The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-07-16

well adapted to their needs. About as many elk
can be kept on such range as cattle on an equal
area of fair pasture. There should be thickets
enough to furnish winter browse, but this should
be supplemented by supply of winter forage.
Except when deep SHOWS cover the ground, elk
VIII 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 excellent win
ter forage but alfalfa hay has proved to be the
best dry food for 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 fvefoot 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 Whitehall deer is the common
deer OF the United States. Including the half
dozen geographic races that occur within our Dor.
ders, 1t 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 num-
Der of 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 vir
ginia deer its adaptabiity to nearly all sections of
the United States cannot be doubted Testimony
as to its hardness in parks and preserves is not
SO unanimous as 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
or for venison may be made as profitable as any
other livestock industry. Not only do deer thrive
on land unsuited for cattle or horses but like elk
they may be raised to great advantage in brushy
or timbered pastures fully stocked with cattle or
horses, as the food of deer rarely includes grass
nat Ind,
that within the United States there are 25o00o0 900
acres of land not suited to age or to the pasture
of horses. cattle sheep. which are well ADAPTED
to goats Much Of this land is suited also to deer
and elk and can be utilized for these animals with
less injury to the forest cover than would result
from browsing by goats.
Virginia deer have often been bred in parks 10,
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 propaxation Of
deer in the United States is the restrictive char
acter Of state laws governing the killing sale and
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
are the property of the state. 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 often equally embarrass-
Ing to those who would produce venison for profit
The owner of domesticated deer cannot legally kill
bis animals except in open season.
lnstend of hampering breeders by restrictions.
as at present state laws should be SO modified as
10 encourage the raising of deer elk and other
animals as source of profit to the individual and
10 the state.
1t is believed that with favorable legislation
much otherwise waste land in the United States
nay be utilized for the production of venison go
Is to yield profitable returns and also that this
excellent and nutritious meat, instead of being |
tented to 80 per cent Of the population of the |
'ur markets mutton. !