And let’s look at the other side of the coin for a minute. What if the DNR were to basically do nothing and then there was a major-major expansion of CWD impacting an entire zone or even the whole state? Would you guys be praising the DNR then saying, “Well CWD has now ruined deer hunting in MN for the next decade or more, but at least the DNR didn’t mess with our hunting before this.”? Somehow I doubt it.
Grouse
I remember well no hunting deer for two years right along with everyone else.
People need to get beyond the deer farms as the culprit here as there is zero proof that a penned deer infected a wild animal. In fact it could be exactly the opposite. By continuing to have the four point rule in effect in areas immediately adjacent to CWD problem areas, the DNR is doing exactly nothing to help prevent the spread of the disease. If they wanted to be pro-active, they’d slam the door on this apr crap in the areas right next door to the problem areas and allow hunters to take any buck or take two would be even better in two deer areas.
Lets get past this deer farm stuff and look at today. The results from the last three years’ hunting seasons studies of CWD show that far more male deer carry the bug than females. APR’s have stuffed the natural wild herd with far too many male deer, period. The uneven balance between male and female deer is a dnr induced problem : there was zero reason to implement any type of antler point restrictions ANYWHERE in this state. If the whole APR thing was such a bonafide great idea, why wasn’t the entire state under the rule?
The dnr’s division dealing with this CWD issue needs to wake up and fess up to the fact that their APR crap has caused a major problem and probably to the extent that it will never go away regardless of how the deer are hunted or managed. Every friggin one of those who stumped for the APR’s should be schnit canned and sent packing. This whole fiasco reminds me of the Christmas Lake invasives thing where big money in the private sector was influencing the dnr in a direction that was not in the least good for that body of water or, in fact, for any body of public water in the state. The same identical problem is taking place right here: BIG bucks here in the SE [think bluff country whitetails or something to that effect] also influenced the high and mighty dolts in the dnr that pressured the legislature to get these APR’s permanently in place. My representative voted yes on these restrictions and publicly stated that she was voting on behalf of her constituents after having talked to them…well she never spoke to me about it and she no longer gets any kind of a vote from me. I say if anything gets done with the deer herd it should be voted on by those who actually support the deer programs: The license buying deer hunters. Not the do-gooders, not the legislature, not the general public and certainly not by any faction of the dnr because they have shown they cannot be trusted to do what’s right and/or proactive.
So Dutch, the DNR is doing exactly what your “what if” question is, if the question is to be answered. Nothing. The first step in dealing with the spread of this disease should be to remove the one thing that promotes it, especially in yet “clean” neighboring areas. Science will win this battle, not the dnr and their sickening bs.
I usually take to the whole gun season. Hope I can switch my dates.
I usually take to the whole gun season. Hope I can switch my dates.
