Just wanted some opions on what you guys think about hunters not hunting this year. I live in Minnesota and have run in to numerous hunters that say they are not going because of CWD. I would think that this would make it worse if there are cases here. I only know of one case of an Elk that had it in Minnesota. But hunters concerned with not eating the meat have no where to dispose of it. I don't know what to tell them, anybody have any suggestions? Sherry
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I understand some of the concern. I will not give my son any meat just in case. I will still go hunting and enjoying every bite. Beside that, if there are less hunters more deer are around. I think some time after hunting ends and people have consumed enough deer meat, we shall then see whether this fear trend lasts. I doubt thousands will die. But unfortunately it does make you think. That is why I will wait before the rest of my family eats any.
Hi Sherry, Unfortunetly there is more of a panic out there than a problem. The last thing you want to do is quit hunting deer. If a disease gets into a large deer herd the chance of spreading it faster goes up. By keeping the herd at a respectable level helps in controlling any diseases. Wisconsin is going after the disease before it can spread. In the area where the CWD herd is the deer population is 50-70 deer per square mile. IF CWD does spread by contact, which is still unknown, then you can see the problem with a large deer herd.
The hunters that say that they will not hunt deer this year are not taking the time learn about CWD, but instead are going by what they hear or read from the news media and other people who do not know all the facts. The best info comes from your DNR websites.
Now if I remember, that elk was a captive elk,which means it was contained behind a fence, which would containb the disease to that pen.
As I have stated before, even in the CWD core area here in Wisconsin, only 3% of the deer have tested positive, with a total of 31 deer. That means 97% of the deer are healthy.
Yes, we will be having a problem disposing of the carcass's this year because a lot of the landfill's will not acept them, they have been disposing the deer and elk out west in a legal land fill for years with no problems. The legal landfills are clay lined which eliminates any seepage.As the viable solutions are discovered in the near future, this problem will go away.
Millions of people have been eating deer and elk for years with no problem. The prion which causes CWD occurs only in the brain, spinal tissue, lymph nodes and eyes, and NO prions have evr been discovered in the meat.
If you have a doubt, get your deer tested if you can. I believe you will see a lot of the questions about CWD answered with in the next year, so be patient.I would worry more about getting by the ticks and mosquito's before you have to worry about the deer. By hunting deer and having your deer tested, you will be able to stop a serious problem before it can get out of hand.This is how it was discovered here at a early stage.
I hope this helps with your questions.
Right now, no one knows the facts. While nothing is wrong with checking DNR sites, also check non-biased sites like those of the medical community (ie CDC, WHO, JAMA, etc)
Wis has now decided to burn all deer killed in the 389-sq-mile eradication zone, at an average cost of $120 per plus shipping and storage costs, until the private crematorium can do the all.
At present approx. 3% of the already killeddeer in the zone have tested positive, but with an incubation period of 16-30 months, and diagnosis only confirmed after death of diseased animals, we can not actually say 97% of the herd is disease free - as early said no one knows that.
Prions have been found in the muscle (meat) of mice in lab experiments, studying prions. As far as I know, they have not yet been found in muscle of venison.
Len is right, ticks and skeets are nasty - maybe we should eradicate them all.
The Jerks Should have done something sooner.
Some say Take the horns and dump it on the DNR's FRONT STOOP
Hi Bob, I wouldn't get too excited about the so called finding of prions in mice as of yet. No prions have ever been found in any meat worldwide.
Not to say that it couldn't happen, there are many rumers and so called groups stating things that haven't happened yet.
I have not seen the article, but would need some verification about it to believe it. I will e-mail the person I deal will fron the USDA who might be able to shed some light on it.
But, tomorrow I get to go work on some bio-hazardous cervids.
all for your comments. I hope people realize to quit hunting isn't the answer.