Is this for real? TWRA vs CWD

[fairchaser]

Yes, it's true. I already collected my coupon. Not sure it's gonna help but a nice gesture.

 

[Andy S.]

The more I think about it maybe the incentives are focused more on encouraging testing than simply killing. Read the language:
- "Hunters who harvest a positive deer..."
- "Residents who kill 2 or more CWD-positive deer..."
The only way to know with certainty if a deer is positive or not is to have it tested...a hunter didn't know they were killing a positive deer when they pulled the trigger.

Ditto! They want more deer tested, period. You cannot manage (or try to manage) something that you cannot measure. IMO, they want maximum testing participation in west TN to better understand the footprint of it, which way it is headed, how fast it is is migrating, etc. I suspect they do not like surprises like they got in Henry county few weeks back. It is my understanding The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (self-regulating, non-profit organization) purchased the licenses last year, so they may be on the hook this year, or at least partnering with TWRA.

 

[CPerkins]

It worked as intended on my property. The first year we were in the CWD zone, we didn't harvest a single deer. We were not seeing bucks that were big enough to take and didn't feel like messing with the trouble of cleaning a doe or the cost to have it processed because of CWD. Last year, we took advantage of the incentive by taking a good number of does and a couple cull bucks. I was also surprised at the number of positives that we had. Our 200 acres in Fayette county had almost 15% of the harvested deer test positive. I know for a fact that we would not have this information if it had not been for the incentive last season. I do not think that it will make much difference in the spread of CWD, but it does help give the TWRA information to track the areas affected and get a better estimate of how many deer have contracted CWD.

 

[Headhunter]

As I said, "Whether it works or not is a reasonable question, but I sure don't see any effort to reduce the spread of CWD as a bad thing."

As I try to tell liberal, socialist, people who believe socialism is a good thing, look at history. Repeating the same thing gets the same results.

All the TWRA is accomplishing is MANY more dead deer but they are not slowing or stopping CWD.

CWD has been around since 1967. CWD has not wiped any animal herd that I can find and CWD has for sure not been affected by anything attempted by many other states. If the TWRA is going to try something, at least try something different.

 

[Headhunter]

And what about us lifetime license holders? If we kill 2 CWD deer, do we get refunded the cost of a sportsmans license?

 

[TNGunsmoke]

And what about us lifetime license holders? If we kill 2 CWD deer, do we get refunded the cost of a sportsmans license?

The free annual sportsman's from this can be gifted to another person if you have a lifetime sportsman's.

 

[Headhunter]

What good does that do me?

I don't have a problem with gifting, but not everyone is rich, how about giving some money to those who bought a lifetime license?

Pile of BS.

 

[rsimms]

And what about us lifetime license holders? If we kill 2 CWD deer, do we get refunded the cost of a sportsmans license?

This is definitely a great question!!

 

[Andy S.]

This is definitely a great question!!

Answered above, can be gifted to another person.

 

[Wolverine72]

I'm hunting either way. I want to know if cwd is in my area, so I'm testing my deer. Have had 2 tested so far this year and awaiting the results.
I dont like all the "bonus" junk either.
Let's hunt, be ethical with the disposal, and transport and encourage others to do the same.

 

[rsimms]

Answered above, can be gifted to another person.

Oh yea, I'd read that. Should have known. Thanks.

 

[Headhunter]

Answered above, can be gifted to another person.

That is great for people like that I can only assume are wealthy. For people like me, which every dollar, is important, it is a pile of crap. TWRA should do something more than just saying you can give a license away.

 

[Andy S.]

That is great for people like that I can only assume are wealthy. For people like me, which every dollar, is important, it is a pile of crap. TWRA should do something more than just saying you can give a license away.

You should contact TWRA and your local Commissioner and express your opinion. I suspect it will have higher likelihood of making a difference than complaining on a public hunting forum. FWIW, I am in the same boat as you and could not care less about what other's do with their free hunting license.

 

[Headhunter]

You should contact TWRA and your local Commissioner and express your opinion. I suspect it will have higher likelihood of making a difference than complaining on a public hunting forum. FWIW, I am in the same boat as you and could not care less about what other's do with their free hunting license.

I have contacted TWRA.

Why did you say you could not care less about what other's do with their free hunting license? What does that have to do with anything.

TWRA giving "free money" to people (especially for something that is a waste of time and deer) and not including all license holders is wrong.
They have to be democrats, giving a benefit to some and leaving everyone else out.

 

[Andy S.]

Why did you say you could not care less about what other's do with their free hunting license? What does that have to do with anything.

My point is they (TWRA) will never make everyone happy. I could not care less and you are extremely bothered by it. Two customers, affected identically, with two totally different viewpoints. I suspect they do the best they can (for the most part), playing the cards they are dealt, while being bound by the rules that govern them. It's easy to sit on the outside and throw stones, without knowing all the specifics of day to day operations, as well as the things that are outside of their control (politics).