Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-06-23


I Esss%A - American preserves. the elk
Il and Virginia deer are rec
commended as best adapted for the production of
venison in the United States.
The favor of venison is distinctive though It
suggests mutton rather than beef. In chemical
composition It is very similar to beef. lean
yenison roast before cooking has been found to
contain on an average rs per cent of water, 20
per cent. of protein or heterogeneous material and
per cent. Of fat; lean beef rump some 65 to
10 per cent. of water, 20 to % per cent. of pro-
tein and to Ia per cent. of fat and lean leg
Of mutton, 67 per cent. of water 10 per cent of
protein and Is per cent. of fat.
The general popularity of venison is SO great
| and the demand for it widespread that over
production is improbable. The other products of
the deer-skins and horns-are of considerable
Importance and in countries where deer are album
dant and especially where large herds are kept
4 in semi-domestication, the commerce in both is
4 very extensive.
N The wapiti, known generally In America as the
elk is, next to the moose, the largest of deer.
1t was once abundant the\greater part of the
United States, whence its range extended north
ward to about latitude go degrees in the Peace
river region of the interior of Canada In the
United States the limits of It's 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.
cifc ocean.
N At the present time the elk are found only
in few scattered localities outside of the Vel
n lowstone National park and the mountainous
country surrounding it, where large herds remain.
Smaller herds still occur In Colorado, western
Montana, Idaho, eastern Oregon, Manitoba, Al
h berta, British Columbia and the coast mountains
4 of Washington, Oregon and northwestern Califor-
mia. band of the small California valley elk
still nhabits the southern part of the San Joa-
gum vail ley
The therds that summer in the Yellowstone
Nationai park and in winter spread southwark
and es 'tward In Wyoming are said to number
about 10000 head and constitute the only large
4 Dand' jof this noble game animal that left.
aAltb Ugh protected in their summer ranges and
ESeSSg.ly safeguarded from destruction In winter
1sby 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
fthe large numbers of animals Further safeguards
Rre needed to place the Wyoming elk herds be.
yond the reach of winter starvation
Ia In addition to the wild herds there is a con-
4 siderable 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, some of the former
ranges of this animal may restocked and from
which a profitable business of growing elk vent
BON for market may be developed. At the pres.
h ent time this species affords a most promising
Held for ventures in breeding for profit
The elk is both browsing and grazing ami
hal. While 1t eats grasses freely and has been
Known to subsist entirely upon pasture. it seems
Il 10 prefer mixture of grass and browse.
The elk is extremely polygamous. The adult
bulls shed their antlers annually in March or
F.. April and ones attain their full size in about
+ 10 days. The velvet" adheres until about Au-
lust. While the horns growing the bulls usu-
lily lead solitary lives; but early in September,
then the horns are fully matured, the mating
3eSrsA begins. Fights for supremacy then take
lace and the victor takes charge of as many COWS
IS he can round up and control
Although the elk is less prolific than the com
hon deer and some other species that have been
5bred In parks, it increases fully rapidly the
ommon red deer of Europe. Moreover, 1t makes
ZIP for any lack Of fecundity by its superior har
A ,lness and ease of management It has been ao-
+ limatized in many parts Of the world and shows
ne same vigor and hardness wherever it has
been transplanted. In Europe II has been sue
essfully crossed with the Altai wapiu and the
ed deer aud in both Instances the offspring were
upertor IN size and stamina to the native stock
The flesh of the elk although somewhat coarse
3uiis is IN its best condition about the time the
elyet Is shed, In October their flesh is in the
oorest condition. AS the open season for elk
usually Ia October and November and only
ulIs arc killed 1t follows that hunters often OBJ
Sin the vepison when il Is poorest The meat