The Carlisle independent., 1910-06-23

well adapted to their needs About as many elk can be kept such a range as cattle on an equal area of fair pasture. There should be thlckets enough to furnish winter browse, but this should be supplemented by a supply of winter forage
 Except when deep snows 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 corn fodder are excellent win ter forage, but alfalfa hay has proved to be the best dry food fer 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 ve-foot fence of any kind will confine elk
 The cost of stocking an elk preserve is not great Usually surplus stock from geological parks or small private preserves may be obtained at 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 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 Der of states in the middle west. South of our borders number of closely related species occur.
 In view of the wide natural range of the vir- gna deer its adaptability nearly all sections of the United States cannot be doubted. Testimony as to it's 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 for venison may be made profitable any other livestock industry. Not only do deer thrive 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 that within the United States there 250,000000 of land not suited to tillage 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 be utilized for these animals with less injury to the forest 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 are profitable under proper management and would be much more so were 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 or migratory, the property of the state. A few states except game animals that are under pri- 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, as at present, state laws should be modified as to encourage the raising of deer, elk and other animals 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 venison so to yield profitable returns and also that this excellent and nutritious meat, instead of being denied to 99 per cent. of the population of the country may become as common and as cheap in our markets as mutton.