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._