The language has changed in the 2021-2022 CWD proclamation to include all of Unit 3A3. Keep in mind, no positive cases of CWD have been previously identified in this unit, although the Game and Fish biologist has stated that "cases have been identified in close proximity to the units northern boundary". Other units that border CWD positive units remain unrestricted however, even though cases have been identified in fairly close proximity to these bordering units.
The Game and Fish is clearly implementing a unregulated and non-scientifically based method of restricting hunting in a unit that has shown no present cases of the disease simply based on an "assumption that if it is in 3A1 and 3A2, that is is present in 3A3". The enactment of their policy in 3A3 is baseless and clearly inconsistent with the policies of banning hunting over bait in units that have been identified with the presence of CWD. In other words, they are just doing what they want to do, because they can.
If it is the policy of the Game and Fish to restrict hunting in neighboring units of CWD (such as the case of 3A3) then for the sake of consistency, shouldn't several more neighboring units have the ban implemented? Effectively this would include the whole western half of the state. Either that, or remove 3A3 from the CWD protocol until a case has been positively identified to be compliant with their own policy.
The new proclamation reads:
It is illegal to hunt big game over bait (see CWD proclamation for a list of bait items), or place bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting, in deer units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, and 4C (2021 season)
The Game and Fish is clearly implementing a unregulated and non-scientifically based method of restricting hunting in a unit that has shown no present cases of the disease simply based on an "assumption that if it is in 3A1 and 3A2, that is is present in 3A3". The enactment of their policy in 3A3 is baseless and clearly inconsistent with the policies of banning hunting over bait in units that have been identified with the presence of CWD. In other words, they are just doing what they want to do, because they can.
If it is the policy of the Game and Fish to restrict hunting in neighboring units of CWD (such as the case of 3A3) then for the sake of consistency, shouldn't several more neighboring units have the ban implemented? Effectively this would include the whole western half of the state. Either that, or remove 3A3 from the CWD protocol until a case has been positively identified to be compliant with their own policy.
The new proclamation reads:
It is illegal to hunt big game over bait (see CWD proclamation for a list of bait items), or place bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting, in deer units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, and 4C (2021 season)