Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 151, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1912 — RAISING DEER ON FOREST PRESERVES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RAISING DEER ON FOREST PRESERVES

FOREST land in Maryland, which is now of not much practical use, may soon be made to return an; indirect revenue as a feeding ground for domestic American elk, white tailed deer, red deer, fallow deer, roebuck or other members of the deer family. This condition, is contingent upon the passage of a bill by the Maryland state legislature authorizing the raising and selling of these deer !n enclosed preserves by the owners of tracts of forest land. The idea is to raise deer for the market, and as there is fine feeding and plenty of If on the cut-over forest lands of the state, much of which may readily be enclosed with wire fences, and as the flesh is good eating and good prices may be commanded for it, there Is -every Indication that, if ; the bill passes'the legislature, the project will prove successful. The plan originated with Mr. William M. Ellicott of Baltimore who has hunted big game in'the United States, Mexico and Canada and who has been interested in learning of conditions in Europe where the markets are well supplied with venison and other game from private preserves and breeding establishments. He is enthusiastically In favor of the plan and is doing what he can to secure the passage of the bill. , Mr. Ellicott In talking of the proposed law said: “At first sight this seems to be a matter of only ordinary interest, but when it is realized that the deer as a wild animal has become practically extinct in Maryland and that only occasionally is venison seen in our markets, and this at almost prohibitive it will be clear that a great benefit may be conferred upop the community and that an Industry of commercial Importance, heretofore unknown in the state, may be established if it becomes a law. < "The deprivation of the public in the matter of venison as a part of the regular dietary is altogether unnecessary and unreasonable. While wild game should be amply protected and means provided for its propogation, it has been amply proved that a large population cannot be kept supplied from that source, and it is reasonable and proper that states where it exists should prohibit its export and sale, as is the case now in all the eastern states. The Business Would Be Profitable. “The sale of game bred and maintained in. Inclosures from stock which has been legitimately acquired is a totally different matter and should be encouraged to the fullest extent. “Both official and unofficial reports go to show that several varieties of deer can be, profitably raised; that they require less carb and subsist upon rougher food than any of the domestic animals except the goat, and that their value for food purposes ranks with the best beef and mutton. “Breeding stock can be had at present at very low prices—$15 to 125 for deer and S2O Jo $75 tor elk (Wapiti) as opportunity affords. According to farmer’s bulletin No. 330, of the United States department of agriculture, the most available source of supply te the surplus from private herds, zoological gardens and parks. “The roughest waste lands with a plentiful growth of underbrush, weeds, etc., and running water are best suited to the enterprise. Deer prefer to brouse on scrub growth and to eat the coarsest weeds rather than the best of hay. When pasture is limited they do well on corn, oats, wild hay and alfalfa. “So rapidly do white-tailed deer, the common variety, increase that preserves soon become overstocked unices their numbers are diminished | from time to time. A herd ot 19 head

which increases to 400 in ten years is one not uncommon instance. The does usually produce twins annually after the second year, when they have i their first fauns. The Rate of Increase, “On our preserve in Pennsylvania, where 90 deer were liberated ten years ago, there are said to be nearly 4,000 head. In many cases the fences have had to be taken down to let them escape owing to shortage of food. “It is probable that the Wapiti, or Rocky Mountain, elk, is best suited to breeding for market. A mature elk will weigh from 600 to 1,000 pounds, and the proportion of meat to correspond is greater than is the case with beef or mutton. Heads, horns and hides are also valuable, and the net return from one animal would be $l5O or more. “Deer and elk become very tame when kindly treated and given a little salt or corn from the hand. “An important fact is that the business can be engaged in by the smallest land owner with very little equipment, while it is also capable of extension if capital is available. - One hundred and sixty acres' can be fenced for S2OO for elk and slightly more for deer. Even in a paddock, with shelter and food, the business can be successfully prosecuted. “In and around the Yellowstone park there are some 30,000 elk. Theft' summer range is in the mountains, but at the beginning of winter they seek the plains where they formerly found ample food to carry them through the winter. In recent years most of this land has been taken up by farmers and the elk find it fenced and haystacks guarded and there Is nothing to save them from starvation. Immense numbers have miserably died in this way. “Meager appropriations have recently been made by State of Wyoming to feed them, but this has not proved altogether successful and there is still untold suffering and waste. It lias been suggested that some of these elk should be transported to other ranges or put on private estates where they will be cared for. Divided up among the states they would soon become a source of profit. While in this present condition they only excite pity and are practically useless. “A large private herd in Montana has recently been sold in Italy, where they will be set at liberty on preserves in the mountains of the north. “Many American elk have been sent to England and the continent of Europe, where they have been crossed with the European breeds, which Has very much improved them.” The bin provides that anyone desiring to engage in the raising or selling of domesticated American elk, white taU, red, fallow deer, roebuck or any species of deer In an inclosed preserve may do so upon receiving a license from the state game warded. The license fee is fixed at five dollars to be retained by the game warden, who upon being satisfied with the good faith of the applicant shall issue a breeders* license. The license, it is provided, shall give the breeder the right to raise and sell for breeding purposes all species of deer or kill the animals at any time and to sell the carcasses for food. When the preserve is located in Washington, Allegheny or Garrett counties, the bill provides that white tail deer killed upon the preserve shall bear a distinctive mark to show that the animal was domesticated. A fine of SSO and forfeiture of the license is imposed for falling to place a distinctive mark. It Is also provided that the preserve shall be fenced in a manner approved by the game warden.