Oppurtunity vs Quality Management Impacts CWD Management

[88man]

the science is all over the place on this one and experts looking and pointing in different directions. We just don't know enough yet

 

[Skiller]

I am thinking the game farm ban in Montana has been far more effective slowing the spread than opportunity management will ever be. Makes you wonder what the CWD picture would look like if other states had passed similar bans twenty or thirty years ago.

 

[Skiller]

I agree with Antlerradar that game farms are a huge reason why the Midwest has seen way more CWD and faster transmission than Montana. That, and over much of Montana (outside of the river systems), deer densities are lower than most of the Midwest and Upper Midwest. I have hunted a lot in years past in many areas of Montana, especially the SE and Glasgow areas. I'd expect CWD to move faster in areas like the Milk River if it gets there, which I assume has happened. With linear habitat like river bottoms, your deer move more and probably spread CWD faster than a local depopulation shooting like MN has done. Hope we get some control over CWD sooner than later. Onward, guys.
Dave.

 

[antlerradar]

I agree with Antlerradar that game farms are a huge reason why the Midwest has seen way more CWD and faster transmission than Montana. That, and over much of Montana (outside of the river systems), deer densities are lower than most of the Midwest and Upper Midwest. I have hunted a lot in years past in many areas of Montana, especially the SE and Glasgow areas. I'd expect CWD to move faster in areas like the Milk River if it gets there, which I assume has happened. With linear habitat like river bottoms, your deer move more and probably spread CWD faster than a local depopulation shooting like MN has done. Hope we get some control over CWD sooner than later. Onward, guys.
Dave.

I agree. Applying opportunity management to the low deer density places in eastern Montana will do little to slow the spread of CWD because the hunting harvest on the river bottoms is going to change little no mater how generous FWP is with tags.