have gazed on the
disaster and continued to chew
their cuds placidly.
SaNIE8A Hats rebiocket
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