How did that first positive make you feel?

[fairchaser]

I recently got my first CWD positive notice from the TWRA on a buck I shot late December. I donated the meat to HFTH and so I notified the processor and they said they would notify the HFTH. I'm not sure how effective that process is but anyway I did what I could.

All I have left of the buck is the rack and skull plate. It's been sitting in the back yard under cover waiting for the season to finish. I usually clean it up and cut the hide off and bring it inside on some kind of display. I've yet to touch it since I got the letter. The whole thing makes me kind of sick and mad. Not sure what to do now.

 

[Mike Belt]

I'd probably use some bleach and clean the skull up like I normally would.

The donation to HFTH makes me wonder just how many deer were donated to them that might have tested positive after the fact. Feed the needy but does that make them guinea pigs?

 

[Andy S.]

I have never had a confirmed positive, but I highly suspect I have been exposed to several positives over the last five years. I suspect the same is true with you and many others that hunt in SW TN, especially Fayette and Hardeman counties.

 

[Goodtimekiller]

So what are the chances of contamination of other deer by the processor that processes a positive deer?


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[fairchaser]

So what are the chances of contamination of other deer by the processor that processes a positive deer?


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Since they process every deer that comes through the door without consideration of testing until after the fact, I would say almost 100%. Do they clean between each deer regardless? I rather doubt it.

 

[fairchaser]

I'd probably use some bleach and clean the skull up like I normally would.

The donation to HFTH makes me wonder just how many deer were donated to them that might have tested positive after the fact. Feed the needy but does that make them guinea pigs?

Mike, I'm highly suspicious of the process. Does HFTH keep the meat segregated with a number on each package until it's checked against the website? Then do they take that meat, they have already paid for and dispose of it in a appropriate landfill? Mmmm? I wonder?

 

[Boll Weevil]

First positive in 2018, totally completely disheartened. Second positive this past season..mehhhh. The way I look at it is the prions have been in the dirt and CWD has likely been killing deer for YEARS prior to discovery. I mean what am we gonna do quit hunting?

Will we kill other positives in the future? Probably. But as far I'm concerned we will abide by rules to limit spreading CWD and keep enjoying hunting while we can. It's not the end of the world.

 

[fairchaser]

First positive in 2018, totally completely disheartened. Second positive this past season..mehhhh. The way I look at it is the prions have been in the dirt and CWD has likely been killing deer for YEARS prior to discovery. I mean what am we gonna do quit hunting?

Will we kill other positives in the future? Probably. But as far I'm concerned we will abide by rules to limit spreading CWD and keep enjoying hunting while we can. It's not the end of the world.

Your exactly right BW. We need to keep hunting and accept the new normal.

 

[tnanh]

I'd probably use some bleach and clean the skull up like I normally would.

The donation to HFTH makes me wonder just how many deer were donated to them that might have tested positive after the fact. Feed the needy but does that make them guinea pigs?

Mike, I'm highly suspicious of the process. Does HFTH keep the meat segregated with a number on each package until it's checked against the website? Then do they take that meat, they have already paid for and dispose of it in a appropriate landfill? Mmmm? I wonder?

One of my concerns and questions has always been where do the processors dispose of their carcasses. I have heard rumblings of one processor in the center of the hot zone maybe having been part of the problem. But as to your question, I killed two does Jan. 31, 2019 in Hardeman County. They both were positive and it was a terrible feeling. Especially since one of them was a 3/4 grown yearling.

 

[Andy S.]

Especially since one of them was a 3/4 grown yearling.

The ultimate gut punch, a CWD positive yearling.

 

[TheLBLman]

Especially since one of them was a 3/4 grown yearling.

The ultimate gut punch, a CWD positive yearling.

Wouldn't that just be a "fawn"?

Obviously, CWD is not limited to just "older" bucks.
I continue to believe the greater spreading vector is dispersing YOUNG bucks
more than rutting older bucks.

As to how I "feel", I feel like I've likely eaten a good bit of venison containing CWD prions,
feel like we have it in a lot more counties than documented,
and I feel like it's been around in TN many years before being officially documented.

Also feel like it's in West KY, but not officially documented.

 

[tnanh]

Especially since one of them was a 3/4 grown yearling.

The ultimate gut punch, a CWD positive yearling.

Wouldn't that just be a "fawn"?

Obviously, CWD is not limited to just "older" bucks.
I continue to believe the greater spreading vector is dispersing YOUNG bucks
more than rutting older bucks.

As to how I "feel", I feel like I've likely eaten a good bit of venison containing CWD prions,
feel like we have it in a lot more counties than documented,
and I feel like it's been around in TN many years before being officially documented.

Also feel like it's in West KY, but not officially documented.

It wasn't a fawn. Probably weighed about 60 pounds and game warden aged it as last years fawn and probably about a year to 14 months old.

 

[tnanh]

Especially since one of them was a 3/4 grown yearling.

The ultimate gut punch, a CWD positive yearling.

When the lady called me and told me they were both positive she was as shocked and concerned as I was about the younger one. She asked a lot of questions and was concerned the Biologist or warden at the check station had miss-aged it. I told her I figured he was pretty close. They were very concerned and that is why they had asked that people try to kill some younger aged class deer during the extended CWD season last year. We all had a concern that if we didn't, they would after the season was over but as far as I know I don't think they did county wide in Hardeman but they may have been asked to at Ames since it is used as a research facility.

 

[easy45]

Considering where I hunt I was surprised it took as long as it did, we have still only had one positive in two years.


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[PAGOATER]

I got one of the few positives in Madison county in 2019 and I was really p o did not hunt for 2 weeks. Threw out the meat I had processed ,then I did some reading on CWD and realized nobody
can prove anything and most of the information is speculation. There was 3 positives in Madison County, out of about 2000. No test is 100%, so how many are false positives .
I killed another nice buck and do not believe it is any thing to worry about. Bottom line TWRA is getting federal money and II believe that what is driving a lot of this campaign.

 

[bowhunt25]

I received my results yesterday and the buck I took on Jan 9 came back positive. I wasn't surprised, and to my surprise, I'm okay with it. I figure if its been here as long as most indicate, then we've been eating contaminated meat for years. Also, if most are shooting 3.5 and 4.5 yr old deer, that's about what we shoot on a normal basis with or without CWD

 

[fairchaser]

I got one of the few positives in Madison county in 2019 and I was really p o did not hunt for 2 weeks. Threw out the meat I had processed ,then I did some reading on CWD and realized nobody
can prove anything and most of the information is speculation. There was 3 positives in Madison County, out of about 2000. No test is 100%, so how many are false positives .
I killed another nice buck and do not believe it is any thing to worry about. Bottom line TWRA is getting federal money and II believe that what is driving a lot of this campaign.

Where do you hear, TWRA is getting Federal money? If they are, it is far less than what they are spending on this disease. If you are saying it's all a hoax, I fail to understand the motivation. I agree that no test is 100%, but if CWD is detected, that is 100% or pretty darn close. Are you saying you are going to disregard any of this going forward?

 

[fairchaser]

I received my results yesterday and the buck I took on Jan 9 came back positive. I wasn't surprised, and to my surprise, I'm okay with it. I figure if its been here as long as most indicate, then we've been eating contaminated meat for years. Also, if most are shooting 3.5 and 4.5 yr old deer, that's about what we shoot on a normal basis with or without CWD

I agree with you about shooting 3.5 and 4.5 year old deer for years. We are experiencing the same thing on Ames in spite of CWD. However, the stark difference is that we aren't shooting as many. The disease doesn't wipe out the herd but it does kill deer. It may be hard to notice the difference on a small property where you only kill a few deer, but on a property like Ames, you notice the difference! Our numbers are down on good bucks harvested by half over several years ago.

On eating deer. Yes, we likely have eaten some infected deer, but I'm not going to eat any going forward. That's a personal choice. The risk is low, but the consequences are too severe.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I received my results yesterday and the buck I took on Jan 9 came back positive. I wasn't surprised, and to my surprise, I'm okay with it. I figure if its been here as long as most indicate, then we've been eating contaminated meat for years. Also, if most are shooting 3.5 and 4.5 yr old deer, that's about what we shoot on a normal basis with or without CWD

I feel I will have these same thoughts whenever CWD gets in the areas I hunt. I target 4.5 yo's and older, but I also occasionally shoot 3.5's - and have no issue with that. If that personal standard is confined to 3.5's and 4.5's, I am totally fine with that.......given the unfortunate circumstances. As far as eating the meat, not if it is positive in my house.