RAISING DEER FOR PROFIT 279 



there are 250,000,000 acres of land not suited 

 to tillage or to the pasture of cattle, horses 

 or sheep, which are well adapted to goats." 

 Much of this land, it has been well suggested, 

 is suited also to deer, and can be utilized for 

 these animals with less injury to the forest- 

 cover than would result from the browsing of 

 goats. 



A herd of whitetail favorably located and 

 properly cared for will increase in a steady and 

 rapid ratio. The rutting season is in Novem- 

 ber, and the fawns are born in May and June. 

 A doe will breed when 18 months old, and at 

 first produces only a single fawn, but after- 

 ward usually two fawns. Certain diseases, es- 

 pecially "black tongue," are to be feared, but 

 an annual increase of 60 or 70 per cent, may be 

 confidently looked for. Like elk the whitetails 

 require a certain amount of winter feed; and 

 also should have shelter provided against the 

 winter storms. A stack of clover or pea hay to 

 which they may have free access in winter is 

 recommended; and they need plenty of water 

 a stream or pond being especially good for 

 them. 



