Page 262 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

240 OUR VANISHING WILD LIFE
The best wild animal to furnish a serious food supply is the white- tailed deer. This is because of its persistence and fertility. The elk is toolargeforgeneraluse. Anelkcarcasscannotbecarriedonahorse; it is impossible to get a sled or a wagon to where it lies ; and so, fully half of it usually is wasted ! The mule deer is good for the Rocky Mountains, andcanlivewherethewhite-tailcannot; butitistooeasytoshoot! The Columbian black-tail is the natural species for the forests of the Pacific states; but it is a trifile small in size.
The Example of Vermont.—In order to show that all the above is not based on empty theory,—regarding the stocking of forests with deer, their wonderful powers of increase, and the practical handling of the damage question,—let us take the experience and the fine example of Vermont.
In April, 1875, a few sportsmen of Rutland, of whom the late Henr}^ W. Cheney was one, procured in the Adirondacks thirteen white-tailed deer, six bucks and seven does. These were liberated in a forest six miles from Rutland, and beyond being protected from slaughter, they were left to shift for themselves. They increased, slowly at first, then rapidly, and by 1897, they had become so numerous that it seemed right tohaveashortannualopenseason,andkillafew. Fromfirsttolast, manyofthosedeerhavebeenkilledcontrarytolaw. In1904-5,itwas known that 294 head were destroyed in that way; and undoubtedly there were others that were not reported.
Account of Deer Killed in Vermont, of Record Since Killing Began, in 1897
From John W. Titcomh, State Game Commissioner, Lyndonville, Vt., Aug. 2j, igiz