The CWD Solution - Scientists, Deer Farmer, & DNR Weigh In!

In this episode we’re in a new series - Hunting Controversies & Solutions. I was warned not to cover this topic, because it’s probably the most controversial and maybe divisive one in the deer hunting world - Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD. But we’re going to look at because I think it’s important to know about & discuss. We’ll get an overview of what it is, how states have handled or mishandled it, and opinions on potential solutions from a DNR Biologist, 2 top scientists, and a very knowledgeable Deer Farmer.
And, you’re going to want to write some of this overflowing wealth of wisdom down, and reflect on it after to get the most out of it. Our free journal is the best way to do that - download it below. Here are the top things to look for during this episode:
• What do we know, and NOT know about CWD?
• What has worked to combat it, and what has not?
• How are state DNR agencies measuring the effectiveness of the actions taken to stop the spread?
• 2 reasons why Dr. Bronson Strickland says it's so hard to combat.
• What Dr. Karl Miller says is so "scary," and what he thinks the deer herd could look like in a few decades if CWD is not stopped.
• What the Deer Professor and Deer Farmer (Conquest Scents) Doug Roberts says about the genetic solution, and how deer farms are getting the solution.
And a whole lot more High IQ stuff in there!
Year Theme: To Be a Greater Hunter
Series: Hunting Controversies & Solutions
Episode # 54
Guest: Host Adam Lewis, Chad Stewart, Dr. Bronson Strickland, Dr. Karl Miller, Doug Roberts.
IQ ranking - 5 (intermediate)
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[@chadaaron9661]

Thank you for this video. The parallels of the CWD response to the c0Vid response are so similar, and are to be expected. My key takeaways: 1)State DNR agencies have the same motivations as other, larger budget agencies; to maintain/increase political power and to maintain/increase annual budget. 2)These motivations are denied with the utmost hubris, insisting that the publics best interest is their only motivation. 3) The solution to the CWD problem, (if there is one) will come from the private sector. The initial, primary motivation of the private sector may be monetary, but this motivation aligns with the primary goal which is ultimately a healthy deer herd. This is not a personal attack on the person's representing the state DNRs, as I understand their motivations may, and probably are, noble. The fact remains that the narratives and directives come from the top of these agencies; which like all government agencies, their foremost interest is self preservation, proliferation. All other motivations are secondary by default. The government is the solution to nothing.

[@jimjones8300]

Absolutely agree 10000000% . I think it's all bullshit and I'm gonna keep right on doing what I been doing not changing a thing ! I've never seen it on my 120 acres and highly unlikely I ever will! I don't believe anything anyone who works for any kind of government agency says tbh. It's all about control they want to control everything even if that means fear mongering or infecting a herd or animals or a herd of humans !!!

[@erichardin6056]

I appreciate all of your podcasts. This one in particular was very thoughtful. I live in a state relatively new to CWD and most of the push back has been because my state has started to limit baiting. As a teacher myself, I wish you had pushed back on the deer farmer when he insinuated that wildlife agencies are manufacturing hysteria to pad their budgets. The DNR doesn't own the wildlife, the people of the state own the wildlife. DNR's manage wildlife for the public trust. A question that has come up on the Meateater podcast in regards to CWD, if you knew a harvested deer had CWD, would you feed the meat to your kids? Keep up the good work.

[@paradisevalleyoutdoors7328]

Very good conversation! Here's several facts from a landowner/outfitter from Richland County WI, where we have had CWD now in our herd for over 20 years! 1-CWD has not and will not eliminate deer in our county, the population as a whole is lower at this point, but it has fluctuated significantly over the past 20 years! 2-CWD has definitely had an impact on our older buck population, we as a county do a very good job of letting immature bucks go and several landowners have started noticing the deer disappear or we are finding 3.5 yr olds we have let go dead, some specifically from CWD! 3-my opinion.... as a 49 yr old who purchased land specifically to grow big deer on(this has been a lifelong goal and dream of mine since a young boy) it's a very hard pill to swallow when your told to basically eradicate deer is the only way we can help with this situation???? Not all hunters/landowners are going to except that scenario!!!! 4-FACT...20 years of banned mineral, unlimited tags, dumping deer in dumpsters, unlimited testing, has not stopped or help the prevalence rates of the disease in our area! 5-there have been some very significant positive effects of CWD severity linked with humic and folic acid to which my father and I just developed a mineral with digestive humic acid in it and within a month the state shut us down as the humic(which we were told by the manufacturer was legal for livestock consumption in WI) is not legal in WI due to toxins in the humic but it's legal to use as a fertilizer and dump in the ground! I personally DO NOT think eradication or banning potential supplements that make deer healthier is a good idea, it 100% hasn't worked here! Thanks for bring this to light, I think making the public aware of the changes in the past 20 years is the way we come together and help these animals we all care about so much!!!

[@adamlewis_outdoor]

Very is insightful, thank you for sharing!

[@paradisevalleyoutdoors7328]

@@adamlewis_outdoor also...FYI, in 20 years I've never tested a deer we've shot for CWD, if they look healthy we eat them, if they look sick we don't, I've fed it to my three young children who are now old enough to decide for themselves and they have continued to eat everything we shoot, it's a big part of our hunting lives!!! Thanks again for having this "hard to have" conversation!!!

[@ericsimonson1073]

as individual hunters, we could supplement the deers' diets with the necessary minerals to prevent the misfolding of prions. I already am successfully supplementing minerals for the purpose of better skeletal and antler growth. Better all-around health follows. If the exact supplements are identified, it would be easy to include them in the mineral mix.

[@adamlewis_outdoor]

Yes should be, but in some states, like Michigan, they do not allow baiting or supplements. The DNR would have to get on board, and if the science community doesn’t discover the answer, they will probably reject the idea

[@w1.0]

Like he said this has been around for years. But now it is all of a sudden a problem we must solve. BS its all about power!

[@adamlewis_outdoor]

They seem to always err on the side of doing too much .. CYA mentality

[@brokenarrow6491]

Ive been through this several times over the years. I don't find that deer move in from other areas when there is a big die off. It took 4 or 5 years for the deer to repopulate back to normal.

[@francisconti9085]

Thank you for such an informative and thoughtful presentation..I agree with the asset of deer farms, learning the natrual predation balance required & dietary balances that augment general health that avoids disease... I am also a proponent of not SPREADING the opportunities for shedding of prion buildup in the environment.. I have personally walked with wild and suburban whitetail for over 40 years, following generations as they developed, my amateur studies have intensified in the last 20+ years, the differential opportunities and experiences any given habitats offer, and the differential response of individual deer can have absolutely amazing effects upon open herds, "locale" herds, & "family-matriarchal" sub herds.. whitetail are such an "open system" with "pocket herds" and more "range" herds.. They really are quite complicated in their individual distribution and genetic diversity or lack therof.. Sequestration or open genetic opportunities have such impacts..and we are just now trying to understand the whole.. Thanks for all your hard work to further education engagement!👍

[@Aaron-sl9lu]

I would disagree with Dr Miller, unregulated wolves are the biggest threat to deer. There is an extremely high CWD prevalence in the southern 1/3rd of Wisconsin, while wolves are almost eliminated deer in the northern 1/3rd of Wisconsin!

[@jwdundon]

Oregon too.... The game commission is PANDERING to liberals who want LEAS HUNTERS, and more wolves. The deer and elk herds are being wiped out. And the game commission doesn't do anything, sell more deer tags and, and blame "habitat loss" I CALL B.S.

[@rogerdudra178]

I've only heard about CWD in fish (trout) in the Madison river in Montana.

[@cjr4497]

You can't have this conversation without talking about its origin in CO and deer farms spreading the problem. Also, it is not always fatal. Look to Europe where they deal with it in their sheep. Our deer have the same thing the sheep have, scrapie.

[@user-fp5ep7di8r]

Mich dnr must movethe insurance off the dnr board now & the one liberals that are on!