By Joseph Fitzsimons
Special to the Star-Telegram

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The June 2015 discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease in a Medina County captive deer breeding facility represents arguably the most serious threat our Texas white-tailed deer populations have experienced since they were on the brink of extinction in the early 20th century.

It is ironic that captive deer breeding may well be the cure that destroys the populations it was originally meant to help rescue.



The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, recognizing the severity and potential impact of this disease, responded swiftly and responsibly to halt the movement of breeder deer immediately upon CWD detection, until sufficient testing had been done on the population and a prudent plan was put in place for dealing with the disease.

Similarly, TPWD recognized the broad effect of its decisions, so the department held a series of professionally mediated stakeholder forums in an attempt to build consensus around the state’s response to the disease.

These forums included all major stakeholders, including all major deer breeding trade associations.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn...l#storylink=cpy

TPWD best wildlife agency in the nation. They will figure it out and get it right for all sportsman and stakeholders involved.

As a whole I would agree, jury is still out on top level. They sure seem to have an agenda. Lots of very pointed statements.

Why is CO ground zero not stressing over CWD?

TPWD best wildlife agency in the nation. They will figure it out and get it right for all sportsman and stakeholders involved.

CO did and still does to a degree, they have dealt with it longer so.... They do have units that have the advisory, some require head check in. The unit I hunt is voluntary, but recommended, for what that is worth.

Not quite the breeding program there as well..You know all this BOBO

Actually a lot there. Fact of the matter is CO response to CWD is soley monitoring

Wow. Really?

CWD has had a sustained significant impact where?

It literally borders on insanity to believe that a pathogen that takes longer than the average deer's lifespan to kill it, could ever significantly impact a population.

We've known about it since '67 and there's never been a decimated wild population (except of course when Wisconsin slaughtered their deer).

So it's been proven over and over again in every state and region where it exists that it's an insignificant naturally limited pathogen. But somehow TPWD is going to "fix" it??? Sweet geezus quit it.

Did I say anything about fixing anything?

If they "figure it out and get it right for all sportsman and stakeholders involved" won't they have "fixed" it?

Txbobcat it appears that you have anger issues towards TDA. I am curious how TDA has failed you. I have been a proud member for coming on 18 years and have seen them provide college scholarships to numorous students wanting to further their education in wildlife management and vetinary medicine.

Txbobcat, I think you need to look at the big picture and from a deer breeders perspective. I will give you a very simple example that maybe you can understand. You are a dog breeder and raise some of the best hunting dogs in state. You sell a puppy and a month later contracts an incurable disease. The puppy must be put down, animal health department contacts you and tells you they are going to have to kill all your dogs. What now, how you gonna feed your family. All your dogs are fine and show no signs of illness.

Txbobcat, I think you need to look at the big picture and from a deer breeders perspective. I will give you a very simple example that maybe you can understand. You are a dog breeder and raise some of the best hunting dogs in state. You sell a puppy and a month later contracts an incurable disease. The puppy must be put down, animal health department contacts you and tells you they are going to have to kill all your dogs. What now, how you gonna feed your family. All your dogs are fine and show no signs of illness.