48 RAISING DEER IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Those left were the ones that had not been originally tamed, and not being 

 accustomed to the sight of man, had not courage enough to make an attack. My 

 experience is that a wild buck, even in the rutting season, still retains his nat* 

 ural fear of man, and, except when wounded, is never dangerous. 



Instances of fatalities from attacks of vicious bucks of the Virginia 

 deer are not lacking. A rather recent one was the death of Herbert 

 Bradley at Montclair, N. J., November 10, 1906. While working 

 alone on his grounds, he was attacked by a pet deer and so badly 

 wounded that he bled to death before aid could be obtained. 



The remarks about castrating the elk apply as well to the common 

 deer. A number of vigorous bucks, however, must form a part of any 

 considerable herd, for a single buck can serve only a limited number 

 of does. One buck for each ten or twelve does will probably be 

 enough. New bucks should frequently be introduced to avoid in- 

 breeding. 



CAPTURING LIVE DEER FOR SHIPMENT. 



In 1887 C. W. Marsh, of De Kalb, 111., in a letter to The American 

 Field, said: 



Thirteen years ago this spring I fenced in a few acres of natural woodland 

 with a bit of prairie adjoining my residence lot for deer ; the fence was 8| feet 

 high and proportionately strong. I advertised for deer, and during the season 

 got a buck from Sioux City, caught in Dakota; a doe from Kansas; another 

 from Missouri ; and still another from a gentleman in De Kalb, this last having 

 been sent to him when a fawn from Arkansas. They were all red or Virginia 

 deer, but showed considerable difference in size, form, and disposition; and 

 they were all tame ; that is, had been pets and would bear handling ; hence had 

 come quietly and unharmed in their cages. These began breeding at once, the 

 does dropping two fawns generally. The young deer were as wild probably as 

 any in the forest at first, but as the does were tame they also soon became 

 quite tame, though not one has ever submitted to handling. They were rugged, 

 hearty fellows, and in course of a few years I had a herd of over twenty. Occa- 

 sionally I killed one for venison, and as they increased so fast I caught and 

 gave a number to friends and sold a few. While the old does lived the young 

 were easily caught, as the former would go into any cage or trap for food dur- 

 ing the winter months and the latter would follow, and although they would 

 struggle fiercely when caught, they gave up and quieted down as soon as hands 

 were removed. None were lost in shipping. In due time the old does died, and 

 all of my present herd except one buck were dropped by does that were bred 

 in the park. Apparently each succeeding generation became wilder and more 

 difficult to catch, and I have for some few years past thinned them out in the fall 

 by shooting and marketing them. Still, they always answer my whistle and 

 come around me for food. * * * 



They are hardy, active, and very shy of anything strange, but manifest strong 

 attachment for home. Several times during these many years dogs have gotten 

 into the park and run some of them out. When scared thus, nothing will 

 stop them, and they will either go through or over any fence — they have 

 frequently bounded over mine, 8£ feet high — but when out they will usually 

 jump back again of their own volition, even though they had been off in the 

 woods or about the park outside for weeks, In such instances they hung 



