17 



My experience does not coincide with that of some other breeders « in re- 

 spect to the weakening of reproductive powers of deer by the confinement in 

 parks. I have no barren does. Usually they produce a single fawn at two 

 years of age; afterwards twins, and in rare cases triplets, 



MANAGEMENT OF VIRGINIA DEER. 



As to the management of deer little need be added to the statements 

 from practical breeders already given. Virginia deer are polyga- 

 mous, like cattle; the rutting season is in November; the period of 

 gestation is about seven months, and the fawns are born in May or 

 June. Young does usually breed when about 17 months old and have 

 but one fawn the first time; afterwards they commonly produce 

 twins. The fawns are spotted until the first shedding of the hair in 

 the fall. 



While deer are chiefly browsing animals, in captivity they eat 

 nearly every kind of vegetation, including most kinds of garden stuff. 

 They are fond of acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts, and other mast. Lily 

 pads, leaves, lichens, and mosses are freely eaten. With plenty of 

 range and an abundant variety of plants there need be, therefore, no 

 apprehension concerning the deer's food. A good supply of running 

 water must be provided, and the animals should have access to rock 

 salt. If the browse and pasturage are scant, a small ration of grain 

 should be fed. Of the grains, corn is generally recommended as a 

 food ; there is no waste, as the deer pick up ever}^ grain. Coarse hay 

 full of weeds is preferable to timothy or other tame hays, except 

 alfalfa. Of clover hay, deer usually eat the blossom heads greedily, 

 but waste the other parts. In winter feeding is necessary every- 

 where, and in the northern half of the United States shelter of some 

 kind should be provided. 



The remarks about castrating elk apply as well to the common 

 deer. A number of vigorous bucks, however, must be kept w^ith any 

 considerable herd of does, for a single buck can not serve an unlim- 

 ited number. Frequent changes of blood by introducing new bucks 

 should be practiced to avoid inbreeding. 



WILD DEER IN PRIVATE GAME PRESERVES. 



Individual owners, as well as associations, have established large 

 private preserves in many parts of the country and stocked them with 

 deer and other big game. The objects have been to preserve the 

 animals and to provide sport for the owners. In the free life under 

 the protected conditions generally provided, deer do remarkably well, 

 the increase being even more rapid than in small parks. There can 



« See Antelope and Deer of North America, by J. D. Caton, p. 304. 1877. 



330 



