redneck_billcollector
Purveyor Of Fine Spirits
Fortunately we have not had a documented case in GA at least that I have read about. However, it is now in Tennessee and I imagine it is only a matter of time before we start hearing about it here. In reading about CWD, largely about how apex predators help control it, I have come about a lot of information on how it spreads. Apparently anything that brings large numbers of deer, elk or moose together is not a good thing when it comes to combating the spread of this disease. The "prions" that cause this disease are continually shed by infected animals via nasal drippings, urine and fecal matter. I remember back in the 70s and early 80s when wild quail were fed by land owners via feeders as opposed to broadcast feeding, quail were also watered this way too...the land owners no longer do it that way. When I was a young man, a flu or some other virus spread like wildfire through many wild bird populations due to nasal drippings by infected quail at these feeder stations. That has led to these land owners and managers to do away with using feeding stations along with the fact feeding stations made them more prone to raptor predation. I wonder if deer feeders are going to have the same impact in spreading CWD when it finally reaches GA. The use of deer feeders is widespread throughout my part of the state. I will not use them because I just do not think they are good for the deer in the long run. I know Wyoming has a policy of feeding winter elk and deer herds and consequently Wyoming is known as a hot spot for CWD. Montana has been trying to get the feeding stations in Wyoming shut down, especially near the Montana border, because it appears most of Montana's CWD is near the Wyoming border and the Canadian border where feeding is done also. Interestingly enough, in parts of Montana where wolf hunting is limited, the CWD numbers tend to be lower too. With the way deer populations are in GA, we are going to be in for a rude awakening when CWD does get here, and it will have a severe impact on our deer hunting because you can not consume infected deer, and in many cases, what looks like a healthy deer could be an infected deer. You are required to test all deer/elk/moose harvested in regions of western states where it does exist before you can butcher it. CWD is a disease related to mad cow disease and they are not sure as to whether it can be transmitted to humans via consumption of deer meat. GA might consider taking some proactive measures and do away with deer feeders before the disease gets here. Because right now, I fear it will spread through our population like Sherman through GA if we do not take appropriate steps before it is too late.
