EHD
- Thread starter LonewolfNopack
- Start date
Concordmeadowsfarm
Junior Member
Boys and I had a good discussion of maintenance of a herd and we’re going keep up good food sources, left some corn standing and keep up on mineral. Help the existing reproduce successfully. Not hunting at home this year. On a positive note I did see a group of 3 does near the end of our road this week.
I will be interested to see Gun season harvest numbers… and ODNRs reaction to EHD and next years limits.
I will be interested to see Gun season harvest numbers… and ODNRs reaction to EHD and next years limits.
Anyone have any thoughts on how baiting and putting minerals in the ground might contribute to EHD? Hear me out here. It is my understanding the midge lays eggs and hangs out around muddy and swampy, shallow water type areas. Maybe not so much in the heat of the summer, but in the spring when we are putting minerals out in established areas, and late summer/fall when hunters are putting out their corn, those areas of frequent use often turn into a muddy mess. Are we as hunters trying to do what we feel is improve the health of the herd, when we may actually be helping to contribute to the spread of EHD by creating an environment they thrive in? Think about all the habitat improvement projects you see out there now, and look at the big picture. Are we actually doing more harm than good?
Another consideration is water sources. Over the past few years, I have seen more and more"hunting influencers" talk about how important water sources are for deer habitat and how to create your own using this or that. I wonder how many of these half-ass built, shallow "watering holes" are also contributing to the EHD issues we are having today.
I am 39 years old, and I have been a serious deer hunter since I was a young teenager. I know times are different, and the internet has changed how news and information gets out there, but I really don't ever remember hearing about this kind of stuff when I was younger. And locally, people were more apt to talk about deer hunting and what they are seeing then as opposed to now. If farmers and hunters were finding dozens of dead deer in the 90s in my area, everyone would have known about it.
Maybe I'm ignorant to what's really going on here, but I often wonder if we aren't doing more harm than good, despite our best intentions.
Another consideration is water sources. Over the past few years, I have seen more and more"hunting influencers" talk about how important water sources are for deer habitat and how to create your own using this or that. I wonder how many of these half-ass built, shallow "watering holes" are also contributing to the EHD issues we are having today.
I am 39 years old, and I have been a serious deer hunter since I was a young teenager. I know times are different, and the internet has changed how news and information gets out there, but I really don't ever remember hearing about this kind of stuff when I was younger. And locally, people were more apt to talk about deer hunting and what they are seeing then as opposed to now. If farmers and hunters were finding dozens of dead deer in the 90s in my area, everyone would have known about it.
Maybe I'm ignorant to what's really going on here, but I often wonder if we aren't doing more harm than good, despite our best intentions.
All great points, Greg. Especially the rise in placing what are by default, stagnant water sources in the woods now. There's also no denying hunters are encouraging deer to congregate in specific areas in ways never before done/seen. It's certainly plausible, if not likely, that we're a contributing factor in the increases prevalence of EHD and CWD.
TripleA88
*Supporting Member*
Ill chime in on this. I have cameras in Logan, Champaign and Brown counties. I may have a total of 15 does and 4 scrub bucks on cam total.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Thinking about what Greg mentioned, baiting/minerals/water troughs creates the environment where the gnat/midge causing EHD can thrive. I can definitely see that being a possibility, our mineral sites can become muddy and mucky at different points in the year. My only wonder is, why wouldn't EHD happen more often then in an area where this is occurring? The last time EHD happened in our area (to our knowledge) was back in the mid 90's I believe and it happened long before we ever baited or put minerals out. Even though my initial look around (as well as talking with the farmer that plants our place) did not produce any dead deer on our farm, it is definitely in the area on neighboring farms. That's around 25+ years from the last known occurrence. Perhaps they build up an immunity that slowly goes away over time and EHD is always there.
Considering our mineral sites and the environment they create, that is 2 man made locations that could contribute on our farm. We also have 2 ponds, a couple large marshy areas and a considerable amount of pool locations along the streams that could all contribute. I think if the gnat causing this to happen were around it has plenty of other places where it could get established. Maybe deer spending more time visiting a mucky mineral site in late August or September puts them in harms way more often though than if they occasionally stop at a random pond or pool of water for a drink.
Considering our mineral sites and the environment they create, that is 2 man made locations that could contribute on our farm. We also have 2 ponds, a couple large marshy areas and a considerable amount of pool locations along the streams that could all contribute. I think if the gnat causing this to happen were around it has plenty of other places where it could get established. Maybe deer spending more time visiting a mucky mineral site in late August or September puts them in harms way more often though than if they occasionally stop at a random pond or pool of water for a drink.
I don't disagree with your statement above one bit. I don't believe we are the lone contributing factor, but I certainly believe we are contributing now more than ever. I've read a few different articles from studies in Michigan and qdma about it as well, and there are more factors in play than just a muddy, swampy pool of water. This is from one of the articles I recently read that really seemed to connect the dots for me, at least with mineral sites.
"One thing that makes this insect very adaptable is its tolerance of salts,” said Ed, “and that seems to be a key feature of the habitat because it allows the insect to live in a pure culture without other insect competitors.”
The rest of the article can be read here:
Can We Prevent EHD? | National Deer Association
deerassociation.com
Certainly makes me wonder if we aren't creating more prevalent breeding grounds for the insect.
This article touches on Michigan's history of EHD, and while it was around before the big boom of cameras and attractants, the overwhelming numbers of outbreaks have occured since the mid 2000's. About the same time game cameras and attractants to get deer pictures were coming into the scene.
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I'm not trying to point a finger at anyone here, as I've been guilty of a lot of the same practices. I'm merely suggesting that we as hunters can always improve on how we manage habitat. It's conversations like these that need to happen to get more people, smarter people than I, thinking about if there's a better way to do what we are doing now. And if there isn't, what we can do to minimize exposure moving forward.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Some good information Greg! I wonder if there are areas with recurring EHD, meaning they suffer yearly losses (maybe not every single year) of deer to EHD. Or do they build up a herd immunity for a period of time, such as our area not (knowingly) being affected for 25+ years. Just seems like once the midge gets the virus started it would continue to thrive in that area for years to come if the weather conditions allow it.
Concordmeadowsfarm
Junior Member
Nature always wins, always. You get to messing around with supplements and food and it will fight back. It will always balances itself out.
Concordmeadowsfarm
Junior Member
Sick deer in Athens County: historic outbreak impacts hunting season – Athens County Independent
Autumn’s chills, radiant sunsets and fantastic floral displays comprise a sensory experience that for many residents of southeast Ohio would not be
athensindependent.com
Can a midge really survive in a salty mud puddle?
EDIT
“One thing that makes this insect very adaptable is its tolerance of salts,” said Ed, “and that seems to be a key feature of the habitat because it allows the insect to live in a pure culture without other insect competitors.”
EDIT
“One thing that makes this insect very adaptable is its tolerance of salts,” said Ed, “and that seems to be a key feature of the habitat because it allows the insect to live in a pure culture without other insect competitors.”
Last edited:
Spencie
Senior Member
Very interesting topic Greg. The first time I remember EHD being an issue in one of the places I hunted was 2007. That year it was widespread throughout the county so it must have been due to conditions and not what I would consider selected mineral or baiting sites. The other years I remember it being bad were all widespread. I totally get what you are saying though. We typically spread our minerals on and around stumps. I’ve never noticed any standing water at our mineral sites. I was wanting to start another one that wouldn’t have a stump. I might rethink that now.
So I went and looked. Also compared it to last year at the same time. Number of harvest reflect about the same. Low, but not crazy like some people are saying.
Hello... Been reading forum for years tried to connect but never could get the confirmation email. Then saw where someone created a new email address today and it worked. I hunt in the heart of the outbreak in Athens and can honestly say I don't think the effected numbers are anywhere close @concordmeadows I don't think you are far from me just guessing off info you have said
I agree, I think the numbers are much higher. They are playing this off. IMO, so people still go out and kill deer.
The state definitely should of changed regulations in the harder hit areas. I hunt all public and have talked to a few out of state groups that were asking where all the deer went and they weren't seeing much sign... See them the next day and they have shot a doe because it's the only deer they saw in 3-4 days and they are going home. Why could the state not suspend antlerless permits to out of state hunters at the minimum? Most don't have a dog in the fight nor do they care about the conservation of the deer in Ohio.
Almost every answer like this regarding the Ohio Division of Wildlife gos back to $. Its quite literally this simple in my opinion. The folks in charge of deer management in Athens and Columbus aren't idiots, they know better, they just don't care.
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
I’m from out of state, own land in ohio and I DO care about the conservation of deer in Ohio. I wish my home state would limit the buck harvest to one deer. I’ve also do not shoot does, I can shoot all of the does I want to in my home state. Also, I don’t think the people who have retired and moved out of state, or moved because of a job, would be happy about coming home to hunt with family only to find out that they can’t shoot a doe on the land that their family/friends own. If you’re going to limit does tags, that’s one thing…but don’t discriminate against non residents, especially if they have family here.