They did sell deer to other ranches and did spread CWD.

I really was a fan of TDA and most other wildlife related state groups until this all went down. I also have two cousins that are breeders and understand it well. If there were any "Gustapo" tactics it was the TDA and its cronies with all the "behind closed doors threats" that were made along the way.

They did sell deer to other ranches and did spread CWD.

I really was a fan of TDA and most other wildlife related state groups until this all went down. I also have two cousins that are breeders and understand it well. If there were any "Gustapo" tactics it was the TDA and its cronies with all the "behind closed doors threats" that were made along the way.

I didn't post any thoughts about breeders or HF I merely said the TDA group lost my support after their actions/threats/etc after this all broke loose. There were mistakes on both sides but TDA seems to be the one to keep pressing their agenda instead of trying to work through the issues the correct way.

Be careful what you ask for.
Carter Smith brings a broad view to the table in that position. A replacement could end up being much worse overall for hunting and fishing interests in this state, as well as the state parks and WMA's. He has done a good job holding onto the budget for TPWD and standing up for hunting on public lands. This next session will see major cuts to budgets everywhere and shutting down access to parks and WMA's is always a target high on the cutting list.
Also pounding on the tables yelling about how deer farming was treated will bring legislative attention to the subject and there are plenty who would be happy to see it shut down completely - even in the hunting community as is often pointed out in this forum.

Be careful what you ask for.
Carter Smith brings a broad view to the table in that position. A replacement could end up being much worse overall for hunting and fishing interests in this state, as well as the state parks and WMA's. He has done a good job holding onto the budget for TPWD and standing up for hunting on public lands. This next session will see major cuts to budgets everywhere and shutting down access to parks and WMA's is always a target high on the cutting list.
Also pounding on the tables yelling about how deer farming was treated will bring legislative attention to the subject and there are plenty who would be happy to see it shut down completely - even in the hunting community as is often pointed out in this forum.

When, as the CEO of the states wildlife agency, you've proven that you consider your job includes ignoring science, and trampling personal property rights (I'm talking about demanding that people not be present on their own land), and keeping your protocol decisions hidden from the public you serve, you've proven to me that you need to be replaced.

Someone else deserves to drive the truck. Period.

When, as the CEO of the states wildlife agency, you've proven that you consider your job includes ignoring science, and trampling personal property rights (I'm talking about demanding that people not be present on their own land), and keeping your protocol decisions hidden from the public you serve, you've proven to me that you need to be replaced.

Someone else deserves to drive the truck. Period.

Same can be said for the TDA side of it. They lost a lot of public support over the handling of this.

Same can be said for the TDA side of it. They lost a lot of public support over the handling of this.

Be careful what you ask for.
Carter Smith brings a broad view to the table in that position. A replacement could end up being much worse overall for hunting and fishing interests in this state, as well as the state parks and WMA's. He has done a good job holding onto the budget for TPWD and standing up for hunting on public lands. This next session will see major cuts to budgets everywhere and shutting down access to parks and WMA's is always a target high on the cutting list.
Also pounding on the tables yelling about how deer farming was treated will bring legislative attention to the subject and there are plenty who would be happy to see it shut down completely - even in the hunting community as is often pointed out in this forum.

Ok txbobcat, do you think you as an individual can accomplish anything when dealing with a large scaled organization such as TPWD, you are only one person and do you think that they feel your suggestions or opinion as one person really matters. Do you txbobcat have the financial means as one person to challenge a large scaled organization like TPWD. I normally don't get offended so easy but when you refer to me being intoxicated, I think maybe you need to take a step back and see the big picture. I have been a member of TDA for 17 years, since the beginning. I have meet more people in this organization like me, the little guy that only want their rights protected and their voice heard.

How did they "handle this" that cost them public support? [/quote

Ask around. Plenty of "closed door" TDA meetings (like you say the state did) with a boatload of threats made in those pointed at state officials. Like I said I have two cousins that are breeders and they have had some great info. Even they are embarrassed by some of the TDA moves on this.

And to the next post down deer breeding in general has definitely taken a hit with all the publicity on their operations and TDA keeping it stirred up. If you think TDA really is for the "little guys" you definitely are drunk.

I'm not a member of TDA but I'm probably more in tune to what they have done and what tpwd has done than you are. I attended a meeting last June that the TDA invited the public to. I've attended two public meetings that tahc. Tpwd, and agrilife organized where TDA was well represented. Just attended a meeting with EWA (I'm a member) that had plenty of TDA and tahc and tpwd folks attending.

I haven't seen any public loss of support due to anything TDA has done. Quite contrary I've seen public support grow due to their actions.

You are welcome to your opinion....but let's make one thing very clear. TPWD DOES NOT know how CWD is transmitted (nor does anyone else)...therefore it is not logical to say that Texas Mountain Ranch spread CWD. There is absolutely zero evidence to support that. Just because a place they sold a deer to tested positive does not prove this. There is a big difference between correlation and causation.

How many thousands of wild free-range whitetails would test positive for CWD? We don't know...because they are not tested in any sizeable number.

This is about TWPD actions from a director level, not GW, support staff, biologists etc. This is about the fact he violated the law to push an agenda, this is also about why did the State Legislature branch have to step in. When state legislature has to step in that means someone exceeded their limits of authority.

TDA is just calling a spade a spade. This was 100% TAHC jusidiction not TPWD, if you can't run a agency with bias and ignore laws bad things happen. When you do people take note, and will precede this exact way.

What we could of learned and what we will learn from Medina will be interesting being that breeder never imported a live out of state deer. Are you not curious as to how siblings and twins(born in that facility) can test positive and mother didn't?

Personal thoughts on an industry or breeders or HF are irrelevant to the thread. You either support the action of the head of TPWD or disagree.