If Honestly and Intelligently Conserved, this Species could be made to Produce on our Wild Lands Two Million Deer per annum, as a new Food Supply
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 too large for general use. An elk carcass can not be carried on a horse; 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, and can live where the white-tail can not; but it is too easy to shoot! The Columbian black-tail is the natural species for the forests of the Pacific states; but it is a trifle 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 Henry 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 to have a short annual open season, and kill a few. From first to last, many of those deer have been killed contrary to law. In 1904-5, it was 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. Titcomb, State Game Commissioner, Lyndonville, Vt., Aug. 23, 1912 | ||||||||
| Year | By Hunters, Legally | By Hunters, Illegally | By Dogs | Wounded Deer Killed | By Railroad Trains | By Various Accidents | Average Weight (lbs.) | Gross Weight (lbs.) |
| 1897* | 103 | 47 | ||||||
| 1898 | 131 | 30 | 40 | 3 | ||||
| 1899 | 90 | |||||||
| 1900 | 123 | |||||||
| 1901 | 211 | |||||||
| 1902 | 403 | 81 | 50 | 13 | 14 | 171 | 68,747 | |
| 1903 | 753 | 199 | 190 | 142,829 | ||||
| 1904 | 541 | |||||||
| 1905 | 497 | 163 | 74 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 198 | |
| 1906 | 634 | 200 | 127,193 | |||||
| 1907 | 991 | 287 | 208 | 62 | 31 | 21 | 196 | 134,353 |
| 1908 | 2,208 | 207 | 457,585 | |||||
| 1909 | 4,597 | 381 | 168 | 69 | 24 | 72 | 155 | 716,358 |
| * First open season after deer restored to state in 1875. | ||||||||
Damages To Crops By Deer. —For several years past, the various counties of Vermont have been paying farmers for damages inflicted upon their crops by deer. Clearly, it is more just that counties should settle these damages than that they should be paid from the state treasury, because the counties paying damages have large compensation in the value of the deer killed each year. The hunting appears to be open to all persons who hold licenses from the state.
In order that the public at large may know the cost of the Vermont system, I offer the following digest compiled from the last biennial report of the State Fish and Game Commissioner: