Montana extends season (whitetail) for CWD

[timmy]

This is simply not true. As stewards they take great pride in managing the land, including wildlife. I am aware of several in the CWD zone who are actively looking for people to help with this hunt.

Bold move Cotton, we will see how this plays out.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Check the map, it's linked. Call the state vet office, talk with any of them.

Well, regardless of the science of CWD or veterinary expertise- this is undoubtedly the most insane plan FWP has conjured up that I’m aware of. It’s war in animals that live on public. I’m actually surprised they didn’t include mule deer, I mean why not?

 

[The Hedgehog]

This is simply not true. As stewards they take great pride in managing the land, including wildlife. I am aware of several in the CWD zone who are actively looking for people to help with this hunt.

You have been hypnotized by who?

 

[Carnage2011]

This is simply not true. As stewards they take great pride in managing the land, including wildlife. I am aware of several in the CWD zone who are actively looking for people to help with this hunt.

I live in 320 and am very close to many of these ranchers. Spend a lot of time working with them on different projects. 99% of them don’t support this. The problem ranches within the units are Kennedy’s and Morse. Kennedys have almost a 50% positive rate on their deer that were tested this year. There have been a few randoms pop up on others, but that right there is the problem.
Bucks will be shedding their horns starting in a few weeks. These ranchers manage for quality and won’t allow a single hunter on their place because they don’t want shed bucks getting shot, and they don’t trust most hunters to identify a doe.

Most of the ranchers in 320,322, and 324 are not supportive of this hunt. Thank god they manage for quality hunting...you won’t find much for quality whitetails on the public, especially after this hunt.

 

[Bambistew]

MT's management plans for the last 60 years is a CWD management plan. The older animals are more likely to pass on the disease especially bucks because they roam. The last step is to just shoot them all.

Muledeer and elk will be next. Wouldn't be surprised if they toss antelope in for good measure.

 

[antlerradar]

I understand that but fwp’s logic behind this is completely flawed. To do what they are doing you would have to have the private land pounded just as hard as the public. Landowners won’t allow that to happen.

This is simply not true. As stewards they take great pride in managing the land, including wildlife. I am aware of several in the CWD zone who are actively looking for people to help with this hunt.

I would like to think that what 406 is saying a bout FWP is true but there actions give me doubt. What timmy points out is also true. CWD management is doomed to fail if it is only applied to public land. I understand that FWP can not dictate what happens on private land, but FWP also refuses to do simple changes that could help. Changes like requiring most of the doe harvest is taken from private land.

 

[antlerradar]

Well, regardless of the science of CWD or veterinary expertise- this is undoubtedly the most insane plan FWP has conjured up that I’m aware of. It’s war in animals that live on public. I’m actually surprised they didn’t include mule deer, I mean why not?

Are there any mule deer left on public? Getting to be a serous question.

 

[TheJason]

How this debacle cannot be mandatory check in with sampling is absolutely baffling. I don’t care how many ranches are asking for help. Without mandatory sampling the whole premise is a joke.

 

[Sask hunter]

Following sask footsteps of where we were ten years ago. Now we just monitor it. I have heard it can spread through coyote crap after a coyote eats an infected deer. If that’s true why bother even. Can’t eliminate the deer and coyotes

 

[brockel]

Currently, our best science on management is limiting herd numbers and density. Specifically, younger bucks are thought to be the greatest transmitters of CWD. Citations here and here.

Eastern and Southeastern Montana should be safe then

 

[Tomahawk]

 

[Nick87]

From the press release “Hunters who participate in the management hunt are encouraged to submit samples for CWD testing.”

“Encouraged”

what in the absolute #*^@#*?

Same here in illinois with sampling and extra tags/seasons, makes no sense.

 

[d-edward]

How this debacle cannot be mandatory check in with sampling is absolutely baffling. I don’t care how many ranches are asking for help. Without mandatory sampling the whole premise is a joke.

I don't recall all that much from junior high science class, but if you come up with a theorem and a hypothesis but don't ever collect enough information to form a conclusion, you don't have much of a project.

 

[SAJ-99]

Changes like requiring most of the doe harvest is taken from private land.

How would this exactly be done? I like the idea, but the 'how' seems pretty complex.

 

[Wildabeest]

Several states issue various tags that are only valid on private land. It’s simply a condition of the tag just like limiting a tag to a particular unit. Enforcing it is another matter, but again, no different than enforcing any other tag restrictions or poaching.

 

[antlerradar]

How would this exactly be done? I like the idea, but the 'how' seems pretty complex.

A good first step would be to make the majority of the tags only good on private land. Even if you made the first tag you bought good on public and the next five only good on private it would be a start. There are plenty of hunters that will not even try to find private to hunt if public is available and the way the tags are distributed now it gives the impression to many that all is well on public. After all if the professionals at FWP are not concerned about where the does are killed why should the average Joe hunter.
I understand that many of the landowners will not allow many does to be shot.
There are some things that would help. Hold doe/hunting in general earlier in the year. Crop damage does not factor as much into the decision making of the farmer if the season is so late that most of the damage is done long before the season starts. Montana has this type of season.
Don't have general season during the rut. If you are selling bucks those does are valuable money makers that attract bucks. Hold the season out of the rut and those does become a crop eating money losers.

 

[Irrelevant]

My buck just tested positive for CWD, I won't feed it to my kids, but if anyone here wants to step up I'll give you some meat

I won't have mine tested because once the meat becomes inedible what's the point? I can't justify hunting just for the killing. So I'm gonna put my head in the sand and carry on.

 

[SAJ-99]

A good first step would be to make the majority of the tags only good on private land. Even if you made the first tag you bought good on public and the next five only good on private it would be a start. There are plenty of hunters that will not even try to find private to hunt if public is available and the way the tags are distributed now it gives the impression to many that all is well on public. After all if the professionals at FWP are not concerned about where the does are killed why should the average Joe hunter.
I understand that many of the landowners will not allow many does to be shot.
There are some things that would help. Hold doe/hunting in general earlier in the year. Crop damage does not factor as much into the decision making of the farmer if the season is so late that most of the damage is done long before the season starts. Montana has this type of season.
Don't have general season during the rut. If you are selling bucks those does are valuable money makers that attract bucks. Hold the season out of the rut and those does become a crop eating money losers.

I think it goes back to the previous point you made - FWP has no control over deer on private land. Private landowners are the true managers of wildlife. FWP is pushing on a string.

 

[JEL]

I am unsure what good it will do, but here's some more info for everyone:

• Currently, our best science on management is limiting herd numbers and density. Specifically, younger bucks are thought to be the greatest transmitters of CWD. Citations here and here.
• Every unit in this special CWD hunt has had a positive. Given the prevalence, it is highly likely the density in surrounding areas is greater than what we know thus far. You can check the map on FWP or you can call the State Vet's office 577-7880.
• This hunt shouldn't be a surprise, our CWD Management Plan calls for these actions.
• It is pretty clear from studies out of WI and WV that if nothing is done, infection rates skyrocket and population crashes are significantly worse. Citation here.
• CWD Management Hunts are different from shoulder season elk hunts with different goals.
• Montana isn't bonkers, but following the best practices based on the best science and recommendations from WAFWA.

There is far more info at http://cwd-info.org/

I know FWP is a favorite target of many. I also know that FWP is not infallible. The struggle with CWD is real with an impact that could be far more reaching than any of us as hunters could imagine. There is a genuine concern and a passion to mitigate CWD within the ranks of FWP.

There you go throwing out some facts. Thanks for this.

 

[EYJONAS!]

Eastern and Southeastern Montana should be safe then

They're coming for you guys in January.