74 EIGHTH REPORT OF THE 



Ti)e Fauna of tl)e Woods. 



Facts and Statistics About the Elk, Deer and Moose of the Adirondack 



Region. 



In response to a continued and growing demand for information about the 

 larger animals of the Adirondack region, the Commission has followed its usual 

 course in collecting various facts and statistics relating to the fauna of the woods. 

 Great care has been exercised to have the facts and figures given represent 

 accurately the conditions as they exist, and it is believed that the camper, the 

 sportsman, and even the resident of the Adirondack counties, will find something 

 of interest and value in what follows. The proof that the herds of Deer are 

 steadily increasing will, of itself, give much satisfaction, and the success that has 

 attended the effort to restore Moose to the woods will undoubtedly prove grati- 

 fying to the many citizens interested in the movement. The introduction of Elk 

 is at best an experiment, but it has thus far proved to be successful, and the 

 people of the State are indebted to a public-spirited citizen for generous donations 

 of these valuable animals. Many letters received by the Commission attest the 

 pleasure which the vast army of visitors to the Adirondack region has experienced, 

 and is yet to experience, from the introduction in this territory of the animals 

 mentioned. 



Tl)e Adirondack Deer. 



One of the very best evidences of the value of protection is furnished by the 

 marked increase in the number of Deer secured by hunters in the Adirondack 

 region annually. In spite of all predictions to the contrary the herds of Deer 

 have steadily grown; and although the army of hunters is continually increasing, 

 as shown by the heavy travel to the woods during the hunting season, the inroads 

 made yearly have not appreciably diminished the number of these animals within 

 the State's forest domain. In response to the continued demand of those interested 

 in this subject, the Commission has collected, with the aid of the American and 

 the National Express Companies, a record of the shipments made during the 

 hunting season of 1902. These figures, and those of the two preceding years, 

 are as follows: 



Year. Carcasses. Saddles. Heads. 



1900 . I,O20 89 95 



1901 1,062 103 121 



I9° 2 1,354 113 : 93 



