Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-06-25

commended as best adapted Tor the production OF
venison in the United States.
The flavor of venfson is distinctive though it
suggests mutton rather than beef In chemical
composition it is very similar to beef lean
venison roast before cooking has been found to
contain on an average rs per cent. of water, 20
per cent. of protein heterogeneous material and
per cent. of fat; lean beef rump, 65 to
20 per cent. of water, 20 to % per cent. of pro-
TEN and to IA cent. of fat; and a lean leg
of mutton, 81 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 so widespread that over
production is improbable. The other products of
the deer-skins and horns-are of considerable
Importance and in countries where deer abun-
dant and especially where large herds kept
in semi the commerce in both is
very extensive.
The wapiti known generally in America as the
elk is, next to the the largest of deer.
1t was once abundant the greater part of the
United States, whence it's 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 it reached the
southern AIleghenies. northern Texas. southern
New Mexico and Arizona; and westward the Pa
cifc
At the present time the elk are found only
in a few scattered localities outside of the Vel
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
berta, British Columbia and the coast mountains
of Washington, Oregon and northwestern Califor-
MIA a band of the small California valley elk
still inhabts the southern part of the San Joa-
quil valley
National park and in winter spread southwark
and eastward in Wyoming said to number
about 10000 head and constitute the only large
bands of this noble game animal that left
Although protected in their summer ranges and
partially safeguarded from destruction in winter
by the state of Wyoming, there is yet great dan
t1nrff
IN a 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 CT animals Further safeguards
needed to place the Wyoming elk herds
You'd the reach of winter starvation.
In addition to the wild herds there is
siderable number of elk in private game preserves
and parks. we'll as in nearly all the public
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 veni-
son for market may be developed At the pres
ent time this species affords promising
field for ventures in breeding for profit
The elk is both browsing and a grazing ami
NAL While it eats grasses freely and has been
known to subsist entirely upon pasture it seems
to prefer a mixture of grass and browse
The elk is extremely polygamous- The adult
bulls shed their antlers annually in March
April and attain their full size in about
SO 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 fully matured. the mating
season begins Fights for supremacy then take
place and the victor takes charge of many
he round up and control
Although the elk is less prolific than the COM
deer and some other species that have been
bred in parks it increases fully rapidly as the
common red deer of Europe Moreover, it makes
up for any lack of fecuudity by its superior har-
diness and ease of management 1t has been &C
climaiized in many parts of the world and shows
the vigor and hardness wherever it has
been transplanted In Europe it has been sue
cessfully crossed with the Altai wapft 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.
is superior in flavor to most venison- That of the
bulls is best condition about the time the
velvet is she'd In October their flesh is in the
poorest condition. AS the open season for elk
ls usually in October and November and only
balls are killed. it follows that hunters often OBJ
ain the yenison when 1t is poorest The meat