Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
A little long-winded but please hear me out...an important dynamic in managing CWD counties could be emerging. Right off the bat I'll be the first to say TWRA has had a solid response to the CWD discovery...I'm not here to debate the regs. Good job TWRA.
That being said, I'm hearing alot from hunters in CWD counties about the challenges the new regs present. The online/app check-in now has a few extra CWD-related steps. At the processor, the successful hunter is given a ziploc bag with a sheet needing to be filled out: first/last name, TWRA number, harvest confirmation number, county, sex, whether the meat is being donated and I might have missed a couple. The hunter fills that slip out, places in the bag, and pins it to the ear of the deer (so it stays with the head/lymph nodes).
Another tag with harvest confirmation number goes in the deer's leg so it stays with the carcass thru processing and goes into the box with the meat when complete. As well, the processor we've taken deer for years is for the first time requiring up front payment and went up $5. Totally understand a processor doesn't want to be left holding a bunch of meat from deer that confirmed was CWD positive 2 weeks AFTER they were brought in but very conveniently, BEFORE the now-notified hunter came back to pick it up/pay. In other words, last year folks started to wait to hear whether a checked deer was negative before going back to get/pay for the meat.
I overheard one hunter who's son...maybe 10-12 years old had shot a doe. Dad's response when he learned of all the new requirements, "If I'd have know it was this much trouble to kill a deer I wouldn't have let the boy shoot." If this is indeed a growing sentiment among hunters in these counties and we're just 3 days into the season...boy I don't know where we go from here. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if folks shoot fewer just because of the increased cost, up front payment, extra steps, and perceived "hassle." At a time when TWRA wants folks to shoot more not less...just not hearing that talking to other hunters/processors. Early prediction is harvest numbers may actually decline (maybe significantly) in these counties.
Anyone else care to chime in?
That being said, I'm hearing alot from hunters in CWD counties about the challenges the new regs present. The online/app check-in now has a few extra CWD-related steps. At the processor, the successful hunter is given a ziploc bag with a sheet needing to be filled out: first/last name, TWRA number, harvest confirmation number, county, sex, whether the meat is being donated and I might have missed a couple. The hunter fills that slip out, places in the bag, and pins it to the ear of the deer (so it stays with the head/lymph nodes).
Another tag with harvest confirmation number goes in the deer's leg so it stays with the carcass thru processing and goes into the box with the meat when complete. As well, the processor we've taken deer for years is for the first time requiring up front payment and went up $5. Totally understand a processor doesn't want to be left holding a bunch of meat from deer that confirmed was CWD positive 2 weeks AFTER they were brought in but very conveniently, BEFORE the now-notified hunter came back to pick it up/pay. In other words, last year folks started to wait to hear whether a checked deer was negative before going back to get/pay for the meat.
I overheard one hunter who's son...maybe 10-12 years old had shot a doe. Dad's response when he learned of all the new requirements, "If I'd have know it was this much trouble to kill a deer I wouldn't have let the boy shoot." If this is indeed a growing sentiment among hunters in these counties and we're just 3 days into the season...boy I don't know where we go from here. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if folks shoot fewer just because of the increased cost, up front payment, extra steps, and perceived "hassle." At a time when TWRA wants folks to shoot more not less...just not hearing that talking to other hunters/processors. Early prediction is harvest numbers may actually decline (maybe significantly) in these counties.
Anyone else care to chime in?