02 CWD and Me: Deer Biologists Are Hunters, Too

Landowner experiences and perspectives pertaining to CWD.

[@nickcasto8009]

The correct answer that should be of most concern-can we catch CWD-is unknown. At this point, we have no idea how long the incubation or asymptomatic phase of CWD would be in humans, if indeed it is even transmissable to us. If it behaves like Kuru, a human prion disease of tribal people in New Guinea spread by eating human brains, the incubation period could be decades and untold numbers of us may be in the quiet phase of infection. To be safe: Have every deer tested, no matter how healthy it seemed, before you eat it. If the deer appeared sick or just acted less wary, call your DNR for advice on what to do. Handle all animals only while you are wearing surgical type gloves. Remember that you cannot destroy the prion by any normal means. The usual disinfectants do not deactivate it. It has to be incinerated to destroy it. Please be safe-advice from an old ER doc and bowhunter.

[@msudeerlabtv5058]

Great advice Nick. Thank you!

[@collegeguy14]

Is the answer to all of this shoot younger bucks before they are positive? Why not shoot every doe that you see and find out if you can get an older buck maybe? I’m not hearing much of a management plan but then maybe I’m not listening well

[@stevedemarais]

State agencies don’t want to tell landowners exactly how to manage their deer sex ratio and age structure, which is why you haven’t heard of a specific plan. Our animated videos explain that reducing density and not concentrating animals artificially are the basic recommendations. How you implement these in specific ways can best be decided with advice of a biologist, who understands circumstances on your property and with consideration of your goals/objectives.

[@swampbiologist]

@@stevedemarais What are the positives relative to sexes in populations? How many Does test Positive compared to Bucks tested?