I have been thinking about this for all spring

[Headhunter]

Looks like we are in for a summer with little or no rain. Wonder how many deer will congregate around water holes and if so, how big will the die off be? Hopefully there is some immunity left over from the recent blue tongue episode we had.

 

[BSK]

I've been pondering that thought as well Headhunter. Now usually HD outbreaks don't occur close together in time (because of the immunity part of the equation). But HD occurs every year in low percentages in TN, and a hot, dry summer will always increase HD occurance.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I sure hope not. Thus far, we have had a nice wet spring. Our select cuts have been growing like crazy. Only time will tell. I havent yet looked at the long term future forecast. We got a good rain in Hickman today. Only in the last 2 years have we somewhat caught back up from the last outbreak.

 

[Headhunter]

Priest is still over 3 feet below summer pool and the dam has not let any water go since the beginning of April. It is dry in Middle Tennessee, it has been for a while. Many yards here were looking like they do in August back in the first of May.

 

[BSK]

Rain has been very spotty so far. In west Nashville (Bellevue), we've experienced good rains all spring, never going more than 5 or 6 days without a good rain. In fact, I consider it a "wet" spring. Yet in east Nashville (where the official rainguage is) they are several inches below normal.

 

[A/M/G]

Very dry here in West Tn, right along the Ms river. The ground is starting to crack open, not even June yet. If we do not have a big EHD die off, looks like possible spotty acorn crop, equals good hunting.

 

[Football Hunter]

Maybe the end of this week will catch us up some,forecast looks good.

 

[BSK]

We've had more than enough rain at my place along the TN River. Lots of big rain-producing storms this year.

 

[Andy S.]

Very dry here in West Tn,

Yes indeed. My house is 12 miles east of the MS River and my lawn is begging for some rain. It looks like we may get a little shower this afternoon and possibly more tomorrow at some point. I am keeping my fingers crossed. FWIW, the Memphis area rainfall thus far has been about 11.5", which is about 11.5" (50%) below normal.

 

[BSK]

FWIW, the Memphis area rainfall thus far has been about 11.5", which is about 11.5" (50%) below normal.

Wow, that IS dry!

 

[TNReb]

Hopefully there is some immunity left over from the recent blue tongue episode we had.

I'm admittedly out of the loop on this.. how long ago was this? I seem to recall something 3-5 years ago. Am I making that up?

 

[Andy S.]

how long ago was this?

2007 was last big outbreak. Check this video out. EHD Breakout in 2007

 

[StalkingWolf]

FWIW, the Memphis area rainfall thus far has been about 11.5", which is about 11.5" (50%) below normal.

Wow, that IS dry!

Yep, My catfish pond is now a catfish puddle.

 

[landman]

Montgomery and Stewart Counties along with Western KY
had their big outbreak during the summer of 2008.

I just recently had an owner of a large high fence setup, private
hunting, no commercial hunts tell me except to lose 10-15 a year and every 8-10 years lose 40 or more a year. His findings are like
what we had 2008, lots of Big bucks and fawns the highest killed.
He's had one for about 20 years, knows the ins and outs of them,
several states advise him history and facts time to time.

 

[Andy S.]

....tell me except to lose 10-15 a year and every 8-10 years lose 40 or more a year.

Is this what he expects on his high fence farm? If so, how many acres does he have fenced in?

He's had one for about 20 years, knows the ins and outs of them,

Had what, a die off from EHD every year for the last 20 years?

several states advise him history and facts time to time.

I do not follow, please explain.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BSK]

The '07 outbreak was one of the biggest in recent memory, effecting most of the eastern U.S. But locally, we also had a big outbreak in 2001. The cycle of big outbreaks is usually every 6 to 7 years.

 

[landman]

....tell me except to lose 10-15 a year and every 8-10 years lose 40 or more a year.

Is this what he expects on his high fence farm? If so, how many acres does he have fenced in?

He's had one for about 20 years, knows the ins and outs of them,

Had what, a die off from EHD every year for the last 20 years?

several states advise him history and facts time to time.

I do not follow, please explain.

Thanks in advance.

Andy
His tract is under a 1,000 acres, but it does cover many ridges and hollows of diverse land and cover.

He has told me in the past and his state biologists agree but don't put it out there that every year they lose deer to EDH in small numbers. It does seem the the higher the number of deer per sq mile the more you see it, maybe BSK can shed more info on this, but the one thing most people in general don't realize is the number of deer you Have to kill every year in a high fence to control herds.

Guess I wasn't clear on the last thing, what I was meaning to say is that, state agency's have followed the history of this tract for informational use to see what if any data they can pick up for it their own use. More like an information sharing

 

[Andy S.]

Gotcha LM, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Headhunter]

I know of a fenced in area, 3,000 acres, and he loses deer really bad in every drought year and there are 24 or 25 lakes on this place, a couple of them are swamps, and a few of them are big enough to run jet skis on and are deep, average 50+ feet deep. In drought years his deer, especially bucks get hammered. It is sad. I was thinking the last big outbreak was more recent than 2007, but I truly cannot remember.

 

[horn master]

deer build up a imunity to the disease but after 5-6 years of offspring the imunity is lost. That is why there is a big outbreak every 5 years or so.

 

[horn master]

I guess I should have read all the responses first! lol My step dad just retired from the state he was the head vet in the state and specialized in diseases.

 

[huntfish4life]

We had nice rain last night in Middle Tn,hopefully we get a lil more.

 

[Andy S.]

I would think we got about an inch or so at my house yesterday. I plan to check the rain gauge this afternoon when I get home from work.

 

[Boone 58]

We have had adequate rain here in my section of south lawrence county and i am thankful. :) I hope el nino doesnt mean long dry months during july-sept.