DEER" FARMING IN THE UNITED STATES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The present bulletin discusses briefly the economic possibilities of 

 raising deer and elk in the United States. It is believed that when 

 the restrictions now imposed by State laws are removed this business 

 may be made an important and highly profitable industry, especially 

 since it will be the means of utilizing much otherwise unproductive 

 land. The raising of venison should be, and is naturally, as legiti- 

 mate a business as the growing of beef or mutton, and State laws 

 should be so modified as to permit the producer, who has stocked 

 a preserve with deer at private expense, to dispose of his product at 

 any time, under reasonable regulations, either for breeding purposes 

 or for food. 



The growing scarcity of game mammals and birds in the United 

 States and the threatened extinction of some of them over large parts 

 of their present ranges make the preservation of the remnant highly 

 important. Very important also is the increase of this remnant so 

 as to make game once more abundant. It is believed that by means 

 of intelligent game propagation, both by the States and by private 

 enterprise, many of our depleted ranges can be restocked with big 

 game. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE DEER FAMILY. 



The members of the deer family (Cervidse) rank next to the cattle 

 and sheep family (Bovidae) in general utility, and are the most im- 

 portant of the big game animals of America. 



Wherever obtainable in quantity the flesh of deer of different 

 kinds has always been a staple article of diet, and under present 

 market conditions it is hardly necessary to say that venison is perhaps 

 the most important game, being a favorite with epicures and also 

 having a w^ide use as a substitute for beef and mutton, wdiich meats 

 it resembles in texture, color, and general characteristics. Its flavor 



<^ The term " deer " is here used in its general sense, in whicli it includes the 

 elk, the reindeer or caribou, the moose, and other species, besides those usually 

 ref erred to as deer. 

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