My concern...

[Pinefarm]

One thing I've noticed, especially by the low numbers of "views" on this forum, is that many MI hunters have no clue of how much trouble we are in. At least potential trouble. I've been talking with several good deer hunting buddies and brought up CWD. The response from all of them has been "CW what?" I told one buddy last night that the WDNR was probaby going to start unlimited either sex tags starting next week, and he thought I was full of BS. I even told my dad the other day and he had no clue. Never heard of such a thing as CWD. Or least that it was some "out west" disease. The WDNR is obviously beyond spooked about this and they know that if they have 10 or 12 deer out of a 500 some sample, that they will find many, many more CWD cases. I don't think that I'm blowing this out of proportion when I say that this is the greatest outdoor crisis any of us have ever faced in our lifetimes. I hope I am so very wrong and that CWD passes us by and it's just a scare. But as long as our DNR doesn't do something fast about bringing our deer into unnatural contact, i.e. baiting, this disease will make progress like a well supplied Panzer division and we're the French.

[DaYoop]

Hi Bob,

Your point is exactly a major concern I've had for several years--basically when TB first reared its ugly face. We need to find a way to communicate these wildlife problems to the public. The general public never hears about the potential problems that may arise, the ones that are here, the possible solutions, the ramifications, etc. etc. The only people that learn about these things are the people that actively search out the information. Don't get me wrong--the DNR does put out some fantastic information on TB, the booklets, pamphlets, and website are fantastic resources--but who reads them? Only those that ask for the information, search it out on the internet, or happen to grab the trifold pamphlet at sporting goods stores. It is not readily accessible to anyone and everyone. I also understand it takes great financial resources to provide this information--something nobody has enough of. I just wish it were possible, but I dont' think it is. Unless you want to know about TB or CWD, you'll never know about it. Education is a key aspect in any disease erradication project, and we as sportsman need to help one another in this process. We need to first learn it ourselves, and then teach it to another, and so on.

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-

I would HOPE that the DNR is including information on CWD in this years Hunting Guide. That should help diseminate information, but not until the guides are distributed, which is historically late in the year IMO.

I think those that read outdoor publications on a regular basis, or frequent outdoor boards are aware of this new threat.

It would certainly help if someone other than outdoor writers would do a piece on this topic. You know, like you see a story on the front page when the Metroparks are involved in herd culling....Don't the writers realize the potential impact of CWD on the herd far outweighs that of some hunters at Stony for a few weeks.....?

Like most things these days, publicity is the name of the game.

[Beagle]

I know what you mean Bob. Most of the people that I talk to have never heard of CWD. Some say it is a conspiracy by the insurance companies to kill off all the deer. The responses are greatly varied.

I do not think that you are blowing this out of proportion. Everything that I have read tells me this is a REAL problem.

I try to tell everyone I talk too about it. I collect email addresses and send copies of the articles posted and even distribute hard copies of the better articles. A lot of hunters have email addresses, but a good majority would not surf the internet for information. Emailing puts it right under their nose.

I have written every official that I can think of to let them know about my concern. I recieved a response back from my State Rep. Tom Meyer. He shares our concern and has recently met with MUCC's officials to discuss.

The more people that know about and understand the threat that CWD poses, the better chance we have to control it.

Beagle

[DryFly]

I have read all posts here talking about CWD but no one has mentioned what it is and what it does.

Ok I give up,,, what is it?

[Tom Morang]

I don't think you went far enough back when reading these threads. Start with the first link and then go from there. This should keep you busy for a while.......tm


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=14948

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/whealth/issues/CWD/index.htm

http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/Wildlife.asp?subLinkid=157&linkid=90&Link=Sub

http://www.michigan.gov/mda/1,1607,7-125--31693--,00.html

http://gf.state.wy.us/HTML/hunting/chronicwast.htm

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_and_wildlife/CWDplan2002.pdf

[Mike]

I try to stay reasonably well informed, but if it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't have a clue what's going on with CWD.

Mike

[NEMichsportsman]

Bob-

I share your frustrations and concerns. I have found that many of my friends that hunt are in the dark about CWD.

However,the major problem that I percieve relating to this issue is not one of public awareness. Bovine TB has been in the news for a long time, and I have to believe it has as much recognition as it ever will. The fact that there are more people informed, has no correlation with policy. In simple terms input from the hunting public, is taken with a grain of salt! Whatever forces are behind policy, (political, financial, or otherwise) do so without consulting/informing the public until after the fact.

Forums provide an opportunity for us to be informed,vent, debate issues etc., but we should not be complacent because we are better informed than the majority. We need to find out what actions the various sportsmens organizations (that we belong to) are taking in regards to issues like CWD and TB.

In the ideal world I would like to see a grass-root organization develop that would dedicate itself stictly to issues such as these. The existing clubs have their established "old boys network" and their usual mode of operation. There needs to be action and accountability and everybody involved in the process needs to know this. I for one would much rather be involved in the process vs. commenting on it. I would prefer to contibute my energy to achieving a goal rather than observing, but the mechanism for involvement is not there!


jp

[MGV]

I found it very interesting this past weekend at the number of articles in the Grand Rapids press. They did not make the headline but they were there. The farmers are very aware of the TB because they are selling meat/milk to the public. I feel that in some ways they are the only ones that are having it forced upon them. THis was the main reason why it made headlines. Affecting the public. Poeple are looking at CWD as a pen animal problem. They could care less about it. Include the public's meat in on the CWD and then you will see headlines.

[Steve]

I totally agree with you Bob. The old-timers where I hunt have always told us, "you kids get out there and hunt the deer heavy, because someday... something will happen, (disease, natural disaster, etc), and the hunting will never be this good again". Well it turns out they may have been quite prophetic.

[ESOX]

"Well it turns out they may have been quite prophetic."
Very scary thought, Steve.

[MGV]

That is very scary steve. I hope the old tale stays a tale that never comes true

[outsider]

VERY SCARY ,the may Woods-N-Water news magazine has a pretty good article about cwd on page 13 ,quite informative.

[MGV]

So what you are saying Splitshot is something like the way we handle tb. This would be equal to the tests for pigs: pseudo rabies and horses: Cogins test that is required. I hope at this time, they are looking into it and preparing a plan. Instead of some law maker that jumps in and says ban it all! Just to get their name advertised.

[boehr]

It is a problem but there have been a lot of articles/opinions out there on CWD as all the posts from Tom has shown. It's more like the saying that "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink". Same is true in this situation. The information, at least what is known is out there but unless you look for, search out, have an interest and read the information you won't know about it. Hunting only effects about one out of nine in this state and out of that, how many look into it year around? The number of hunters I would guess is staggering that pay no attention to whats going on until November rolls around or whatever season they choose to hunt.

I have the same concerns, not knowing what to do, how to prevent it for sure etc., etc., etc., but the problem is, nobody knows for sure many of the answers we all want. You can't advertise something you don't know. That's the biggest problem.

[Pinefarm]

Ray, I think you're dead on. The guys that come into the store to buy tags on Nov.13-14 are pretty clueless about a lot of things "outdoors". Especially the guys that want their guns bore sighted at 8pm on Nov. 14 or bring their rifle in and don't even know the caliber. On a positive note, in the last couple days since I started this thread, I'm happy about seeing many stories on it. Tom M, IMO, is doing by far the best job of it. But, Bob G is on it, along with Eric Sharp from the Freep. So is Woods and Waters and Michigan Out of Doors is too. I know that we are in a wait and see position, but I don't want that wait to take too long. I know that I'm certainly no biologist, but just some concerned loud mouth with a key board. But I also know that certain people in certain positions take a look at this forum, from time to time. I just want the policy makers or even people like Jean, who may suggest policy through science, that with this disease we hunters may be much more willing to swallow a bitter pill. With TB, I think most hunters had the feeling that it was somebody elses problem. I know I did. For the first couple years of unlimited permits, I don't think too many people bitched more than I did. In my eyes, right or wrong, I couldn't make the connection why we had to have unlimited permits in Newaygo county for a disease that was basically confined to a core area in the NE part of the state. I've come around quite a bit, although I still bitch somewhat. But now, this threat seems different. Maybe it's because Tom M. has done such a good job and we can sense CWD coming. Unlike TB, where I don't think the DNR position and plan was articulated as well as it could have been. I do agree that a couple pages of the 2002 fall hunting regs should have TB and CWD info in it. A separate guide won't work. Trust me, I sell the licenses and the people making the guides don't. Next spring, we'll throw out boxes of TB pamphlets because nobody picks them up. They assume it's more old news. If it's in the book everyone takes, them more will read it. It may even be wise to throw in a page about possible contingency plans in the event Mi gets CWD. And don't pull any punches. Because as we know, the guy that comes in on Nov. 14 for his tag will think this is the biggest DNR conspiracy of all. But if he can read a thought out plan with options for the future, he may find that bitter pill a little easier to swallow. If you think about it, when you get root canal, the dentist never sits you down and starts drilling. He gives you a shot of novocain first to ease you into it. Information is the novocain for the root canal we may have to endure.

[Pinefarm]

Oh yeah, I wanted to add that I'm certain that with this new CWD scare, that the unlimited antlerless permits will be issued statewide. But this time, since I feel up to speed on the issue, I don't foresee me pitching a bitch because the stakes are so high.

[The Paper]

Last Monday, the Lansing State Journal's front page, lead story was about both CWD and Bovine TB. So I think it is starting to get more press. I subscribe to Deer & Deer Hunting, North American Whitetails, Outdoor Life, as well as many othe conservation and outdoor type magazines. All the mentioned ones have had articles in the last month about CWD. But until the last couple of months, I haven't seen much on this. It seems that finding this in Wisconsin has shocked a few people.

[Tom Morang]

Thanks for the nice words Bob. I only try to distribute these articles so larger numbers of hunters can get to look at them. I'm very glad we have sites like this that enable us to share our interests. I wish I could write as good as Bob Gwizdz or Eric Sharp, they seem to be able to get to the point much more efficiently than I can. They can manage to get that horse to drink water because they know how to make him thirsty!

Yep, Bob, no doubt about it. When CWD jumped the Mississippi EVERYONE got up tight about it. CWD has been in the news for a long time but now greater masses of hunters and more wildlife departments must deal with the threat and that makes the difference in the attention it gets.

Dr. Dave Samuel will have a long feature article comming up in Deer and Deer Hunting on the CWD issue very soon. The editors want it all in one issue rather than split it up because they understand what an important issue it is. I mention that because I think Bob has a good idea about placing more info concerning TB and CWD the Hunting and Trapping Guide. I think he is right on about guys not picking up the flyers that are available.

Bob, I think hunters will be able to purchase one private land antlerless tag a day until a quota is reached(excluding the seven TB counties of course where they will be unlimited). There will of course be quotas on State and Federal lands too. So Bob, I would be willing to wager a cold one on that. What do you say?:D :D

[Benelli]

Thanks to both of you guys: Tom and Bob.

Tom for providing the great resources, although you say you may not write as well as Gwidz or Sharp, I can count on some good information on a daily basis when I visit this forum instead of waiting a week at a time for the others to write an article available through conventional media. Please keep it up, it sure is appreciated from this end.

Bob, thanks for stirring the pot so to speak and brining up the issues as you see them. When I read your posts or threads I generally think “what he said” so I refrain from adding further comment.

While there may not be a lot of views or replies to the threads you guys start, I find them quite valuable and look forward to your input.

Thanks again

[Pinefarm]

Thanks Benelli! By looking at how many people have viewed and responded to this thread, I may have been wrong about people either not knowing or not caring. I do understand that it's May and most sportsmen are thinking about trout, turkeys or getting their bass boats ready, let alone all the "honey-do" chores that come with warmer weather. But, even though it's only May, when I hear of a neighboring state opening up either sex unlimited tags next week and considering bringing in helicopters and bulldozing or incinerating a mountain of deer carcasses, I'm going to scream until I get someone to listen. Granted, I'm sure our MDNR is way ahead of everybody on this, but I think we deserve to know what their plan is, don't you? Should they shoot a couple hundred deer and test them right now? I think so. Are they going to? Who knows. Hell, I'll shoot some for them. Today! Are they going to ban baiting? Are they going to confuse hunters and decide in late September? Are they going to wait until the opening day gun check stations on two or three highways? I know that usually there's a hierarchy and chain of command on DNR decision making, like meetings and public forums and such, but don't they have any emergency powers to send down an order and make it the law of the land? We can't allow this thing to wallow in bureaucratic red tape. And I'm not saying it is, but if our MDNR was ever going to move with the feeling that time is of the essence, than this is it. Because if CWD gets it's foot in the door, the sport we love the most could be gone for a long time. If it comes to that and someone ever sees me at the first tee with golf clubs on November 15, please shoot me! Ha,ha.

[Fierkej]

The MDNR is planning on including a summary on chronic wasting disease in the 2002 Hunting Guide. A portion of this year’s bovine tb display at various hunting and sportfishing shows included information on CWD, as well as handouts of MDNR’s chronic wasting disease summary, which is also available on the Internet. At public meetings and appearances, scientists have worked to educate hunters and the public on this disease.