From Midwest Whitetails: Bill Winke
CWD is a huge red flag in the deer hunting world. Despite several findings in nearby Wisconsin and Illinois in recent years, the black cloud has not drifted over Iowa, until now. The first case of CWD in Iowa was discovered in July 2012 from a buck killed in Bloomfield, Iowa on Pine Ridge Hunting Lodge. The deer was killed in December of 2011. Make no mistake; this is a big deal!
Biologists believe that chronic wasting disease is caused by infectious, self-propagating proteins called prions. These prions are normal cell proteins found in the brain whose shape has been altered in a way that they can cause degeneration of brain function and eventually death. CWD is very hard to eliminate once it gets started because it is not fully known how to completely destroy these prions. A similar disease that you may have heard of among cattle is called Mad Cow Disease. Although there is still much to be learned about CWD, no cases of CWD transmission to humans have been discovered.
Since the initial finding in Davis County, six more confirmed cases have been reported. All of the cases have been traced back to deer breeding facilities, primarily one in Cerro Gordo County also owned by Tom Brakke, the owner of the affected shooting preserve in Davis County.
So far, there are no confirmed cases of CWD in wild Iowa deer, but there is definitely concern that it will spread. It is believed that CWD spreads through direct contact, specifically, nose to nose contact. To help contain the disease, any deer remaining on Brakke’s preserve after December 25, 2012 will be killed and tested for CWD.
Brakke, and other deer farmers. are in shock and angered by how this case is being handled. They feel they are not being compensated for the eradication of their herd and are worried about how they will stay in business. Agreed, it is not Tom’s fault that his deer have CWD. He didn’t want that. But it is a known and well-documented risk of captive deer herds. It should come as no great surprise that it eventually happened. That is why every deer killed within Brakke’s enclosure has been tested. He has made a good faith effort to keep his herd clean, but it did happen nonetheless. Where does that leave us?
Iowa's deer hunters, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the governor's office are worried about CWD spreading to the wild deer herd and potentially to livestock, though that connection has never been scientifically made – it is still a knee jerk reaction in a state with so many cattle operations.
What effects would an outbreak of CWD have on hunting in Iowa? You can look to IL and WI for some ideas – and it is not good. Eradication within focused areas has been the typical response to positive CWD test findings. And, without a doubt, rules regarding commercial deer operations are likely to be reviewed at the upcoming session of the Iowa legislature. The question will be raised about whether they should remain legal. A lot of money will be spent on both sides. It is an emotional issue that will spark intense debate.
Some people believe enclosed deer farms don't provide a "real hunt," are more like to spread disease of all kinds, and should be abolished. Others believe they do provide a “real hunt” and should remain because they help support families. Say whatever you like, I have hunted on very large high fenced preserves, (one was 1,800 acres, one 1,500 acres and one was 3,500 acres) and the experience is not the same as hunting wild free ranging deer. If someone tells you otherwise, they are selling something. I contend it would be even less sporting in smaller enclosures.
I am not saying you can't find a sporting opportunity in some enclosures, and that bucks grown naturally on-site with native genetics can’t be savvy and tough to hunt and offer a true challenge, but it is not the same as hunting free-ranging deer – plain and simple. When the bucks can’t disperse naturally, they are easier to find and thus easier to hunt. No question about it. So what place do enclosures have in Iowa’s hunting culture? I don’t know. I won’t be that judge because I haven’t all sides of the argument.
One way officials test for CWD is my pulling lymph nodes for tissue
samples. Currently, there is no way to test for the disease on live deer.
Deer hunting is not only a big business bringing in millions of dollars to the Iowa economy, but as we all know, it is much more important than that. It is a quality pastime and the passion of a large number of Iowans. The impact CWD could potentially have on both wild and captive herds if it begins to spread would be locally devastating. Let’s take a look at that.
The DNR and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) already have a plan to keep Iowa’s deer herd as healthy as possible. If CWD does establish itself in the wild herd, the main objective is to control it as quickly and humanely as possible.
The first goal is to use surveillance and detection by monitoring instances of CWD. They will monitor both captive and free-ranging cervid (deer and elk) populations and use all available collection methods to track CWD within Iowa’s borders. OK, fine. No big deal.
The second goal is to contain the spread of CWD. Methods may include prohibition of transporting captive deer (unless issued a permit by IDALS), prohibition of providing feed for wildlife accessible to deer, and prohibition of rehabilitation and release of any deer into the wild. You might be saying goodbye to placing corn in front of your trail cameras and maybe even setting out mineral sites for your deer.
The third goal is to eliminate the presence of CWD is Iowa by "controlling the disease." This may be done by allocation of additional deer tags in affected areas and “depopulation” of susceptible deer in selected areas. More tags will be issued during hunting season to help reduce the deer herd in affected areas in hopes of eliminating the disease. Local landowners will also be recruited to kill deer from private land and DNR staff will kill deer on public land outside of hunting seasons. OK, makes sense, but somehow, I don’t think it will stop there.
Here is where it gets interesting: if wild deer are found to be infected in the vicinity of the infected captive herd, a five mile radius circle will be mapped and labeled as a surveillance zone. Around 300 wild deer older than 16 months of age will be killed and tested for CWD from each zone.
If free-ranging deer are found to be infected, the primary goal will be to dramatically reduce the densities of the herd. It’s estimated that only 5-10% of the wild herd in surveillance zones will remain. When it comes to infected captive herds depopulation will occur; this means all deer in the facility will be killed within sixty days.
Now, let's assume you own land in that five mile "depopulation" circle - how are you going to feel about the enclosure at that point? And what next? What if a few more deer test positive just outside the circle? Again, call a few deer hunters in the CWD zones in Wisconsin and Illinois and see what they think about their deer numbers getting pounded into the dirt.
Iowa's legislature is playing this pretty close to the vest, but it is a very big deal. Don’t think that just because there haven’t been lots of news releases about this that it is somehow not an issue. Trust me, if they start finding CWD in wild deer, you will see just how big of an issue it becomes!
THIS IS WHY I AM SCARED ABOUT HIGH FENCE OPERATIONS.
