2025 EHD?

[Bigcountry40]

I would argue there are a lot of areas today we have MORE deer than we did during the time period you’re remembering.

You're not wrong, but growing up our area was not deer dense like the Eastern, Southern and SE Ohio was in 90's/early 00's. Our area's deer population has steadily increased. Remember our Teenage years ? Everybody left the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving to go to "Southern Ohio" to deer hunt because there was way more deer than we had an opportunity at in our area.

 

[giles]

Step back and think more simple...habitat beyond your birds and deer goes to insects.

What bug eats bugs? Dragonflies for example need a specific habitat and are very efficient at killing other bugs.

I come to this thinking as I think about marshes. This doesn't seem to be a huge problem in marsh area yet it is the exact example giving for what this bug needs to live.

So think about this and let's talk about it. Habitat

 

[Creamer]

Here's a couple updates from me and what I am seeing around Athens. Our yard doe, that I previously posted pics of in this thread that appeared to be EHD-affected, has drastically improved. Her coat is still patchy but she's no longer acting lethargic/apathetic. I have seen her and her BB fawn nearly every day for the past week and the doe is acting normal again. She's much more alert and just generally looks healthier. She crossed the yard at lunch today a few minutes after her BB fawn. Last night, she crossed while I was out back shooting and gave me the classic head bob followed by quickly bouncing away. 2 weeks ago I could walk within 30-40 yards of her and she wouldn't even lift her head or look at me.

My cameras on our property are getting daily pics of deer. Historically, on this property, I rarely get pics of more mature bucks until late Sept-early Oct. One large community scrape that gets hit hard every year by bucks is where I have had a cell cam for a few weeks. This guy showed up yesterday. I'm optimistic that some better deer will show here as the fall progresses. We'll see what survived.

Here's the interesting thing, to me. Our kid has baseball 3 nights a week in Athens, in town. I know EHD hit hard along the Hocking between Athens and Guysville. The city/campus deer SEEM to be completely unaffected. My dad and I walked along the bike path from OU's football stadium after the WVU game past the hospital area to where we parked. I think we saw 14-15 deer along campus that evening. At my kid's practice a few nights ago, on the baseball field behind us, there were 9 deer. When we left, there was an additional 8-10 near that field.

It's odd to me that the EHD issue seems to drastically go down along the river once you get into town. Then we leave the city area to drive home, and once you get 2 minutes out of town, we hardly see a deer until we get home.

 

[hickslawns]

Here's a couple updates from me and what I am seeing around Athens. Our yard doe, that I previously posted pics of in this thread that appeared to be EHD-affected, has drastically improved. Her coat is still patchy but she's no longer acting lethargic/apathetic. I have seen her and her BB fawn nearly every day for the past week and the doe is acting normal again. She's much more alert and just generally looks healthier. She crossed the yard at lunch today a few minutes after her BB fawn. Last night, she crossed while I was out back shooting and gave me the classic head bob followed by quickly bouncing away. 2 weeks ago I could walk within 30-40 yards of her and she wouldn't even lift her head or look at me.

View attachment 212048

My cameras on our property are getting daily pics of deer. Historically, on this property, I rarely get pics of more mature bucks until late Sept-early Oct. One large community scrape that gets hit hard every year by bucks is where I have had a cell cam for a few weeks. This guy showed up yesterday. I'm optimistic that some better deer will show here as the fall progresses. We'll see what survived.

View attachment 212049

Here's the interesting thing, to me. Our kid has baseball 3 nights a week in Athens, in town. I know EHD hit hard along the Hocking between Athens and Guysville. The city/campus deer SEEM to be completely unaffected. My dad and I walked along the bike path from OU's football stadium after the WVU game past the hospital area to where we parked. I think we saw 14-15 deer along campus that evening. At my kid's practice a few nights ago, on the baseball field behind us, there were 9 deer. When we left, there was an additional 8-10 near that field.

It's odd to me that the EHD issue seems to drastically go down along the river once you get into town. Then we leave the city area to drive home, and once you get 2 minutes out of town, we hardly see a deer until we get home.

I get it. When my area got hit, we took (at a minimum) a 50% hit. Grumbled to a buddy in the North side of the county. They were overrun with deer. Didn't take a hit at all. Even guys 5-10 miles any direction were not affected. It's weird how it came pin point specific areas. Almost like a tornado.

 

[cspot]

I get it. When my area got hit, we took (was at minimum) a 50% hit. Grumbled to a buddy in the North side of the county. They were overrun with deer. Didn't take a hit at all. Even guys 5-10 miles any direction were not affected. It's weird how it came pin point specific areas. Almost like a tornado.

Yep. That is my experience with it in PA as well.

 

[Bigcountry40]

@Creamer and @giles the habitat that is not developed or farmed is typically swampy or land with water flowing through it. The deer that live in city limits have lots of water options

 

[giles]

Most everything that can be sprayed or mowed, is. The undergrowth in my area has changed dramatically in the 12 years I have lived here. We have been taken over by invasive plants.

People are talking about treating deer or whatever else. I hate that idea and way of thinking. That is the world we live in today thanks to big pharma. The reality of it is likely right in front of us and it'll just take some work to get a handle on it. The landscape is changing.








Also, if you watched the AG video they mention the cows that die from this always have some sort of tick born illness. So let's talk about that briefly...

What eats ticks? Ground dwelling birds like qual and turkey.

Hmmmm, what has been on a major decline and why? HABITAT!!!




So as I jump around on this subject and people ask of me what I want from the ODNR, I want more research done on the dead deer like the cows get. More education on habitat destruction. AND I would really like to see farming practices change. I also wouldn't mind seeing our roadside ditches being some sort of native prairie. We spend a ton of time and money into mowing. Why? Go to any state park and it's roadsides are golf coarse mowed. Why? Where i live is generally 5-10 lots...mowed. WHY? Imagine if the educational push of these things (wildlife habitat) was for the better health of every thing and everyone.

Education about burning fields is also something people dont realize.

Edit: reread it and it used to say I have that idea and way of thinking, supposed to say I hate it.

 

[giles]

@Curran

I would like to hear your thoughts on my last post when you get a chance. Seems to be a subject you have more knowledge than I on. I have just recently been more in tune with the idea and reality of the big picture.