The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-06-29

commended best adapted for the production o.!
vea'son in the United States.
The favor OF venison Is distinctive. though II
suggests mutton rather than beef In chemical
Corrosition II Is very similar to beef. A lean
version roast before cooking has been found to
con ain average IS per cent. OF water, 20
pr cent OF protein or nitrogeaous material and
per cent OF fat: lean beef rump. some G5 to
10 Per cent. OF water. 20 to % per cent. OF pro
taln and to IL per cent. Of fat: and lean leg
Gf mutton CO per cent. of water. 10 per cent. of
E-otein and - per cent. OF fat.
The general popularity of venison is so grea,
and the demand for It widespread that over
production is improbable. The other products of
tha ieer-skins and horns-are Of considerable
Importance and in countries where deer are album
tant and especially where large herds kept
IT, semi domeSticatiOn. the commerce In both Is
very extensive.
The wapiti. known generally in America as the
elk. S. next to the moose. the largest of deer
II vas once abundant over the greater part of the
United States. whence its range extended north
ward to about latitude 60 degrees In the Peace
river region OF the Interior of Canada. In the
United States the limits Of its range eastward
were the Adirondacks western New Jersey and
eastern Pennsylvania: southwark 1t reached the
southern Alleghenies. northern Texas. southern
New Mexico and Arizona; and westward the Pa
ciac ocean.
At the present time the elk are found only
In a few scattered localities outside OF the Vel
iowstoae National park and the mountainous
country surrounding 1t. where large herds remain.
Smaller herds still occur In Colorado. western
Montana. Idaho eastern Oregon. Manitoba. Al
barta British Columbia and the coast mountains
OF Washington. Oregon and northwestern Caiifor,
Gia band OF the small California valley elk
Sill inhabits the southern part of the San Joa-
Cun valley.
The herds that summer In the Yellowstone
National park and In winter spread southwark
ani eastward in Wyoming are said to number
about 10000 head and constitute the only large
bands OF this noble game animal that are left.
Although protected In their summer ranges and
partially safeguarded from destruction I'm winter
0y the state OF Wyoming. there is yet great dan
ger that these herds may perish from lack OF food
In succession of severe winters. Partial pro-
vision for winter forage has been made within
the national park but the supply is inadequate for
the large numbers OF animals. Further safeguards
are needed to place the Wyoming elk herds be-
yond the reach Of winter starvation
IN addition to the wild herds there Is a con
s.'sera5e number Of elk in private game preserves
and parks. as we'll as In nearly all the public 20
illogical parks and gardens of this country. The
herds In captivity form the nucleus from which,
under wise management, sonic OF the former
ranges of this animal may restocked and from
which profitable business of growing elk veni-
son ~: market may be developed. At the pres
ent time this species affords most promising
field for ventures In breeding for profit
The elk is both a browsing and grazing ami
NAL! While IL eats grasses freely and has been
known to subsist entirely upon pasture. it seems
To prefer mixture Of grass and browse
The elk is extremely polygamous. The adult
bulls shed their antlers annually In March
April and new ones attain their full size In about
90 days. The velvet" adheres until about Au-
gust. While the horns growing the bulls
ally lead solitary lives: but early in September.
when the horns are fully matured, the mating
season begins. Fights for supremacy then take
place and the victor takes charge Of many cows
rs he can round up and control.
Although the elk is less prolific than the com
mon deer and some other species that have been
bred In parks 1t increases fully rapidly as the
common red deer of Europe. Moreover. it makes
up ter any lack of fecundity by its superior har-
dness and ease of management. 1t has been
ciin,atized in many parts Of the world and shows
the same vigor and hardness wherever 1t has
besn transplanted In Europe II has been
Cessfully crossed with the Altai wapiti and the
red deer and in both instances the offspring were
superior in size and stamina to the native stock
The flesh of the elk. although somewhat coarse
II superior in flavor to most venison. That of the
bulls is in its best condition about the time the
poorest condition AS the open season for elk
Is usually in October and November and only
bulls are killed. 1t follows that hunters often OBJ
tain the velison when It IS poorest. The meat
S1S7S2S7S7S7S7S5RSfE