G&F at it again

[Obi-Wan]

https://gf.nd.gov/news-releases

Maybe if the say CWD enough it might just become the problem they want it to be

 

[Fritz the Cat]

Game and Fish want sportsmen to submit heads into one of their collection barrels. The diagnostic test or Immunohistochemistry results are not simply positive or negative. They are often scored based on staining intensity and percentage of cells stained. Using cervidized transgenic mice or mouse models, antibodies are cloned in a lab and then added to a thin slice of lymph node mounted on slides.

These mouse model antibodies combined with fluorescent amyloid dyes are supposed to bind to fibrils of PrPcwd and emit fluorescence when excited.

Is this validation or final confirmation? Are these tests 100% conclusive? No

There should be another step to identify the causative agent. Tuberculosis, cancer, Brucellosis and many diseases use these tests to do a quick shortcut. If the test says false positive the next step is to grow out a culture and identify the isolated material, and can it be independently analyzed and confirmed.

So far all we are getting is a list of procedures, techniques, and chemistry sounding methods as proof that isolation has occurred.

The reality is; all the positives the NDGF has to date are false positives. Is CWD real? Yes, there is something out there, a slow killer. Is it the mis-folded protein theory?

 

[NDSportsman]

They waste more time and money on this shit while we lose more deer to EHD than anything else.

 

[ale]

They waste more time and money on this shit while we lose more deer to EHD than anything else.

But what can they do about EHD? Its spread by a midge. Aerial spraying every dried up water hole would cost millions.

Does anyone have the hard numbers on how much the game and fish gets and spends on cwd?

 

[Duckslayer100]

But what can they do about EHD? Its spread by a midge. Aerial spraying every dried up water hole would cost millions.

Does anyone have the hard numbers on how much the game and fish gets and spends on cwd?

I guess whatever we spend on CWD, or EHD remediation (if there ever is such a thing) should instead just be put into habitat reclamation and public land acquisitions. Net increases in both will do nothing but help the herd and all wild critters.

 

[ale]

I guess whatever we spend on CWD, or EHD remediation (if there ever is such a thing) should instead just be put into habitat reclamation and public land acquisitions. Net increases in both will do nothing but help the herd and all wild critters.

Agreed but there’s a lot of people in power who will fight that to the death.

 

[KDM]

But what can they do about EHD? Its spread by a midge. Aerial spraying every dried up water hole would cost millions.

Does anyone have the hard numbers on how much the game and fish gets and spends on cwd?

Public land is only 9.1% of ND. Treating the public land water sources with current long release aquatic fly control products (Bt Briquets) may not be as costly as one might think. Assuming the GnF can recognize the drought conditions that make EHD outbreaks more likely and respond in a meaningful fashion. Which I doubt they will, can, or even care about. I would submit that the vast majority of public ponds, sloughs, and other waters can be accessed by foot or atv. Aerial applications would be the last method I would choose to use. As a result those associated expenses wouldn't apply. Aquatic fly control is used by every mosquito control dept everywhere as an integral tool in controling mosquito populations throughout the season. It's not new technology and works on aquatic midges as well because they are flies too. Biting midges are controled on golf courses all across this land using the same method and it works. The GnF just has to decide to look into the matter and decide to research the possibilities. I'm not saying they will work and I'm not saying they won't work, but no research has been done that I'm aware of to check. Private lands are the responsibility of the private landowner.

 

[ale]

I just said aerial since it seems like the fastest easiest way to hit an area. I think you’re right that the way they treat for mosquitoes would probably work if they actually applied whatever killed midges in these ponds. There lies the issue. Would treating drying wetlands on less than 10% of the state do any good? I can see the same old crowd whining about their dollars going to waste since 90% will still have EHD. You’d have to either find landowners willing to foot the bill to save deer or spend public dollars on private land which causes whining too. I don’t know the answer but I’d sure like to see it gone.

 

[Petras]

Public land is only 9.1% of ND. Treating the public land water sources with current long release aquatic fly control products (Bt Briquets) may not be as costly as one might think. Assuming the GnF can recognize the drought conditions that make EHD outbreaks more likely and respond in a meaningful fashion. Which I doubt they will, can, or even care about. I would submit that the vast majority of public ponds, sloughs, and other waters can be accessed by foot or atv. Aerial applications would be the last method I would choose to use. As a result those associated expenses wouldn't apply. Aquatic fly control is used by every mosquito control dept everywhere as an integral tool in controling mosquito populations throughout the season. It's not new technology and works on aquatic midges as well because they are flies too. Biting midges are controled on golf courses all across this land using the same method and it works. The GnF just has to decide to look into the matter and decide to research the possibilities. I'm not saying they will work and I'm not saying they won't work, but no research has been done that I'm aware of to check. Private lands are the responsibility of the private landowner.

Honestly, I would volunteer in a heartbeat to hop on my 4 wheeler or sxs and roll around the countryside depositing the briquettes needed to combat those midgets (assuming there are some that are efficient). I'd be willing to bet there are PLENTY of people out there that would love to go out and do something like this.... I'd volunteer every weekend I had free for it, just because I like to be out and about. Shoot I'd even pay for my own fuel.

 

[eyexer]

Treating 10% of the state would be about as successful as the Covid vaccine

 

[Duckslayer100]

I just said aerial since it seems like the fastest easiest way to hit an area. I think you’re right that the way they treat for mosquitoes would probably work if they actually applied whatever killed midges in these ponds. There lies the issue. Would treating drying wetlands on less than 10% of the state do any good? I can see the same old crowd whining about their dollars going to waste since 90% will still have EHD. You’d have to either find landowners willing to foot the bill to save deer or spend public dollars on private land which causes whining too. I don’t know the answer but I’d sure like to see it gone.

I dunno -- already hearing plenty of whining from Gratis holders who can't draw tags. I imagine that pain will strengthen when suddenly entire zones are shut down to all forms of deer hunting whether you're a landowner or not.

We have sorely little power as public land hunters in this state. It'll take the big dogs to suddenly not be able to kill "their deer" for it to ever move the needle.

 

[Duckslayer100]

Treating 10% of the state would be about as successful as the Covid vaccine

But it's something. As a purely public land hunter, I'd love the state to manage our slice of ND for EHD. Or at the very least, try.

 

[eyexer]

But it's something. As a purely public land hunter, I'd love the state to manage our slice of ND for EHD. Or at the very least, try.

Spitting in the wind to fill a slough is doing something too. Everybody wants them to do something. But don’t do something that will have zero effect just to please us. I’d rather see that money spent trying to find out more about the the whole issue and better ways to deal with it.

 

[KDM]

I just said aerial since it seems like the fastest easiest way to hit an area. I think you’re right that the way they treat for mosquitoes would probably work if they actually applied whatever killed midges in these ponds. There lies the issue. Would treating drying wetlands on less than 10% of the state do any good? I can see the same old crowd whining about their dollars going to waste since 90% will still have EHD. You’d have to either find landowners willing to foot the bill to save deer or spend public dollars on private land which causes whining too. I don’t know the answer but I’d sure like to see it gone.

Lots of hunters spend thousands on food plots. Lots of hunters spend hundreds of dollars on corn to pull deer to the stand. I suspect that buying a couple hundred bucks on Bt dunks to try to ward off a possible EHD die off would be money well spent for more than a few hunters. I'd be a no brainer for me, but I don't have a water source on my land, so I would have to go ask the neighbor if I could treat theirs. Keep in mind that messing with livestock water is fairly touchy with ranchers. Hypothetically, If you combine both the "Assumed" efforts of the GnF on 9% of ND and then add say 30% of EHD affected private lands, the combined efforts might very well head of a widespread deer die off. Of course this is all rainbows and unicorns in perfectionville, Utopialand.

My first thoughts would to investigate methoprene pellets that sink to the bottom of the pond. It's an insect growth regulator that prevents mosquitos and other aquatic flies including biting midges from becoming adults. It's not perfect as there are some environmental concerns that need addressing. Bti is another option, but not as effective as methoprene. Investigate the options for yourselves. Keep yourselves informed.

 

[Kurtr]

Salt blocks with garlic guys down here have already seen the results they work