ys.

CHAPTER XIII.

DEER FARMING.

This chapter is from Farmers' Bulletin 330, issued July 28, 1908, by
United States Department of Agriculture and written by D. E. Lantz,
Assistant, Biological Survey.

The term "deer" is here used in its general sense, in which it includes
the elk, the reindeer or caribou, the moose and other species, besides
those usually referred to as deer.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY,
_Washington, D. C., June 3, 1908._

SIR: I have the honor to transmit the accompanying
manuscript on the subject of Deer Farming in the United
States, and to recommend its publication as Farmers'
Bulletin No. 330. As a result of the growing scarcity of
game animals in this country the supply of venison is wholly
inadequate to the demand, and the time seems opportune for
developing the industry of deer farming, which may be made
profitable alike to the state and the individuals engaged
therein. The raising of venison for market is as legitimate
a business as the growing of beef and mutton, and state
laws, when prohibitory, as many of them are, should be so
modified as to encourage the industry. Furthermore, deer and
elk may be raised to advantage in forests and on rough,
brushy ground unfitted for either agriculture or stock
raising, thus utilizing for profit much land that is now
waste. An added advantage is that the business is well
adapted to landowners of small means.

Respectfully,

C. HART MERRIAM,
_Chief Biological Survey._

HON. JAMES WILSON,
_Secretary of Agriculture._

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 legitimate 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