MANAGEMENT OF ELK. 37 



which have a variety of food — grasses, bushes, and trees. Eough 

 lands well watered by streams and having a considerable proportion 

 of forested area are best adapted to their wants. On an average such 

 lands will support about the same number of elk as of cattle on the 

 same area without impairing the range. There should be thickets 

 enough to furnish winter browse for the animals. A supply of winter 

 forage of other kinds will prevent the too rapid destruction of shrub- 

 bery in thickets. 



FOOD. 



Except in times of snow, elk will keep in excellent condition on 

 ordinary grass pasture, but a system of management which regularly 

 furnishes other food to the animals will be found better. For winter, 

 hay and corn fodder furnish excellent forage; but alfalfa hay has 

 proved to be the most satisfactory dry food that can be given to 

 either elk or deer. A little oats or corn, whole or chopped, may be 

 fed each day. Elk are fond of corn, and feeding corn and salt 

 affords the best opportunities for winning confidence of the animals 

 and taming them. Salt should be furnished liberally to all deer kept 

 in inclosures. Eunning water, although not essential, is of great im- 

 portance in maintaining elk in good condition. (Plate VI shows 

 a small herd of elk at feeding place in winter.) 



FENCE. 



Elk are not nervous like the common deer and seldom jump an 

 ordinary fence. A fence 5 feet in height is usually sufficient to con- 

 fine elk, and Henry Binning, of Cora, Wyo., thinks a 4-foot woven- 

 wire fence is ample. When they escape from an inclosure in which 

 they have been fed they usually return of their own accord. Some 

 herds may be driven like ordinary cattle. A small inclosure for a 

 vicious bull elk should have a strong fence, 7 or 8 feet high. Mr. Russ 

 tells us that where lumber for posts is cheap a good elk fence can be 

 built for $200 a mile, but the actual cost will, of course, vary greatly, 

 according to style, cost of labor, nearness to market, and other 

 circumstances. 



COST OF STOCK. 



The cost of stocking an elk preserve is not great. Young elk in 

 perfect condition may be bought for $100 per head or less. A few 

 years ago Mr. Wilson, of Lewisburg, Ohio, paid $165 for 3 head. 

 A Michigan breeder recently offered a dozen head, all fine specimens, 

 but age and sex not given, for $500. This is, of course, a low price, 

 not more than cattle would bring, and less than the venison would be 

 worth if they could be sold in that form. The price of such stock is 

 determined by the law of supply and demand, and as long as the 



