RAISING DEER ON FOREST PRESERVES 



\\y 1'i:rcival S. Ridsdale 



EOREST 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 

 any 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 in enclosed pre- 

 serves by the owners of tracts of forest 

 land. 



The idea is to raise deer for the mar- 

 ket, and as there is fine feeding and 

 plenty of it on the cut over forest lands 

 of the State, much of wdiich may read- 

 ily 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. \\'il- 

 liam 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 sup- 

 plied with venison and other game from 

 private preserves and breeding estab- 

 lishments. He is enthusiasticall/ in 

 favor of the plan and is doing what he 

 can to secure the passage of the bill. 



Mr. Ellicott in talking of the pro- 

 posed law said: "At first sight this 

 scorns to be a matter of only ordinary 

 interest, but when it is realized that the 

 deer as a wild animal has become prac- 

 tically extinct in Maryland and that 

 oidy occasionally is venison seen in our 

 markets, and this at almost prohibitive 

 prices, it will be clear that a great ben- 

 efit may be conferred upon the com- 

 numity and that an industry of com- 

 mercial importance, heretofore un- 



known in the vStatc, may be established 

 if it becomes a law. 



"The deprivation of the public in the 

 matter of venison as a part of the regu- 

 lar dietary is altogether unnecessary 

 and um-easonable. While wild game 

 should be amply protected and means 

 provided for its propagation, 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 pro- 

 hibit 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 main- 

 tained in inclosures from stock which 

 has been legitimately acquired is a to- 

 tally different matter and should be en- 

 couraged to the fullest extent. 



"Both official and unofficial reports 

 go to show that several varieties of deer 

 can be profitably raised ; that they re- 

 quire less care 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 

 ])eef and mutton. 



"breeding stock can be had at pres- 

 ent at very low prices — $15 to $25 for 

 deer and $20 to $75 for elk (Wapiti) 

 as opportunity affords. According to 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 330, of the 

 United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture, the most available source of sup- 

 |)ly is 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 

 I in corn, oats, wild hav and alfalfa. 



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