EHD in deer

[Bonebuster]

I just tried to google some info about EHD, and was not able to find answers to questions I have.

Maybe I can find some answers here:

First question I have...because it was prevalent in several counties in the southern part of Michigan in 2012, can we expect a repeat?

Does a mild winter increase the risk of an outbreak?

Does drought increase the risk of an outbreak?

Do deer build up a resistance to it, and pass anti-bodies to offspring?

Thanks in advance.

[Jayrod]

Far as I know we need definitely not a drought cause it causes the fly or bug to produce in ponds and stagnant water which deer goto drink and get bit also in the later spring after summer in the fall we need a coldd hard frost to.kill it..IMO from what I researched and heard hope this helps

[LC]

Well the answers I will give are not scientific but only based on when it hit in my home county a couple years ago strickly in the western end.

1.can we expect a repeat?
Hasn't happened again here for two years now.

2.Does a mild winter increase the risk of an outbreak?
Who knows about weather but if a mild winter means a drought summer then yes but who knows.

3.Does drought increase the risk of an outbreak?
Yes as it's strickly insect driven and certain weather conditions mean for more productive insect summers.

4. Don't have a clue but personally don't think so because it's happened in specific places from time to time.

However I can give some good news. Everyone here was sure the deer herd was wiped out and it sure seemed like it. However my best buddie who hunted that year of EHD had a horrible year but the very next year it was like it never happened and he and others had a banner year killng several NICE bucks. Believe that was more to the fact that very few hunted or killed deer the year before and more survived than they thought! JMHO opinion your mileage may vary. I sure hope the above holds true for the area I hunt in Ohio because they took a hit this year also from EHD.

[kadbow]

Check this out

 http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/EHD.asp

[meathead]

Check out the Southeast Wildlife Disease Study Group.  Lots of info there.

[HawkeyeArcher]

Here's the address for the Iowa DNR's info on EHD and CWD.


 http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/DeerHunting/CWDEHDInformation.aspx

[Bonebuster]

Thanks everyone.

[flinthead]

It hit last summer in Franklin County Virginia last summer. We saw few deer compared to last year. Many farmers found dead deer near water. Game Biologist said it was worse during drought, hot years. Field seperation of EHD and Blue Tounge is not possible-they called this outbreak Blue Tounge.Not sopposed to be related to population numbers, but our area seemed to be  overpopulated with deer.  We severly restricted our take of bucks and killed no does. Hoping they will recover quickly. A searce of Blue Tounge will give many articles on the subject. Thanks, Roy

[John Scifres]

My area of Parke County IN was hit hard in 2007.  It was 2 years before the deer got back to normal (which is high pop and good bucks).  This year, some parts of Parke were hit hard but not mine.  I guess the point is that EHD is very regional.  So if your area was hit hard, it won't be long before the deer move back in, assuming good feed and habitat.

[Roughrider]

From the research I've read, some deer can be infected and survive, and they will then be immune to the disease. Since does probably aren't pregnant at the time of infection, they wouldn't pass the immunity on to their offspring.  

On a 140 acre property in NE I found 13 dead bucks and 6 dead does - it hit that area hard, but there are still deer around.  

EHD seems to run through many areas of the west on about a 5 year schedule, during dry years.  Can locally take as much as 90% of the deer herd, but often much less.

[agross1]

I live in Ionia county, which was absolutely hammered by ehd.  My cousin, who hunts the same property I do, shot a buck at the end of shot gun season.  The rack if all there would have been a very nice 8 point , but both main beams and every tine were broke off.  The first thing I noticed when I saw his deer, was how small the body was.  He took it to the processor .  As soon as he dropped the tailgate , the processor told him it has ehd.  Look at the hoofs, he said. They were cracking and splitting and deteriorating(sp).  The processor also told my cousin that if this deer somehow made it through , it would be immuned from now on.  He also told him, if this buck bread , that its offspring would be immuned.  Not sure if this is indeed fact , but thats what the processor told him.

[Paul/KS]

NE Kansas was hit by it this year pretty bad. Population is down from what I can see (or not see...).
The Wildlife and Parks dept only got around to admitting it after the seasons started and tags were sold tho...  :rolleyes: