EHD confirmed in 24 counties

As more people are entering the woods in the last couple weeks, the results are becoming worse than expected. It seemed like it has been confined to a handful of counties all summer, but the DNR has now confirmed EHD in 24 counties. 4,200 reported deer so far. I talked to a biologist earlier this summer who estimated the reported deer make up maybe 10% of the actual dead or infected deer. Not good.

A friend found this one while muskie fishing yesterday.

 

My buddy found this one behind his house it's the second one in two weeks. He called the DNR and they really didn't seem to care.

 

I called about the doe at my place and DNR's response was "Oh, OK. There's a lot of that this year."

 

Bad year for it for sure. I think just a tiny portion of the ones in IL are getting reported. I guess no one thinks it will do any good to call the IDNR, which is probably true. I know at least two dead deer were found right where I hunt (like 100-200 yards from where I put my stand) I'm worried that once the hunters really start hitting the woods we'll find a lot more dead ones.

Does anyone really know how this disease overwinters?

 

What good is calling the DNR going to do? Nobody calls the DNR when we find a dead raccoon or rabbit in the woods. How is a deer any different? They know about the disease and they know they can't stop it, so what's the point?

I've been keeping an eye on the local ponds and what's left of the creeks and so far nothing. We had a pretty minor frost this morning so I'm hoping at least it slowed it down a bit.

 

Well in some places (that are not IL) they actually budget the number of tags to be given out based on the health (or not) of the deer herd. (see SD for example)

So, that's why some people might call it in. Plus, the DNR did ask people to report dead deer.

(they probably asked so they could know how well their dropping the disease from helicopters worked.... hahhaaha)

 

Doubt The IDNR really cares..........all they want is dead deer.
perhaps they started the whole epidemic to thin the herd

 

They dropped EHD carrying mountain lions from helicopters.

 

Is this serious?

It can't be serious. Christine pretty much covered it. Also, deer hunting is kind of a bigger deal than raccoon or rabbit hunting in midwest states. I would think the DNR would like to know when diseased deer are showing up.

 

Of course the DNR doesn't care. What you expect them to do about it. What can they do about it....nothing. Nature culling the herd. Sad... but it's something that's happened before and will again.

 

Yes, we had a natural summer he waive too.

We caused this with inflating deer numbers for years for cash. Time to pay the piper.

 

Theres been several found here where I'm at also. I have yet to find any, doesn't mean they aren't there though.

 

Where I hunt the deer population is not inflated. It gets knocked down to 20 or less deer per square mile every fall.

 

You saw them doing that to ??

 

What can the habitat handle? What is it before.
How does one know what the count is? I used to think I knew, but I don't

Southern MI is way over populated, with some areas DNR stating holding 100-130 deer psm.

 

It's prime habitat. Mature hardwood upland and riverbottoms. Restored prairies, meadows, some new growth forest and it's all surrounded by pastures and row crops.

So carrying capacity is much higher than the 20 deer per square mile goal.

The population is counted using helicopters with FLIR cameras.

 

I wish we did that in Michigan. That is really cool

 

maybe they dropped diseased deer from helicopters . The ones found dead ....they parachute didnt open