The Missouri Department of Conservation had their special public meeting about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

​ The meeting was on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018 in Perryville, Missouri at the Perry Park Center in the Theater.

It began at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation by MDC staff and ended 56 minutes later.

Because of the length and upload limits and speeds I have, the presentation is broken up into 5 segments nothing has been taken out or added. 

Really does not matter if you believe in CWD or not - But one thing is real, the regulations are REAL.

Segment 1

​Issues with Segment 1

No. 1 Concern

If CWD is the No. 1 concern and Deer Hunting is 1-billion-dollar annual boost to the Missouri Economy.

Why no CWD regulation statewide?

​Quite of few people process their own deer in this part of the country but you have to click over 5 times on the internet just to find the protocols for deer processors – Why not emphasize this to the public?

​

Segment 2

​​Issues with Segment 2

TESTING

​Publications state that Deer with CWD are 4.5 times more likely to die annually and here are some of their suggestions.

CWD bucks less aware of the hunting season more apt to be shot by hunters, 

Why not have 100 percent mandatory of all hunter harvest testing in positive CWD counties?

WHY NO OTHER POSITIVES ON ANY CAPTIVE DEER FACILITIES SHOWN SINCE 2011? Just only in the free ranging deer?

If you are in Perry County better pay close attention to this Segment and if Target Culling will happen after the season.

Segment 3

​Issues with Segment 3

Mineral and Feed Bans in Segment 5

Pay close attention to the number of CWD deer prevalence in this segment.

Research Article presented in Segment 5 (is in an area with over 30% prevalence in the doe population and 50% of the buck population). That is never said out loud for Segment 5!!!

CWD occurs in higher rates in Buck’s

CWD is more prevalent in MATURE BUCKS 4 and 5 years of age.
​
Why is the 2 Buck Limit NOT Removed for those positive counties? 

When we have a CWD positive, they come in January, February and March after bucks have already distributed over the landscape and Kill aka Targeted Culling with employees and free tag for landowners.

If Bucks are at such risks of speeding the spread.
 
Then why don’t we have a Late August Buck Season before the buck disperse over the landscape? 

​Road Kill 

CWD Prion eats holes in the Deer Brain

Signs of the disease include excessive salivation, loss of appetite, progressive weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, listlessness, teeth grinding, holding the head in a lowered position and drooping ears

Publications state that Deer with CWD are 4.5 times more likely to die annually and here are some of their suggestions.

CWD deer more likely to be hit by vehicle,

Why no 100% ROAD KILL TESTING IN THE CWD POSITIVE COUNTIES?


CWD bucks less aware of the hunting season more apt to be shot by hunters,

Why not have 100 percent mandatory of all hunter harvest testing in positive CWD counties?

CWD Deer easier target for predators.

https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/CWD/PDF/ResearchArticles/RelativeVulCWD.pdf

Road Kill is an Environmental Reservoir because the lack of removal from the environment, decomposing carcass and scavengers (coyotes, bobcats, buzzards, eagles, etc.) spreading of deer parts.  

TEST RESULT

Deer Test Positive for CWD, but my understanding no Negative test.

Deer at early stages of CWD infection or soon after exposure will not test positive. So, no Negative test just test only Not Detected. No Guarantee of truly negative just that prions were not detected. It takes time for prions to accumulate in a deer to a detectable level.

So, how likely is it that some deer tested have been exposed but not yet at point where it could be detected?

How long can a deer have cwd before a deer test cwd detected?

Segment 4

Issues with Segment 4

Deer Population

Saying we are not trying to significantly reduce the deer population but want a stable population - But when Antler Restriction NEVER put in place in Southeast Missouri because of lower population of deer but now you issue even more doe permits makes no sense.

Using counties with similar harvest and with a Antlerless season already in place just in one season and figuring fawn production the same a potential 750 less deer on the landscape in just one year for 3 counties. That alone is a reduction not a stabilization.

If lowering the deer population is the goal in CWD Management positive counties. Deer Management regulation will not be implemented that interfere with Disease Management. 

Why are their limits on weapons used for Bow Season? Like Airbows which are not allowed. 

When EHD hits an area, it takes 3 to 4 years for population to recover with adequate fawn production and low hunting and predator pressure in general term. Isn’t targeting harvest doing the same thing won’t it take 3 to 4 years for population to recover in those landowner properties?  

Comparing target culling to overall harvest is does not help the local landowner with local deer population.

Since target harvesting is being done. Why not publish what the deer per square mile are in those core areas? So landowner can get a better understanding, what the deer per square mile was before and after.

Because the only science based way for a landowner to understand how many deer to harvest is a population survey.

With target culling in Macon and Adair counties after 6 and 4 years CWD is low prevelance.

But still exist with targeting culling, feed and mineral ban. WHY????

What is the current deer per square mile for the 55 square miles in Macon and 33 square miles in Adair?

LIVE CAPTIVE DEER

What regulation prevents live deer from captive deer facilities in the Positive CWD counties from being moved to other captive deer facilities in the state to prevent the introduction CWD in new counties?

What regulations prevents a wild free roaming deer – from having animal to animal contact with a concentration of captive deer in a fence to help slow the spread of CWD?

It is my understanding Since Elk Breeders fall under the Missouri Department of Ag - Then nothing has been solved to prevent CWD from being introduce into Missouri from Elk Breeders who can still ship Elk into Missouri. That should be noted and was stated during the Cape Girardeau Missouri meeting.

Segment 5

Issues with Segment.

CARCASS MOVING

If carcass moving is such high risk!! Why no regulation in the last 8 years prevents moving dead deer from the 9 CWD Positive counties to other counties in Missouri to prevent introduction of CWD into other counties?

People that want to do their own European mount and boil the skull and antlers will and pour the water and matter out on in the yard outside those CWD Management Areas.

What regulation in Missouri prevents this? Since CWD prion is not killed by boiling water isn’t that a high risk way to introduce the disease into new areas?

States with CWD positives like Arkansas, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Michigan have carcass ban movement for positive counties now. Basically a Quarantine of those positive counties.

Mineral and Feed Bans

Research Article presented at the meetings that prions being found at Mineral Locations and that Feeding sites are spreading disease by concentrating deer.

Locations sites are spreading disease by concentrating deer is not telling the whole story the 9 out of 12 positive at mineral sites and the 11 out of 12 positive at the mineral sites after a rain (is in an area with over 30% prevalence in the population). That is never said out loud!!!

At this point Prions in the environment – The CWD prions be found at multiple environment sources since deer are constantly shedding prions once infected. The environment become for lack of better word toxic?

​So, you could get the same results doing the same test in food plots, watering holes, scrapes, gut piles, carcasses, under preferred oak trees, bean fields, corn fields, clay-based soils IN field edges in front of a game camera, etc. etc.

Early stages of infection direct animal to animal is the primary source of transmission is what we are being told to us. By the time that indirect transmission via prions in the environment LIKE MINERAL LICKS become a significant issue the disease is well established in the population. The tipping point from published literature seems to be 20-30% prevalence which would put CWD over a large geographic area. Missouri not even at 2-4% in our small core areas in Missouri.

So why the ban on mineral in area with no CWD positive when other sources of introduction have not been resolved?

If Mineral and feed are concentrating deer and is the spreading the disease - Why not a complete state ban of mineral and feed if we are all in this together? 

Want to see links to different research and different points of view.
CWD MISSOURI