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DNR information meeting/Iowa

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PEARL DRUMS:
Tell you what, BJ. If you lose the majority of your herd you will learn FAST to appreciate them when they return. I have always respected all critters to the max, but now I'm even "softer" about killing them. It changed my hunting life that year. The absence of deer and the relentless stink was sickening. They had to hire hydrohoes and double bottoms to clean out hundreds of deer from the Hubbardston dam. It was disgusting.

bjrogg:
Yes Pearl I don't think we had the EHD around here like you did and our numbers probably didn't drop as bad as yours. At any rate nothing scientific about it, just my observations and years of watching but I think we had a very good number of all our animals here going into winter except for the pheasants. Strange to because I can't think of any animal they have tried harder to bring back here. Some of it I'm sure is habitat but we have a quite a few acres of CRP and State land and they still seem pretty rare here yet. Lots of deer, bunnies, fox, coyotes, hawks, eagles, turkeys, ground hogs squirrels, coons, opossum, skunks, geese and I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody. I hope it stays that way.
Bjrogg

BowEd:
Well the meeting was actually very informative.Testing is the key.Overall the state here of Iowa has had 28 confirmed tested cases.Mostly in NE Iowa from across the river of Wisconsin.A small little pocket of cases into northern Missouri.Which they think probably caused this one to come up in my county.It is coming from the west too from Colorado across Nebraska.
In the beginning they are very concerned about a 5 mile circumference around the positive tested deer case.The case is around 15 to 16 miles from me.Does'nt make me feel all that comfortable that's for sure.
Thing here and the education of this to properly dispose of carcass/no pile feeding attracting/and these boughten powder attractants.Of which I don't do here.It can be spread by bodily fluids very well also.Large older bucks are the most suscptible.Incubation of prion they call it since it is not a virus and can withstand winters and conditions more so than a virus to make it difficult to get on top of since it does spread by staying in the soil also.Also that the incubation period of CWD is 1 to 2 years with signs of it on the animal after 3 years.So far no case like that has been found by anyone in Iowa yet.So it is something just beginning here but the flags are up for warning so it is up to the resident deer hunters mostly to stay on top of testing for it.
Thing is I will get a deer tested now for sure and get it tested and wait for results before I will eat it.

bjrogg:
Thanks for the info Ed. I didn't know it took three years for symptoms to show up. I'm curious, are these animals contagious during this entire period? Mother Nature can still be one mean mother. Think I'd prefer a arrow through both lungs. I wish you and your state the best in controlling this disease.
Stay Healthy my friend
Bjrogg

BowEd:
Yes BJ the animal is contagious all during the infected period and after death also with it's carcass.Weather and conditions don't kill it.Reason it's so tough to get rid of.
I got a kick out of the DNR stating right off that these deer are ours to take care of.While charging fees to harvest them....lol.I know...I know they are just asking for help is all.

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