fairchaser
Well-Known Member
If you have a high prevalence rate 20-40% like Ames, expect deer populations to shrink to 1-5 deer per square mile.
Extensive new research about CWD-Meateater Podcast.
- Thread starter fairchaser
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fairchaser
Well-Known Member
I know this is a long podcast of 2.5 hours and only those who really want to know about the latest studies done on CWD will venture to watch. Here are a couple of my observations from the podcast that I thought were interesting.
1. CWD can be in a population for decades with little to no impact on the population. This prevalence rate in the single digits, is minor when compared to other causes of death.
2. Once CWD reaches a critical mass of over 30%, the death rate every year is 20% and with other COD, the population will start declining over many years or decades, the pop. will shrink to very few deer per sq mile.
3. Once the pop bottoms out, the pop can grow some but the environment is now tainted with CWD and the new normal is a much lower and younger deer herd.
4. Don't be surprised if restrictions on deer harvest come in at some point when pop get very low!
5. Bottom line for us that must hunt in these areas with high prevalence rates, is to enjoy hunting now because it may take a while but it's gradually getting worse and worse.
6. If your area is low, then for you anyway, you could go for decades with no real impact on the deer herd.
7. None of the researchers would eat the meat either.
1. CWD can be in a population for decades with little to no impact on the population. This prevalence rate in the single digits, is minor when compared to other causes of death.
2. Once CWD reaches a critical mass of over 30%, the death rate every year is 20% and with other COD, the population will start declining over many years or decades, the pop. will shrink to very few deer per sq mile.
3. Once the pop bottoms out, the pop can grow some but the environment is now tainted with CWD and the new normal is a much lower and younger deer herd.
4. Don't be surprised if restrictions on deer harvest come in at some point when pop get very low!
5. Bottom line for us that must hunt in these areas with high prevalence rates, is to enjoy hunting now because it may take a while but it's gradually getting worse and worse.
6. If your area is low, then for you anyway, you could go for decades with no real impact on the deer herd.
7. None of the researchers would eat the meat either.
ruthunter
Well-Known Member
Very curious about all this because I just acquired a lease in Slaydon, worst cwd area in the state of MS and right across the state line. Seems to be deer there just don't know to what extent. Do you think Ames population has bottomed out or still has a ways to go? Have you witnessed many sick deer?
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
I don't think we've bottom out. My uneducated guess is about 20 deer per square mile now trending toward 5. But that could take a decade. You won't find sick deer very often. They will die from many causes and throughout the year. Not just hunting season. You might not have much CWD as it can vary a lot from place to place. We know the rate in our area as we test every deer.
ruthunter
Well-Known Member
I really appreciate the reply. Hopefully I can get a few years out of this place. Does it generally infect the older deer?
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
It infects all deer. The longer they live the more likely they will get it.
