I have heard on the grapevine that they have found CWD in Camp Wainright now. Is this proof that the herd control cull is ineffective or that it must increased over a broader area? My sense is that this isn't like the border patrol for rats, that we can't ultimately control the spread of CWD, but rather only slow its spread. The mule deer population is being hammered in these WMU's after a lengthy era of protection through draws. Any ideas on alternatives?
CWD: Alberta mule deer herd slaughter
- Thread starter Latitude101
- Start date
Most of the experts that I've heard speak on the topic say that we are doomed and the best we can do is possibly slow the progress of CWD but that there is no way to stop or even control its spread. It seems that most agree that the cull is ineffective.
Wiping out the trophies..
There is a disease in horses which is transmitted by mosquitoes, it causes some horses to sometimes succumb, but is not fatal in all cases nor even in most. Veterinarians believe that if your horse shows positive for this disorder, you should put the animal down, never mind that a mosquito carrying the disease will likely bite the next horse you buy. BSE in cattle is controllable supposedly because the animals are contained, tracked, and feed can be regulated. Obviously in deer this is not going to happen. I think that they should leave the mule deer population alone, let nature take its inevitable course which may mean that nothing happens and/or that nature culls those animals that would succumb to this disease while the others naturally mutate over time to be immune. In the interim, test your meat for CWD and enjoy it if it is clear, dispose of it if it is tainted. Same as BSE.
If the gov't insists on the cull (as obviously it does), then let the hunters who have paid for the resource management over the years hunt the mule deer for FREE all year long. What does it matter what season it is if you are indiscriminately shooting the deer? That of course will never happen when you can use helicopters and small caliber arms to shoot and then dump the carcasses in a land fill (see the Wainright newspaper article) at a cost of thousands to the taxpayer. Its Catch 22....
There is a disease in horses which is transmitted by mosquitoes, it causes some horses to sometimes succumb, but is not fatal in all cases nor even in most. Veterinarians believe that if your horse shows positive for this disorder, you should put the animal down, never mind that a mosquito carrying the disease will likely bite the next horse you buy. BSE in cattle is controllable supposedly because the animals are contained, tracked, and feed can be regulated. Obviously in deer this is not going to happen. I think that they should leave the mule deer population alone, let nature take its inevitable course which may mean that nothing happens and/or that nature culls those animals that would succumb to this disease while the others naturally mutate over time to be immune. In the interim, test your meat for CWD and enjoy it if it is clear, dispose of it if it is tainted. Same as BSE.
If the gov't insists on the cull (as obviously it does), then let the hunters who have paid for the resource management over the years hunt the mule deer for FREE all year long. What does it matter what season it is if you are indiscriminately shooting the deer? That of course will never happen when you can use helicopters and small caliber arms to shoot and then dump the carcasses in a land fill (see the Wainright newspaper article) at a cost of thousands to the taxpayer. Its Catch 22....
I hear the Wisconsin Gov't has poured 25 million into eradicating deer in 4 counties in South Central Wisconsin in the last 4 years. They used hunters, farmers, helicopters and sharpshooters. The local boys tell me the deer are really skittish--but just as numerous as ever.
thats terrible to hear. I really hope they someday soon find a cure or a way to stop this. It just keeps moving east. Ontario hasnt had any cases in whitetails yet, but I get in 5 years we are in the same boat you guys are.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
The real tragedy is that CWD was introduced and spread by "game farms".... farms that had NO legitimate market except the bogus "velvet antler" trade, and never developed a meat market of any significance. CWD originated from imports of infected elk from the USA. I was on a Saskatchewan government advisory board for animal health at the time. The cover up was effective, and pathetic. Then after CWD showed up, and the velvet market collapsed and the miniscule meat market died, they switched to promoting "Hunt farms" - and during all this, almost no legitimate hunters made their voice heard.
Then CWD spread into the wild, Now we have hunters who even believe the game farmer's propaganda that the disease was always in the wild, just was never looked for before. What absolute BS. Our heritage is dying a slow death. It is the fault of game farmers, but committed hunters stood silent, not objecting to "hunt farms" until it was too late. What a tragedy.
Then CWD spread into the wild, Now we have hunters who even believe the game farmer's propaganda that the disease was always in the wild, just was never looked for before. What absolute BS. Our heritage is dying a slow death. It is the fault of game farmers, but committed hunters stood silent, not objecting to "hunt farms" until it was too late. What a tragedy.
Longwalker--I believe you are right as regards how CWD got to Sask. It came I think from Colorado or Wyoming. Iam not really that knowledgeable about it.
But this I do know--in Minnesota and Wisconsin the public perception of where this disease came from is Canada.
But this I do know--in Minnesota and Wisconsin the public perception of where this disease came from is Canada.
It was first identified in Colorado but where it came from or how it started is anyone's guess but the western states were the first hotspot.
