The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1910-07-08

well adapted to their needs About M many elk
can be- kept on such range rs cattle ON AN equal
area of fair pasture. There should be thickets
enough to furnish winter browse but this should
be supplemented by a 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 he found more sat
isfaotoly. Hay and corn fodder are excellent win
ter forage. but alfalfa hay has proved to be the
best dry food for both elk aud 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 a nvc.foot fence Of any kind
viii connne elk
The cost OF stocking an elk preserve is not
great Usually surplus stock from geological parks
or small private preserves may be Obtained ut low
cost. varying with the immediate demand for the
animals
The Virginia or Whitehall deer is the common
deer OF the United States. Including the half
dozen geographic races that occur Within our bor
d,rs It Is distributed over most Of the country
except Nevada and the major portions OF Utah.
Arizona. Washington, oregon and California Il
IN extinct In Delaware and practically In n mum.
Der oi states In the middle west South Of our
borders a number Of closely related species occur
In view Of the wide natural range Of the Nr
glnln deer its adapnbillty nearly all sections Of
the United States cannot be doubted. Testimony
az TO Its hardness IN parks aud preserves is not
unanimous that concerning the elk: but the
general experience Of breeders Is that with suitable
range. plenty Of good water and reasonable caro-
In winter raising this deer for stocking preserves
or for vonison may be- made a. profitable as any
other livestock Industry Not only do deer thrive
land wnsulted for cattle or horses but like elk.
they may be raised to great advantage In brushy
or timbcred pastures fully stocked with cattle or
horses, as the food Of deer rarely includes grass.
Advocates Of the AngOra goat industry state
that within the United States there arc 100000 600
OF land not suited 10 tlage to the pasture
OF horses cattle or sheep. which are well adapted
To goats. Much Of this land Is suited also to deer
and elk aud can be utilized for these animals with
less Injury 10 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.
celyed 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
yCnison more favorable
The chief obstacle TO profitable propagation OF
deer In the United States is the restrictive char
actor Of state laws governing the killing sale aud
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 or
migratory, are the property Of the state A few
states except game animals that are under pri
waite ownership legally acquired"
The laws concerning the season for killing
and the sale Of deer are often equally cmbarrass
ing TO those who would produce venlson for profit
The owner OF domestcated deer cannot legally Kill
his animals except In open season.
Instead Of hamporng breeders by restrictions
as at present state laws should be modified as
TO encourage the raising OF deer, elk and other
animals as a source OF profit TO the individual and
TO the state.
It is believed that with favorable legislation
much otherwise waste land in the United States
may be utilized for the production OF vonison 50
to yield profitable returns and also that this
excellent and nutritious meat, instead OF being
denied 10 80 per cent OF the population OF the
country may become AS common and as cheap In
our markets as mutton,