This came in today and I thought I'd share it.
Chronic Wasting Disease:
Recommended Practices for Deer Hunters
The following information is intended for deer hunters
living or hunting in chronic wasting disease (CWD)
outbreak areas. This information does not cover all that
is known about managing CWD, rather it provides simple
precautions and answers many frequently asked questions
that QDMA has received from hunters in areas affected by
this deadly disease. The information is based around the
Four Cornerstones of Quality Deer Management (QDM)
and how deer hunters can assist in each area. It was compiled
from multiple sources including the CWD Alliance
(CWD-info.org), USGS National Wildlife Health Center
(nwhc.usgs.gov), Michigan DNR (Michigan.gov), and
QDMA (QDMA.com).
HERD MANAGEMENT
One of the most important things we can do once
CWD is detected in a wild deer population is reduce the
spread of the disease and attempt to contain it. CWD is
spread from deer to deer through direct contact, through
contact with the urine, feces, saliva or blood of infected
deer, and through indirect transmission by contact with
contaminated materials like soil, bait piles and mineral
licks. Thus, reducing the spread of disease means reducing
deer density. Significantly reducing deer numbers is never
palatable to hunters, but this step is important for the
future of the deer herd.
Should we shoot most bucks at 1 1/2 years of age to
keep them from maturing?
In outbreak zones, older bucks are two to four times
more likely to have CWD than younger bucks. Therefore,
on paper, the best way to combat the disease is to keep
density low and the age structure young. That means
not allowing bucks or does to mature. However, in reality,
hunters are needed to regulate deer populations, and
many hunters stay engaged for the opportunity to pursue
mature bucks. It is QDMA’s opinion that as long as hunters
continue hunting, shooting antlerless deer, and helping
keep deer herds in check, then it is more beneficial to
have some mature bucks in the affected population than to
shoot all bucks at a young age. If mature bucks are scarce,
some hunters will become less engaged and shoot fewer
antlerless deer. Therefore, QDMA’s recommendation for
hunters is to harvest antlerless deer to help reduce density,
continue protecting yearling bucks if you desire, but apply
increased harvest pressure to all bucks 3½ years or older.
Are healthy deer less susceptible to CWD?
No. Individual deer health does not seem to be a factor.
Healthy or not, if a deer is exposed to a dose of infectious
material, it will likely contract CWD, and it will die
of the disease in one to three years in most cases, if it is
not killed by some other factor first.
Should I eat the venison from deer harvested in a CWD
management zone?
Yes, but only after you receive satisfactory results from
a CWD test. There is currently no evidence CWD has
been transmitted to humans. Nevertheless, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention encourages hunters
in outbreak zones to have each deer tested, and then only
consume the venison if CWD was not detected.
HABITAT MANAGEMENT
There has been very little research on how habitat
management impacts CWD prevalence or spread.
Should we discourage the use of food plots?
No, the science is not strong enough to discourage
food plot use. On the plus side, food plots can assist in
herd management and harvesting antlerless deer. From a
disease standpoint, you do not want to artificially congregate
deer at small sites, as with bait, supplemental feed or
minerals.
Should we discourage the planting of root crops or other
species where multiple deer can take a bite from nearly
the same spot?
Not at this point. No one has studied whether this
enhances disease transmission. However, even in clover
fields or under apple or oak trees where different animals
may not eat from a similar spot, their urine, feces and
saliva can still be deposited in the area for others to come
in contact with and potentially increase the risk of CWD
transmission. Given this, discouraging the use of root
crops, corn, etc. is probably not warranted at this time.
HUNTER MANAGEMENT
CWD is most easily transported via live deer and parts
of infected deer. As hunters, we should oppose movement
of live deer, and we should avoid moving high-risk parts
of dead animals from a known disease area. These parts
include the brain, spine, eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph
nodes. One of the most important things a hunter who
takes a deer home can do is make certain unused carcass
parts end up at a landfill and not in the environment
where other deer can encounter them.
Why should hunters stay engaged?
It is crucial for hunters to stay engaged to help manage
deer herds. Hunters are the most important deer management
tool, and no wildlife agency can manage deer without
their help.
How can QDM Cooperatives help?
Cooperatives can play a huge role in managing CWD.
Cooperatives provide the perfect venue to share information,
keep hunters engaged, and ensure adequate deer harvest
in their area. Cooperatives are the future of deer management
across the whitetail’s range, and this is especially
true for areas with CWD.
HERD MONITORING
When CWD hits an area, monitoring herd health and
age structure is more important than ever.
How can I monitor the herd in my area?
You can conduct trail-camera and/or observational
surveys to estimate deer density. You can collect harvest
data to monitor changes in age structure and herd productivity
and health. These efforts can be greatly enhanced
through participation in a QDM Cooperative.
What can hunters do to assist with monitoring CWD?
You can support the state wildlife agency’s efforts.
Become informed on the regulations regarding deer harvest
and reporting. Submit all deer you harvest for data
collection and testing at the designated location for your
area. Stay engaged on the issue, inform your neighbors
about the importance of reporting sick deer and following
deer check-in regulations (in both CWD-positive and
negative areas), do your part to harvest antlerless deer, take
advantage of CWD testing offered by the state, and be a
supporting partner of your state wildlife agency.
What is the long-term outlook for CWD in my area?
In the early stages of an outbreak, it is possible to
break the cycle of transmission by rapidly lowering deer
density and hopefully killing any additional infected deer
in the area. However, once the disease is established and
additional cases continue to appear, the goal might be
shifted to continue holding density low and maintaining
a younger age structure to help slow the spread of the
disease. CWD moves slowly through a population, and it
kills individual deer slowly. The impact is not dramatic or
rapid, which is why some hunters believe CWD is not a
serious problem. However, over the course of years, CWD
will gradually grow in prevalence and will eventually
reduce populations.
For now, it’s best for all hunters to focus on preventing
CWD from spreading into new areas. If it arrives,
it’s best to focus on preventing its growth and expansion.
Researchers are currently working to learn more about the
disease, the best methods of control, and the potential for
a CWD vaccine. Hopefully, the years to come will bring us
new understanding and new tools to combat this serious
challenge to whitetails and our deer hunting heritage.
About QDMA
QDMA is dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed
deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. Founded in 1988,
QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization
with more than 60,000 members in all 50 states and Canada. To
learn more, call 800-209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.
Chronic Wasting Disease:
Recommended Practices for Deer Hunters
The following information is intended for deer hunters
living or hunting in chronic wasting disease (CWD)
outbreak areas. This information does not cover all that
is known about managing CWD, rather it provides simple
precautions and answers many frequently asked questions
that QDMA has received from hunters in areas affected by
this deadly disease. The information is based around the
Four Cornerstones of Quality Deer Management (QDM)
and how deer hunters can assist in each area. It was compiled
from multiple sources including the CWD Alliance
(CWD-info.org), USGS National Wildlife Health Center
(nwhc.usgs.gov), Michigan DNR (Michigan.gov), and
QDMA (QDMA.com).
HERD MANAGEMENT
One of the most important things we can do once
CWD is detected in a wild deer population is reduce the
spread of the disease and attempt to contain it. CWD is
spread from deer to deer through direct contact, through
contact with the urine, feces, saliva or blood of infected
deer, and through indirect transmission by contact with
contaminated materials like soil, bait piles and mineral
licks. Thus, reducing the spread of disease means reducing
deer density. Significantly reducing deer numbers is never
palatable to hunters, but this step is important for the
future of the deer herd.
Should we shoot most bucks at 1 1/2 years of age to
keep them from maturing?
In outbreak zones, older bucks are two to four times
more likely to have CWD than younger bucks. Therefore,
on paper, the best way to combat the disease is to keep
density low and the age structure young. That means
not allowing bucks or does to mature. However, in reality,
hunters are needed to regulate deer populations, and
many hunters stay engaged for the opportunity to pursue
mature bucks. It is QDMA’s opinion that as long as hunters
continue hunting, shooting antlerless deer, and helping
keep deer herds in check, then it is more beneficial to
have some mature bucks in the affected population than to
shoot all bucks at a young age. If mature bucks are scarce,
some hunters will become less engaged and shoot fewer
antlerless deer. Therefore, QDMA’s recommendation for
hunters is to harvest antlerless deer to help reduce density,
continue protecting yearling bucks if you desire, but apply
increased harvest pressure to all bucks 3½ years or older.
Are healthy deer less susceptible to CWD?
No. Individual deer health does not seem to be a factor.
Healthy or not, if a deer is exposed to a dose of infectious
material, it will likely contract CWD, and it will die
of the disease in one to three years in most cases, if it is
not killed by some other factor first.
Should I eat the venison from deer harvested in a CWD
management zone?
Yes, but only after you receive satisfactory results from
a CWD test. There is currently no evidence CWD has
been transmitted to humans. Nevertheless, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention encourages hunters
in outbreak zones to have each deer tested, and then only
consume the venison if CWD was not detected.
HABITAT MANAGEMENT
There has been very little research on how habitat
management impacts CWD prevalence or spread.
Should we discourage the use of food plots?
No, the science is not strong enough to discourage
food plot use. On the plus side, food plots can assist in
herd management and harvesting antlerless deer. From a
disease standpoint, you do not want to artificially congregate
deer at small sites, as with bait, supplemental feed or
minerals.
Should we discourage the planting of root crops or other
species where multiple deer can take a bite from nearly
the same spot?
Not at this point. No one has studied whether this
enhances disease transmission. However, even in clover
fields or under apple or oak trees where different animals
may not eat from a similar spot, their urine, feces and
saliva can still be deposited in the area for others to come
in contact with and potentially increase the risk of CWD
transmission. Given this, discouraging the use of root
crops, corn, etc. is probably not warranted at this time.
HUNTER MANAGEMENT
CWD is most easily transported via live deer and parts
of infected deer. As hunters, we should oppose movement
of live deer, and we should avoid moving high-risk parts
of dead animals from a known disease area. These parts
include the brain, spine, eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph
nodes. One of the most important things a hunter who
takes a deer home can do is make certain unused carcass
parts end up at a landfill and not in the environment
where other deer can encounter them.
Why should hunters stay engaged?
It is crucial for hunters to stay engaged to help manage
deer herds. Hunters are the most important deer management
tool, and no wildlife agency can manage deer without
their help.
How can QDM Cooperatives help?
Cooperatives can play a huge role in managing CWD.
Cooperatives provide the perfect venue to share information,
keep hunters engaged, and ensure adequate deer harvest
in their area. Cooperatives are the future of deer management
across the whitetail’s range, and this is especially
true for areas with CWD.
HERD MONITORING
When CWD hits an area, monitoring herd health and
age structure is more important than ever.
How can I monitor the herd in my area?
You can conduct trail-camera and/or observational
surveys to estimate deer density. You can collect harvest
data to monitor changes in age structure and herd productivity
and health. These efforts can be greatly enhanced
through participation in a QDM Cooperative.
What can hunters do to assist with monitoring CWD?
You can support the state wildlife agency’s efforts.
Become informed on the regulations regarding deer harvest
and reporting. Submit all deer you harvest for data
collection and testing at the designated location for your
area. Stay engaged on the issue, inform your neighbors
about the importance of reporting sick deer and following
deer check-in regulations (in both CWD-positive and
negative areas), do your part to harvest antlerless deer, take
advantage of CWD testing offered by the state, and be a
supporting partner of your state wildlife agency.
What is the long-term outlook for CWD in my area?
In the early stages of an outbreak, it is possible to
break the cycle of transmission by rapidly lowering deer
density and hopefully killing any additional infected deer
in the area. However, once the disease is established and
additional cases continue to appear, the goal might be
shifted to continue holding density low and maintaining
a younger age structure to help slow the spread of the
disease. CWD moves slowly through a population, and it
kills individual deer slowly. The impact is not dramatic or
rapid, which is why some hunters believe CWD is not a
serious problem. However, over the course of years, CWD
will gradually grow in prevalence and will eventually
reduce populations.
For now, it’s best for all hunters to focus on preventing
CWD from spreading into new areas. If it arrives,
it’s best to focus on preventing its growth and expansion.
Researchers are currently working to learn more about the
disease, the best methods of control, and the potential for
a CWD vaccine. Hopefully, the years to come will bring us
new understanding and new tools to combat this serious
challenge to whitetails and our deer hunting heritage.
About QDMA
QDMA is dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed
deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. Founded in 1988,
QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization
with more than 60,000 members in all 50 states and Canada. To
learn more, call 800-209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.