The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1910-06-23


well adapted to their needs. About many elk
can be kept such range cattle on an equal
of fair pasture There should he thickets
enough to furnish winter browse but this should
be supplemented by supply Of winter forage
Except when deep SHOWS cover the ground elk
will 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 fodder excellent win
ter forage, but alfalfa hay has proved to be the
best dry food for both elk and deer.
Elk much less nervous than ordinary deer
and less disposed to jump fences. When they
escape from enclosure they usually return OF
their own accord If tame they may be driven
like cattle. Ordinarily fve-foot fence of any kind
will confine elk.
The cost of stocking an elk preserve is not
great. Usually surplus stock from geological parks
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 within Dor
ders, 1t is distributed most of the country,
except Nevada and the major portions of Utah.
Arizona, Washington. Oregon and California. II
is extinct In Delaware and practically in
Der of states in the middle west. South of our
borders number Of closely related species occur.
In view of the wide natural range of the Vir-
ginia deer its adaptabity to nearly all sections OF
the United States cannot be doubted. Testimony
as to its hardness in parks and preserves is not
general experience of breeders is that with suitable
range, plenty of good water and reasonable
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
timbered pastures fully stocked with cattle or
horses, the food of deer rarely includes grass.
Advocates of the Angora goat industry state
that within the United States there 250,000 900
of Iand fed IN I1aPa To tha actI1
of horses cattle sheep, which are well. adapted
to goats Much of this land is suited also to deer
and elk and 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 for
pleasure 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 profitable under
proper management and would be much more so
conditions for marketing live animals and
venison favorable.
The chief obstacle to profitable propagation of
deer In the United States is the restrictive char
acter of state laws governing the killing, sale and
transportation 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
migratory, the property of the state. A few
states except game animals that under prt
vate ownership legally acquired"
The laws concerning the season for killing
anu Tue SAFE Oh deer are OIten equally emDarraSS-
ing to those who would produce venson for profit
The owner of domestcated deer cannot legally kill
his animals except in open season.
Instead of hamperng breeders by restrictions.
as at present state laws should be SO modified as
to encourage the raising of deer elk and other
animals source of profit to the Individual and
to the state.
1t is believed that with favorable legislation
much otherwise waste land in the United States
may be utilized for the production of venison Sc
as to yield profitable returns and also that this
excellent and nutritious meat, instead Of being
denied to so per cent. Of the population of the
country may become and as cheap in
our markets as muttoz.