Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-06-24

venison In the United States.
The flavor of venison is distinctive, though it
suggests mutton rather than beef. In chemical
composition it is very similar to beef lean
venson roast before cooking has been found to
contain on average rs per cent. of water, 20
per cent. of protein or nitrogenous material and
2 per cent. of fat lean beef rump, Go to
10 per cent. of water, 20 to 23 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 13 per cent. Of fat.
The general popularity of venison is so great
and the demand for 1t 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-domestication, the commerce in both Is
very extensive.
The wapti, known generally In America the
elk, is next to the moose, the largest of deer
1T was 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
lcfc ocean.
At the present time the elk found only
in few scattered localities outside of the Vel
Ilowstone 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
lberta, British Columbia and the coast mountains
of Washington, Oregon and northwestern Cafor-
MIA. A band of the small California valley elk
still inhabits the southern part of the San Joa-
quin valley.
The herds that summer in the Yellowstone
National park and In winter spread southwark
and eastward in Wyoming are said to number
taLD hon a,NI ttttnth nnIy QrOa
bands of this noble game animal that are left.
Although protected in their summer ranges and
partially safeguarded from destruction in winter
by the state of Wyoming there is yet great dan
ger that these herds may perish from lack of food
in succession of 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-
siderable number of elk in private game preserves
and parks, well 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 profitable business of growing elk ven
son for 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 browsing and grazing ami
NAL. While 1t eats grasses freely and has been
known to subsst entirely upon pasture. 1t seems
to prefer mixture of grass and browse.
The elk is extremely polygamous. The adult
bulls shed their antlers annually In March or
April and new attain their full size In about
80 days. The velvet adheres until about Au
gust While the horns are growing the bulls usu
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 as many COWS
as he can round up and control.
Although the elk is less prolific than the com
mon deer and some other species that have beer
bred In parks, it increases fully rapidly as the
common red deer of Europe. Moreover, 1t makes
up for any lack of fecundity by Its superior har
diness and ease of management 1t has been ac
climatzed in many parts of the world and shows
the same yigor and hardness wherever 1t hai
been transplanted. In Europe II has been sue
cessfully crossed with the Alta wapiti and thu
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 yenison, That OF the
bulls is in its best condition about the time the
velvet is shed In October their flesh is in thu
poorest condition. AS the open season for ell
is usually In October and November and ONLY
bulls are killed, 1t follows that hunters often OBJ
tain the venison when 1t is poorest The mea