Here is something we should care about. Possible EHD breakout. We are working hard to confirm.

https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1041047119240303:0

https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1040662459278769

Deer farmers are reporting with pics, say BOAH BEING NOTIFIED. As we know the vector midge does not recognize fences or property lines. Gary

Way I understand it thereason EHD is so devastating is concentrating at water holes in dry ,drought like years .... water every where all over Indiana ..would be at problem At a deer farm concentration ,,, all the comments from Deer Farmers keep it there Madison Co. Got more rain than just about any where in the state They there not wild BUT can very well spread to wild deer there Lays the problem

Throbak, let us not make this another pissing contest. EHD is spread by a midge, and mostly transported by cattle. Those are facts. Droughts can be a catalyst; however so can pools of water left as flood and high waters recede. Which is happening at the exact time of year that we don't need it to.

This is not something to argue about and use for a political statement. We need to know the impact on the herds in the locals this outbreak may be happening. Emails and phone calls by IWDHM Group to DNR and BOAH to confirm. The midge knows no property lines and don't care about our politics, or if the deer is wild or private property. Hence the problem we are advocating. Outbreaks prior to deer season, but after bonus county permit quotas set. No system in place to react. The deer farms are at least giving us an indication that it is there, that may go unnoticed by hunters as season not in yet.

I would encourage anyone with any information about dead deer especially near water to contact IWDHM Group, BOAH, IDNR-DFW asap.

I think the EHD is an equal opportunity disease and certainly while deer concentration would increase its affect, I'm not sure the farming aspect would be a great factor. If so, we'd probably have heard that in the past. As with my post on the other thread, if it's mud along the waterways that the midges like, this could be a banner year for the EHD in some areas. As suggested though, at least in the wild herds, with the abundance of water, maybe the deer won't be as concentrated lessening some of the impact.

I just stated my opinion like everyone else thats all I am just sick of your Idea that the deer farms and canned hunting members on your page are the greatest thing since sliced bread Dont start it and it wont happen I read your post listed,,, ALL DEER FARMERS your in bed with the Devil IMO trying to justify their importance in the Deer World I am Not buying it never have never will Dont comment on this and its all I Have to Say

We are not in bed with the deer farmers. Said it multiple times, will not let you have the last word on misinformation. They reporting it, and it cannot be confined to just inside their fence, and we want others in the area to know, assess, walk their properties, especially waterways, and let us know the impact on the wild herd. Your rants out of hate does not make is so sir. We have no affiliation with the Deer Farms, but smart enough to use the information they are giving us to look how it may be effecting the wild herd. My goodness. See the forest for the trees man. You are giving it all away with this arguing.

I would love to meet all of you face to face and talk all this out for the resource. There are so many misconceptions being TYPED out there, that are just craziness to be frank. Do you realize that this is only 10% of the total communications resources we use as humans.

Anyway for now, can we just keep this to topic of EHD outbreak. Thanks.

Exactly.... +1.... Well said!!

Guys, is it possible to stick to the topic. I realize that many want to address other things, but each thread becomes the same stuff. Honestly, can we leave some of the other stuff behind and speak to topics that the thread is intended to be.

Dave I would suggest posting this information on IDHA Facebook page. No new posts since Deer Expo. Would love to see them join us just on this one. May be a start?

I called and left a message for the deer biologist. Hopefully she will call back.

Contacted several DNR BOAH AND OUR FOLLOWERS/MEMBERS. DNR HAS DONE NO TESTING TO DATE. LETS SEE WHAT BOAH COMES UP WITH ON NECROPSY. https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1041371572541191

Has there ever been a year when EHD hasn't had a effect on the deer herd???

EHD happens most every year on some level in Indiana.....

The State Fair is likely hindering a quick response but I'll keep following up. So much of the process of monitoring, reporting and assessing is clearly very difficult for the agency. I might be nice, and they may already have this, would be for the DNR to have a dedicated weblink to a site that gives explanation about EHD, and an update on areas that might be affected, simply so hunters and landowners have some additional information.

Be tough to get a season adjustment based on kills that have not happened yet....assuming that is what you're after.

I think there are cases of EHD every year....more in dry years than in wet. Time will tell how severe or slight this year is and the DNR will likely adjust next years quotas using that as a piece of their puzzle.

Doubt the State Fair has anything to do with it. All animals going to the State Fair HAVE to have a health certificate from a vet within a certain amount of time before being transported there. Which also means all animals have to be de-loused/de-wormed, and treated for biting insects. Which means they are NOT carrying the midges in, nor will the midges bite and carry off EHD once they are there. That is a fact.

Dave got response from DNR EARLIER. https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1041371572541191.

Also that is one of the reasons to illustrate this if a system was in place after an EHD occurrence we could adjust bag limits accordingly

no such system is in place now. Something we advocating as many pointed out EHD is here to stay and outbreaks in late summer after quotas announced. Need system to scale back in areas hit when needed.

Think dave saying most DNR personnel working fair. But if u click link see we got response earlier today .

Explain how you adjust bag limits after the hunting guide is published??? Good luck with that...

Your really have some confused then!!

Dave got response from DNR EARLIER. https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1041371572541191.

Also that is one of the reasons to illustrate this if a system was in place after an EHD occurrence we could adjust bag limits accordingly

no such system is in place now. Something we advocating as many pointed out EHD is here to stay and outbreaks in late summer after quotas announced. Need system to scale back in areas hit when needed.

Think dave saying most DNR personnel working fair. But if u click link see we got response earlier today .

EHD happens every year... Don't know why anybody would be "ALL MY GOD" about it...

Also the fact that deer farms would get hit harder is the fact that the deer have no where to go for other sources of water is no surprise either...

The state only tests and confirms a limited number each year so how would you propose adjustments be made based on those cases?

Also, wouldn't there be possibilities of cases so long as there are insects to transmit....well into September or October in every year?

Your point certainly is a good one and one that I'm sure the DNR would have to think long and hard about. That said though, if the DNR goes the route of cutting off trapping for otters or bobcats in the future once the harvest hits a certain level (maybe they won't do that), then some type of similar approach might be possible in other aspects of wildlife management including deer.

It would be nice to have some overview from science, not just a bunch of deer hunters speculation, as to how widespread within a geography (one mile, five miles, ten miles, etc) that EHD typically affects a deer herd and how science then can or cannot make any assessment as to the impact on the deer herd in whatever the general geography might be. Such as, 10%, 20%, 30% or whatever of the local herd within that geography is x% likely lost to the disease.

My point is, I think we all have some mild, maybe more, thought that EHD has been a significant factor in some or many localized deer herd declines in the last few years. Assuming that might be true, and knowing that the DNR doesn't typically like to react immediately to a situation like EHD because they pretty much believe the deer herd can and will successfully rebound in future years, does that mean that there isn't some reason to simply visit or revisit this issue in the future with the DNR. I'm not sure why everything isn't up for challenge periodically in regard to management style, management goals and so on. I get this issue of the regs being published and the difficulty of changing those regs once published, but why not? Do we really have to dumb down the process so much that situational impacts can't alter the regs within some notice period via the DNR website or such? I know it's not logical or maybe even practical, but why is it that we have to expect wildlife management to be as it's always been to a large degree? Honestly, I doubt that the average deer hunter would welcome any change to the regs once published, but I don't think that the average deer hunter really cares about the resource all that much anyhow.

As things stand now, I would agree. It would be confusing to make changes.

But...it would seem to me that in the future one thing could be done fairly easily.

With checkIN the data will be received and could be compiled much quicker than in years past. If the current season's harvest was higher (or lower) than anticipated in any particular county after the archery/firearm/muzzleloader seasons were over, it would be easy to add (or remove) a county from the late antlerless season.

If hunters were told this was how the late antlerless season was going to work, they could check the DNR website after the muzzleloader season to see if the late antlerless season would be available to them (or not), based on that season's county harvest data.

Would the DNR be interested in doing something like this?

I have no idea.....

Now there is a positive idea, JJAS, that all we asking for some dialog to bring this overharvest into moderation, thanks man.

Jjas exactly great idea and one I remember discussing with Craigslist Bierl when he served with IWDHM.

Be curious to know if the DNR wouldn't like that idea as to why? I see it as a no brainer.

I also would like to see the DNR let hinters know that if an EHD outbreak hits the DNR may emergency adjust some county's bonus antler less quotas at any point.

If season limits are changed after licenses are sold I assume the DNR would need to refund any monies from unfilled tags.....

I"m not entirely following your thought here. If the agency stated the rules and the fact that the rules and bag limits could change at any time, any purchaser would be fully aware of the possibility that the tags would not be able to be filled. As long as the purchaser understand the situation, I'm not really sure a refund would be needed.

Not true anymore unless you go out of state

How many cases would the state need to test and confirm before an adjustment in that county was made?

See this is great discussion. This is what I have been attempting to promote. Just awareness and ideas. Careful though s_wilk, you are putting the cart before the horse, wanting specifics and setting limits. This will be along slow progress with many players. The point is to start talking, get a voice (nothing matters without that), then engage all stakeholders to discuss how can we moderate the harvest to the best possible benefit of the resource and the citizens of Indiana. Conversation is starting, keep it up, don't get lost in he said she said, specifics, just converse positive ideas. Thanks for those that are, and attempting to. Just remember lets keep the horse in front, and we will get to the cart eventually, have to crawl before we can walk.

If the cases are on Deer farms I am not sure the DNR would have the authority to even test after ther recent court rulings!!!!

Gary - did you really just tell me to be careful? For discussing specifics of a proposed idea?

Really?

**** it .... I say we have world peace. The specifics of how we do that arent important but lets all agree that world peace is what we want.

Not sure anyone could get refunds, but it would have a factor on the selling of Deer tags....

Which was my point.

The state does not test and confirm many cases. There would be changes after a season has started and tags have been sold. Cases could continue to develop well into October or even November.

But who needs to discuss details .... and how in the **** do you have ideas without details and a well designed plan?

Back to topic: reports coming from Hamilton and Madison Counties currently. I posted statement from DNR several times yesterday.

Direct quote from DNR Chief in email yesterday, "I contacted most of our field supervisors this afternoon and we have not been receiving reports of EHD in wild deer. Our wildlife science supervisor advised that we have not collected, nor submitted, samples for EHD testing this year."

It is highly possible, they have not even heard about it yet, other than our reports. I was in conversation yesterday with two of the farmers that reported it. One posted the following on his site:

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#1 Bell
Senior Member

Members
1,067 posts
Posted Today, 11:49 AM
Sadly again we are starting to lose deer again from the EHD virus in Indiana. A gentleman on another forum suggested that deer farmers should take the time to notify the Department of Fish & Wildlife if we are sustaining losses to the virus. I agree. Our deer herds are a "canary in the coal mine" for the virus in the wild herd. We have deer farms all over the state and we can provide important info. Bonus antlerless bag limits are determined by the DNR prior to EHD season. The herd could be devastated in a county by EHD and hunters over harvesting the animals that are left could decimated the herd to the point a rebound could take several years. Please take the time and report any losses to everyone who could be effected. All hunters will appreciate it! Thanks for your time and consideration.

So see with conversation, at least found a common goal to report, WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO for the knowledge to be out there that the wild herd may be at risk as well.

The other gentlemen, stated he would put together a video, showing the sick and dead deer w/ symptoms, and show how to remove the spleen to send for testing, and will send to have tested at his expense to confirm or deny. If it does turn out to be something else then the DNR will at least be aware. That is our hope and intent at IWDHM Group. Nothing can stop EHD, except deer building immunity; however, how we harvest after an outbreak, can conserve the herd sensibly.

You are correct Brew, the DNR would not have the authority. So wouldn't it be nice, if the Farms voluntarily reported it to the DNR, so they have knowledge it is out there. That is what I worked hours on yesterday.

Trying to bring people together to focus on a common goal, even though they may be miles apart everywhere else. IWDHM Group, herd first!!!

S-Wilk yes I did say be careful. You are already asking for specific numbers of EHD cases and how much to decrease doe permits. Heck man it just an idea a this point. Many Many Many stakeholders have to weigh in and come up with a collective plan of moderation. If you start putting out specific numbers and start MANDATING a stance on anything, you have lost, we have lost, the DEER HERD has lost. Complex world with millions of stakeholders. We have to be smart enough to kick around ideas for solution of a problem, and not get to specific at first, hence, cart before the horse. Really!!!!

Ideas promote discussion, and turn into well designed plans, only after all stake holders weigh in and find the Venn Diagram. That collective middle is where a solution lies. Have to get their first before we can even start to have a specific idea for a strategic plan. I am sure every business, school, family, would wish they would wake up one morning with a specific plan to accomplish all their goals. Just don't happen that way. Takes thought, work, more thought, and work work work. If we start out saying anything won't work before we even get there, then you are right it won't work.

For these naysayers, then what would be the point, nothing would ever work, and we should all just give up and stay in bed. IMO

Successful people, set the bar. It is never this won't work, it is how can we make this work!

On second thought ... Good luck Gary.

Who knows...but I bet it would be many...

As for the whole refund thing and what not....I would think the DNR could first and foremost warn hunters that late season bonus season tags are to be treated as a separate license and not for sale until after the normal firearms season is complete....this would typically be after EHD affects have occurred and if needed the DNR could get rid of them.

However this would not have any impact on the counties which don't qualify for the late season bonus season though...

Edit ...

Thanks s-wilk now we getting somewhere.

Reports just in from two deer farmers, they are having deer tested. Results may take awhile. They have stated they will share results as well. So at least in Madison and Hamilton County we will have some idea if the wild herd is at risk as well, also at risk from what. So believe hunters in that area should be checking their properties for any signs of out break. No response from BOAH at this time.

So when or who is doing the testing to confirm that the problem is EHD???

Testing has to be done to confirm cases of EHD!!!

BOAH is probably waiting for the test results to come from the affected deer farmers. It is my understanding that the deer/or parts can only be tested within 24 hours of death for EHD.

The probability of an EHD positive is good each year now that there are numerous strains, be it a captive herd or wild herd.

I,m not concerned so much with a captive herd as it has a "limited" water source. With all of rain we have had the wild deer have many options for water. In most cases when EHD occurs it IS NOT county or region wide, the midge does not travel large distances.

What I think we can agree upon is that we need to urge IDNR is to have a "preliminary antlerless quota", then have an option to revise that quota by October 15. Remember, most antlerless quota permits are used during firearm season. Very few deer would be used by October 15 in my opinion.

Good idea Joe. Anything to encourage moderation for everyone.

Per conversations today, one deer died last night and they taking to get tested today? That is the report.

Just spoke with the folks in Bloomington. Here is a conversational summary:

- No reports of EHD yet.
- In a wet year like this with a lot of drying mud around, it is quite possible for EHD to be present but with the wet conditions, deer are less dependent upon limited water sources which then decreases risk of a widespread outbreak of the disease.
- Even in years of significant EHD, it is often very localized. For instance, numerous deer might die in a location yet two miles away there might be no affect at all. (This would make managing by county, even in high outbreaks maybe difficult)
- EHD tends to run in cycles with no or very limited outbreaks for a few years and then outbreaks for a couple of years. This is due to the build up of immunity by the deer.
- According the the DNR in Bloomington, there were no reports of EHD last year.

It was a good conversation and she said that she wouldn't be shocked if there eventually is a reported case of EHD but doesn't believe it will have a high impact because of the abundant water supply this year.

Thanks Dave for the creditable update/info on EHD in Indiana.

Our's is as well Brew, just attempting to help spread the word.

Pretty sick of being called a liar by a internet heckler.

Well, as luck, or bad luck, would have it, I just got a call from the Bloomington office st 4:15 and after my earlier conversation with her she got a call from a CO in Parke Co and he reported a sick deer that will be tested for EHD. She said that from appearances, it does though appear to have EHD.

So there's still no Confirmed EHD cases in Indiana yet!!!!

Well here you go BREW working late on it.

https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1042455505766131:0

Confirmed two dead Parke Co. Symptoms highly likely EHD SENT FOR TESTING BY DNR, Conservation officer Slaven Parke Co. Confirmed this moments ago.

On this one Brew wish you were correct for once. Parke Co my home, but unfortunately your record continues; wrong , almost perfect I might add. So now lets see what we can do about it. Educate hunters outbreak locals as they come in. Hopefully hunters that care will back off doe harvest in these areas.

So Gary are you now saying these cases are "confirmed" EHD even though the testing results are not know???

BTW..... Did you not read what Delaney posted in this thread Gary?

I am saying a coservation officer with experience has confirmed based on visual observation of carcassses, location in proximity to water, and multiple carcasses A lab test will further confirm.

Brew I am a Reg Nurse with Critical Care and ER EXPERIENCE. I can assure you we dont go to school and learn from years experience to just read a test report, you could do that, rather clinical assessment, judgement, and listening to the patient usually tells us what we need to know. I dont need to read a test to recognize Chf MI STROKE. DONT TAKE AN MRI TO RECOGNIZE YOU MAY BE Having problems with the FRontalLOBES OF YOUR BRAIN, Your brainstem is working because you are obviously breathing with a heartbeat, and your parietal lobe is working because you can feel the keys, the posterior portion of your frontal lobes be is working due to rhe fact you have yhe motor skills to operate the keyboard.

However the anterior pirtion of your frontal lobes may need further testing and evaluation because you are clinically presenting with personality abnormalities and difficulty with reasoning and thinking. I would further suggest that the screen name you hide behind and your references if drinking on this forum there is a chance your liver is cirrhosed or failing as that will cause ammonia levels to rise and cause these sx. Now if I had a pic of you I could determine this by a bug belly called ascites and the yellowing in your skin and the whites of your eyes. However I would need further tests to confirm, but clinically think we narrowed it down. Now if you are older and it hurts when u pee and you are hallucinating you may have a urinary ttact infection. Better go see your doctor. Lmao. Just messing with you. But seriously you can read ghe next post to get back on topic, even in your condition.

Now with approaching 12,000 members / followers in all 92 indiana counties this is what the IWDHM Group is planning to do to help our herd from EHD.

https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1042496365762045

CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE HOW YOU TO CAN HAVE AN IMPACT AGAINST EHD. WE ARE NOT DEFENSLESS! By remaining concerned about the resource as our utmost importance, and remaining out of divisive issues that are stastically insignificant we can increase our numbers even more to monitor and impact the herd positively for future generations as well as our own. This is bigger than the couple hundred record book deer a year, what weapon you use, or if some guy owns domestic deer that are livestock not wildlife. Those things DONT MATTER STATSTICALLY. EHD, Excessive doe harvest, poor fawn recruitment, habitat. These are the issues and we are doing something about them with or without you. All almost 12,000 of us that care about the resource and it being here for future generations.

EHD is God's reset button...nothing can be done accept respond to it appropriately...I hope these suspected instances end up being something other than EHD....anyone know how long before testing is done?

If you are not familiar with EHD, check out this quick fact sheet.

http://www.growingdeer.tv/view/wp-c...ootic-Hemorrhagic-Disease-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. -William James-

Very familiar Brew, lost 29 deer we found in 2012 within a square mile in Parke County. One large skull and antlers hang above the gated entrance to my farm. That is the ones we FOUND, so sure many more. Almost all were found by water, and presented with clinical signs that point to a diagnosis of EHD, as did the Deer in Parke County did yesterday.

Testing just confirms the clinical diagnosis. So relatively certain the three counties we have reports from, were reported by individuals that have years of experience with EHD, and its clinical presentation.

However, the Madison County case is out for testing now; as well as the Parke County case. As a clinician this is good enough confirmation for me. But either way this does not mean we do not start spreading the word to get a handle on its impact, and how to respond starting 15Sept/1Oct/14Nov/26Dec. Only with knowledge does management work. We are not defenseless against the long term effects of EHD. Thanks Brew for posting the fact sheet. The more we educate ourselves, the better advocates for deer we become. As Ty points out, there is nothing we can do to stop EHD, but our response to our piece of the picture, as the management tools we are as hunters, and educating as many hunters as possible to the effects of our response will indeed make a difference in the future.

Not everything can be legislated or ordered, education, experience, and wisdom have to come into play at some point.

Did you see an earlier post on this forum, where some hunters were killing all deer, in a EHD area, because they were uneducated on the disease. This disease as your fact sheet reports is from a biting midge, not direct contact. Also the deer that survive, have built antibodies that will impede outbreaks in the future. Only through education can we make a difference. So Brew posting that Fact Sheet was a very good start. Thanks Buddy.

Gary if you could respond to my PM that would be great

https://www.facebook.com/Indianadeerherdmanagement/posts/1057122147632800:0

Ehd positive in Hamilton Co. DNR test on Parke Co deer in question.

Is that a WILD or captive deer that tested positive ???

The DNR is reporting no positive tests on wild deer.

They heve only done viral isolation test wich is an inconclusive test.

And only one deer.

Deer that was bit by a midge Brew

So in other words it was a captive/tame Deer that tested positive for EHD!... SMH

Keep being sheep.

Nobody is finding carcasses dude. I found a bunch during the bad year. You found a bunch in your hunting area one year. I don't think this is a year we need to worry about.

4 or 5 yr ago I saw 31 dead on the square I live on Dead ,Today you could never tell it so good thing is they bounce back really well

Gary - did the DNR answer your question on what type of test they did? I assume so based on your answer but didn't find the actual response on their FB page when you asked for clarification.

Kind of by email,
"We (DNR) are listing the Parke CO death as suspect EHD with virus isolation indicating no EHD/BT virus present. We are working with the lab to determine other testing options. . . ."

Part of my reply, "Also from your email you state you are working with the lab, but do not really answer what other testing options you are pursuing, or if they are being pursued at all? Can you please advise what actual follow up testing is being done, and when those test results may be available? "

See what answer I get.

So in others words you are assuming what type of test has been done .....No actual facts! Per someone's email.... Interesting !!!

Was this suspect EHD case on a wild or farm raised deer?

If the DNR tested its a wild deer.

Nobody in the circles I personally talk to have found any which is a good thing. I have little doubt there are cases out there but they do not appear to be widespread this year.

My earlier post quoting the email, the someone, was the Wildlife Science Supervisor at the DNR. Just in this morning you will find her report of the positive EHD cases so far that the DNR is recognizing and find that the others being tested are correlating with the reports we have been posting for the last month. First his her email today, then you will find my reply at the bottom.


--------------------------------------------
"On Fri, 9/18/15, Slack, Dawn wrote:

Subject: RE: FW: EHD results
To: "Gary Walters"
Date: Friday, September 18, 2015, 9:47 AM

Good Morning Gary,

.....

Thank you for letting us know about the dead deer on your
property. If you find another one please let me know. I
would like to sample it if we can get to it within 24 hours
of it dying.

We received a positive test result (EHDV-2) from a
Tippecanoe sample, and BOAH let us know yesterday that they
have positive samples from cervid farms in Boone, Madison
and Hamilton counties (strain is unknown from the captive
samples). We are waiting for test results that we have
submitted from other counties. We have been receiving calls
from several counties, mostly in the central portion of the
state, and are sampling as often as we can. We are
definitely tracking suspect deer and do take disease
prevalence into account for herd management.

Please continue to notify us as you have been. Please call
the local CO or the local District Biologist or the
Bloomington Field Office (812-334-1137) with reports of sick
deer. I am sorry others have had difficulties reaching us. I
assure you we respond to calls we receive.

Thank you again for your concern for Indiana's deer herd, as
well as, your efforts tracking dead/sick deer this fall. We
understand those concerns and absolutely want a healthy herd
as well. Please keep in touch and let me know what you are
finding.
R.

Dawn


Dawn R. Slack
Wildlife Science Supervisor
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Bloomington Field Office
DSlack@dnr.IN.gov
Office: (812) 334 -1137"

Dawn,

Thanks so much for the information. While depressing news, it is good to be able to bring awareness to hunters. Hopefully this awareness of the conditions in their areas, their own observations on the ground can inspire harvest strategies that correlate with what is going on in real time for the good of the resource.

I am cc'ing the others, to illustrate how social media can in fact be a tool in deer management and organizing hunters and all deer enthusiasts. The findings are consistent with what IWDHM Group has been reporting for over one month. Again, in all fairness, we wish we were wrong, such a waste of the resource is tragic. Hopefully with awareness, harvests will be less in these areas to not put undo stress on a already stressed herd. The fact of the matter is, no group should be left out of conversation and data collecting for the good of the resource, especially a group that has brought together so many deer enthusiasts in the state, from hunters, to hikers, to kayakers. All have reported these deer to us.

Wish you well in your continued efforts to manage our resource.


Gary A. Walters, RN
Board of Directors, IWDHM Group.
Storybook Valley Farm and Loneridge Kennels

THIS MESSAGE (AND ANY ATTACHMENT) IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED AND/OR CONFIDENTIAL UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the message, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by returning it to the sender and delete this copy from your system. Thank you.

So to date we have ONE positive test on a WILD Deer and multi positive in captive/tame Deer samples...with multi test being done in the wild Deer Herd...thanks for update!!

The multiple tests are still our without results to date.

Thought they(DNR)had already tested and had results from a Parke CO. Wild Deer!!!

Wasting everyones time Brew go back to your beer.

I knew you wouldn't want to discuss the facts.... Keep Trolling!!!

Dead is dead, not sure why everybody cares if it is ehd or not. Look at their facebook page of all of the posts from people finding deer. Does it matter what they died from?

Don't be fooled...... Not all those deer are WILD Deer!!!
There not telling that part of the story.... Same as the lab reports !!!
BTW..... Road kills equate to more dead deer then EHD ever does.

Got a Question With all the EHD seemingly Farm deer the majority wouldn't that be a concern to the wild herd in the area or is it a farm only problem

Exactly it is a deer farm page as I come to find out

One confirmed case of EHD and we have a thread 6 pages long... Sheesh....

EHD happens EVERY YEAR, so it is not big of a deal unless it is a major outbreak like we had a few years back....

And so what if it happens on a deer farm... The more, the merrier IMO... Don't care one bit if it wipes out a deer farm or wipes them all out...

While harsh a lot of truth here has been stated.

EHD is a killer of deer every single year...in some cases does reach epidemic status in wild deer herds...however judging from the extremely limited reports in the WILD DEER herd population it would seem this year has not been any more severe than an average year...and I pray it stays that way!

I don't care one way or the other. All I was saying is there are several people on their website sending in pics of dead deer in many different counties. I didn't think there were that many captive deer farms, just seems like ordinary hunters sending in pics to me. IMO IWDHM is documenting a lot better than the DNR ever has and I will say if you only go by what the DNR test/reports you are missing the boat big time. Been there, done that.

To be fair many folks are sending in pictures of dead deer without having any idea what caused its death.

Without a verified cause of death that is exactly what you have .... a bunch of pictures of dead deer. Its not really documentation of anything else.

There is not even proof the deer were found dead in Indiana. Not implying that they werent but as far as documenting anything there would need to be more than a picture submitted over the web.

All you big mouth keyboard cowards were invited and failed to even show up to the deer summitt to bring hunters and deer enthusiasts together. Not one of you showed or sent a rep with any constructive conversation items. Yet you continue on here with critisism and inuendos. EHD periorbital edema, hemorrahing, hence water seeking behaviour. Pics, videos, boots on the ground bringing these reports with more coming from wild than the deer farms but irrelevant. As is this constant bickering by those that care to do nothing for conservation than bitch. May God help us all as we lose what so many conservationists bleed for. Thanks though Cody for the beacon of hope.

+1....well stated

I informed Dave of why I did not make it, and apologized perpetually. I didn't even inform where I was staying intime to get back anything. Life through a curveball and basically blew up in my face late last week and made the Deer Summit not the highest priority; few things outweigh hunting but God and family are most definitely gonna win each time. However, I unlike others have not bickered so your comment may not have been directed at me, but I felt the need to explain at least why I was unable to make it.

As for the EHD, Gary I know in pockets it can be a HUGE factor for herd depletion. I have friends in Kansas, Missouri and Michigan that have seen and found 10 deer to an acre in years past dead along rivers/creeks/ponds (all wild herds)...and I am praying Indiana never experiences it to that degree. I know atleast in my area it has been very quiet for it, and when you think about it even all the suspected cases reported to the DNR it seems like a fairly common year...but I would need to ask for records of reports from years past to state that for certain.

Also Gary, to lead means to gather enemies or those that disagree with you or argue with you at times. You've told me numerous times in our private messages you are a man of faith, I know firsthand when speaking on things of what we care immensely for we can lose our cool...but we must try. Calling others cowards or implying their frauds discredits your goals to an extent.

Blessings and as I told Dave, I pray the Summit brought an understanding to all you went from any stance or opinion.

You're on here for 2 months and now indiscriminately calling us cowards? I bet I have more miles on my boots than you in any given year. And it's almost exclusively on federal and state forestry lands, not on an ATV puttering around papaws back 40 or a pricey lease. EHD report from the southern Shawnee escarpment is nill, ready to enjoy deer season. Suggest you tone down the rhetoric and do the same Gary Walters.

Gary,

I thought about coming to the event, but my son had a cross country meet which I would much rather have attended. But even if my schedule had been clear, I had already made up my mind not to show up as I frankly don't care for the way you and your group treat the employees of the DNR or any other group or individual that you don't agree with.

You accuse others of being "big mouth keyboard cowards", yet ironically the above personal attack on members here occurred via the very medium you chastise others for using...

And while I'm not 100% happy with everything that the DNR and NRC has done (and likely will do), in the the end, they are educated professionals who I respect and ultimately support.

Finally....since you are so concerned about the deer herd, why don't you back up those concerns by sitting out the deer season this year and ask every one of your "followers" to do the same?

Just think of the deer you could save.....

Post of the year...^^^^^^^^^

I have had my share of disagreements with members of this forum and other forums. Heck I've had disagreements on deer hunting with some of my closest friends. At the end of the day though I respect every one of them and we try to treat each other pretty civil.

You sir have crossed the line in many posts that I have read on this forum and your above post is the epitome of self righteousness and disrespect towards fellow sportsmen. You have defined you yourself by the very content of your own words as EVERYTHING that we (as hunters, fishers, trappers, and general outdoor enthusiasts) have agreed will be the end of us and what we love. It is you and those like you that are self-destroying hunting ... not so much by your beliefs ... but more by your disrespect and lack of support for fellow sportsman.

You would do all of us as hunters a huge favor by crawling back under the rock that you came from.

It is one thing to disagree with others, it is another to be that disrespectful that you resort to the 5th grade level that which you have stooped repeatedly. Take your ball and go home, this play ground doesn't need or want you.

I notified Dave as well .... I had hoped for an afternoon starting time but when the morning time was finalized I let him know I would be unable to attend.

I for one am going to distance myself as far as I Can from that group You can't be condesendi nng of your peers like that and be any good for anything I also am tired of the disrespect