4 BULLETIN 1049, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



for in Maine. New York. Michigan. Minnesota, and Wisconsin seri- 

 ous inroads have been made in the breeding stock because until 

 recently laws have permitted the killing of does. In Xew York in 

 1919, when the season was open on both bucks and does, probably 

 more than one-third of the total number of deer in the State were 

 killed. On the other hand, 'some increase may be expected in the 

 States in the Xorthwest and in the Eocky Mountains, and possibly in 

 some of the Southern States, but whether the total will reach 100.000 

 a year will depend largely on the success attending the application of 

 modern methods of conservation, such as complete protection of does 

 and fawns, reasonable limits on the number a hunter may kill, and 

 prevention of *•jacking,' , " firelighting," "hounding," killing in the 

 water, and market hunting. 



Elk formerly occurred and were hunted in nearly every State 

 Of the five forms generally recognized, the common elk (Cervus 

 ednadensis), once widely distributed east of the Mississippi, has 

 retired to the fastness of the Rocky Mountains; the Roosevelt elk 

 (Cervus roosevelti) is confined to the mountains of northwestern 

 Washington; the Pacific coast elk (Cervus canadensis occidental is) r 

 is found in limited numbers west of the Cascades and south of the 

 Columbia River to northern California; the valley elk {Cervus 

 namwdes) is restricted to one main herd in the upper San Joaquin 

 Valley. Calif., and to a few small herds recently transferred to various 

 parts of the State; and the Arizona elk (Cervus merriami) has- 

 been exterminated. At one point on its former range a flourish- 

 ing herd of the Rocky Mountain elk has been established on the 

 Sit greaves Xational Forest in Arizona. Estimates made a few years 

 ago showed a total of approximately 72,000 elk in the United States, 

 whereas to-day it is doubtful if the number is much in excess of 

 52,000, of which about 25,000 are found in the Yellowstone Xational 

 Park and adjoining regions. 



Elk hunting has been closed in most States and is now restricted 

 to a few counties in Idaho. Montana, and Wyoming, where the num- 

 ber is limited to one to each hunter. 



The question of refuges is vital if elk are not to become extinct. 

 The Yellowstone Xational Park forms the greatest natural refuge 

 for these animals, but the herds, though they find abundant summer 

 range within its boundaries, are obliged to leave the park in winter. 

 The State of Washington has kept the season closed on elk for 

 several years, and in the Olympic Mountains the Federal Govern- 



1 Some authorities consider Cervus roosevelti and Cervus canadensis occidentalis 

 identical. 



