Henderson County added to CWD high risk zone

[DeerCamp]

There was a positive in SE Madison county that appears to have been about 5 miles from Henderson County line.

Still 16 miles from my farm. At a minimum going to impact our seasons. Hope it's a long time before it creeps those 16 miles though.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Unfortunately it will only take about 15 minutes to cover that distance in the bed of a pickup. People have got to be more cautious about moving deer out of the zone.

 

[Spurhunter]

I've been planning on filling up my 2 feeders for the turkeys now that deer season is over. Guess that's out.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Guess TWRA will decide to wipe out the deer there.

 

[DeerCamp]

I've been planning on filling up my 2 feeders for the turkeys now that deer season is over. Guess that's out.

Same same. I have several mineral lick stations too. I won't be refilling them, but I doubt that will stop the deer from using them.

 

[Spurhunter]

Same same. I have several mineral lick stations too. I won't be refilling them, but I doubt that will stop the deer from using them.

I'm glad we poured the salt/minerals to ours before season.

 

[BSK]

I stopped using salt/minerals years ago because I knew this was coming.

 

[Antler Daddy]

CWD is the covid of deer hunting.

 

[JeepKuntry]

I stopped using salt/minerals years ago because I knew this was coming.

Was this because of the distance to positives or just something you thought was in the best interest? I ask because normally I put a couple blocks out. This year I was thinking about doubling the mineral sites. I am in east Tn.

 

[BSK]

A salt lick is the PERFECT location for spreading CWD. Not only are deer interacting with each other's saliva, the high saline environment of a salt lick - which usually kills most infectious agents - may actually strengthen the CWD prion.

Of course feeders fit this bill as well.

As do natural interactions sites, such as licking branches and scrapes.

 

[beefydeer]

A salt lick is the PERFECT location for spreading CWD. Not only are deer interacting with each other's saliva, the high saline environment of a salt lick - which usually kills most infectious agents - may actually strengthen the CWD prion.

Of course feeders fit this bill as well.

As do natural interactions sites, such as licking branches and scrapes.

Wouldn't small food plots also be a source of spreading?

 

[fairchaser]

I've been hunting in the middle of a CWD hot zone for 3 years and we've covered our old salt licks up. You have to very strategic now on placing cameras. But you'll do anything to keep the disease at bay because once it's environmental, there's not much you can about it. The TN River might be a temporary barrier to the east but eventually it will cover the state. All you can do is slow the spread.

 

[BSK]

Wouldn't small food plots also be a source of spreading?

Not as much as feeders, salt licks, licking branches and scrapes, where deer have direct contact with a high number of other deer's saliva. At least a small food plot spreads deer out a bit.

But to be honest, once you have CWD anywhere nearby, it's just a matter of time before it spreads to all surrounding areas.

 

[Doskil]

Thats why I don't understand why Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina recently legalized baiting

 

[Spurhunter]

Thats why I don't understand why Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina recently legalized baiting

I hunt in MS. Everyone around where I hunt say there's no CWD because they've never had a positive. But I've never heard of anyone getting a deer tested.

 

[BSK]

Thats why I don't understand why Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina recently legalized baiting

State game departments responding to hunter desires. Personally, not a fan of baiting on many levels, including biologically.

 

[Doskil]

So if hunter desires override stopping CWD, state game agencies will go with hunter desires?

 

[BSK]

So if hunter desires override stopping CWD, state game agencies will go with hunter desires?

Once CWD shows up in those locations, it will give the game agencies the ammunition needed to end baiting. I don't know many biologists who think baiting is a good idea.