Heartbreaker for Iowa's deer heard

[katie]

Iowa had been hit by Blue Tongue very bad in the last few weeks. I just spoke with  my warden and my county alone is at 150 dead. One local guy lost 9 in one week. 7 mature bucks. He is so sick about it that he does not even plan to hunt this year. If you think about it, 7 bucks off his farm in one season!
I am lucky so far my heard has not been hit. We check the ponds every few days. Praying for a frost to stop this.
On top of that, CWD is now confirmed in 4 counties.
Very sad, but looks like hard times to come for Iowa's whitetail heard  :(  
I plan to hunt, but do more looking than taking. No does for me this year. Punching a buck tag will depend on how my heard comes out of this!

[Bernie B.]

I haven't heard of any "Blue Tongue" up here in northern Iowa, and I hope it doesn't work its way up here.  That's very unfortunate for your area Katie!  

CWD however was confirmed just last week at a deer farm in north central Iowa.  We certainly don't need that either!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[tackhammer]

Here in SW VA Hemorrhagic Disease is taking a toll, we have had two deer fall down and die in front of use in the last two weeks, lord only knows how many in the woods, not looking good.

[AWPForester]

It may be the the diseas tackhammer is talking about.  Both are prevalient every year.  Some die offs are worse than others.  Good luck and God Bless

[Jason Kendall]

The deer farm up here also owns the preserve in southern IA where it was detected, the DNR has them on lock down to prevent any spreading so surrounding counties should be fine. They are letting "hunters" go in and fill the preserve tags they paid for, right after they are done the DNR is going in to take out the rest of the heard.

[BOHO]

what causes it to start in the herd? population too high or what?

[Mike Vines]

In my way of thinking , guys that refuse to shoot does, are only helping all the diseases spread.  if the hunters won't thin the numbers then Mother Nature has to do it.  The hck with the antlers, if you have a deer in range, take it.  you will be doing the herd a HUGE favor.

[Hill Hunter]

Originally posted by BOHO:
what causes it to start in the herd? population too high or what?

dry weather forces deer to drink from stagnated water hole where Midges are congregated, these spread the disease ( EHD, Blue tongue), we had a die off in southern Ohio a few years ago, lost close to half the heard.
size and quality of deer are better than they have been for 20 years here. not a bad thing in the long run, but tough to go through.

[BOHO]

Originally posted by Hill Hunter:
 

Originally posted by BOHO:
what causes it to start in the herd? population too high or what?

dry weather forces deer to drink from stagnated water hole where Midges are congregated, these spread the disease ( EHD, Blue tongue), we had a die off in southern Ohio a few years ago, lost close to half the heard.
size and quality of deer are better than they have been for 20 years here. not a bad thing in the long run, but tough to go through. [/b]

oh ok.  man its a shame you cant do anything about a drought. I was thinking if it happen to be deer numbers you might go to a unlimited doe harvest once the herd comes back but that obviously wouldnt work. I hope all works out for you.

[katie]

Originally posted by Jason Kendall:
The deer farm up here also owns the preserve in southern IA where it was detected, the DNR has them on lock down to prevent any spreading so surrounding counties should be fine. They are letting "hunters" go in and fill the preserve tags they paid for, right after they are done the DNR is going in to take out the rest of the heard.

My warden said they have been pulled off the heard because it is already out and in other counties.

[Broken Arrow 1]

I was informed by the game warden that it can not be passed from deer to deer it is only transmitted through the flies or midges

[4 point]

We have it in SD too. Deer populations have nothing to do with it spreading.

[Bivyhunter]

Man, this is bummer news. I drew a zone 4 tag, any news from down around Red Oak?

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Originally posted by Hill Hunter:
 

Originally posted by BOHO:
what causes it to start in the herd? population too high or what?

dry weather forces deer to drink from stagnated water hole where Midges are congregated, these spread the disease ( EHD, Blue tongue), we had a die off in southern Ohio a few years ago, lost close to half the heard.
size and quality of deer are better than they have been for 20 years here. not a bad thing in the long run, but tough to go through. [/b]

Had EHD here a few years back and lost a bunch. I have noticed in the last few years the same as you. Fewer but better and healthier deer. It do's make a ruff season but it helps the herd in the long run.

 Was just down in NC and seen a doe on the side of road acting goofy as we where driving by and would swear I seen here in the rear view mirror just stumble and flop over. Next day a good friend of mine that lives down there said they have EHD from the midges.

[D]

It came through here a few years ago.  It took out a lot of deer but the deer numbers have bounced back well here.

[katie]

Originally posted by Broken Arrow 1:
I was informed by the game warden that it can not be passed from deer to deer it is only transmitted through the flies or midges

Yep, EHD (blue tounge) can not pass deer to deer. But the CWD can.