Wyoming Game and Fish biologists have confirmed that EHD has killed a number of white-tailed deer and some pronghorn in the Big Horn Basin, Sheridan and Casper areas this year. Samples from approximately 13 whitetail deer and four pronghorn were collected and tested for hemorrhagic disease–either epizootic hemorrhagic disease or the bluetongue virus. The test results indicated that EHD was the cause for two of the four pronghorn deaths and six of the 13 white-tailed deer. To date, bluetongue virus has not been isolated or detected.

Reports of carcasses along the Tongue River, Little Powder River, Greybull River, Shell Creek and other drainages were received during mid-August and September. “Conditions were ideal for an outbreak of the disease during late summer,” said Cynthia Tate, Assistant Veterinarian for the Game and Fish. However, recent cold temperatures should slow the spread of the deer disease as temperatures affect the gnats—–the agents responsible for disease transmission.

When first infected, whitetail deer look healthy and normal. As the disease progresses the animal begins to look weak and ill. The EHD virus can cause spontaneous hemorrhaging in the animal’s muscles and organs 5 to 10 days after an animal is infected. Even with a hard frost the EHD deer disease may continue to claim some animals that were previously infected for a couple of weeks.

The last significant outbreak of the disease in the Big Horn Basin was in 2007 and the one previous to that was in 2001. In both of those years in the basin, numbers of white-tailed deer were reduced significantly, however, this outbreak does not appear to be as severe. “The outbreak appears to be localized, but widespread through various parts of certain regions” said Lynn Jahnke, Sheridan wildlife management coordinator for the Game and Fish.

Hunters do not have to worry about getting the disease from eating deer meat. There is no human health concern from the hemorrhagic disease. In fact, humans can not get the disease and neither can most other wild animals. Mule deer occasionally get the disease but not often because they do not tend to inhabit the habitat where most gnats are found. EHD in whitetail deer has run through Wyoming’s deer herd this year, but it’s not as bad as it could have been.

Topics to be covered include deer management techniques, age and sex ratios, herd health, habitat management, food plots, trophy scoring, data collection, record keeping and census techniques. An optional spotlight deer survey will also be offered for landowners interested in learning more about this survey method to estimate deer populations on their property.

The deer and habitat management workshop at Engeling WMA is limited to the first 60 people to register and registration is open until September 19. To reserve a spot, mail a check for $12 per person, payable to the Henderson County Wildlife Committee, to Gus Engeling WMA, 16149 N. US 287, Tennessee Colony, TX 75861, and include an e-mail address for receipt and workshop information. The $12 fee includes refreshments and a hamburger dinner. For more information contact Eric Woolverton at 903-928-2251.

“The first step in deer management, and one often overlooked, is the establishment of a clear, well defined objective. Deciding on what is to be accomplished is essential because there is no single ideal deer management program. Different objectives may require totally different management actions. For example, if the objective is to increase the number of deer in an area where there are few or no deer, absolute protection from all causes of mortality is the most important management action.

If the objective is to produce trophy quality bucks, important management actions are to keep the herd in balance with food supplies through adequate harvest of doe deer, to protect yearling bucks until they reach an older age when antler development is maximum, and possibly to initiate habitat improvements that increase available food. Where the objective is to reduce serious damage in agricultural crops, important management actions are to increase harvest of antlerless deer and to arrange for adequate hunter access to insure that enough deer are harvested.”

These young or adolescent animals appear to need human kindness. More often than not, people just want to help and care for these stranded critters. Intentionally left unattended, young animals often stray and appear to be abandoned, and some may appear listless from the heat or lack of water. What you think may be happening may not be reality. Regardless of your intentions, this is not the time to lend a well-meaning hand.

In most of the white-tailed deer’s range, the fawning season begins in early to mid-May with fawns’ white-spotted and brown coats hiding them from predators. As fawns mature they shed these coats for a more adult color. As habitat conditions change and even worsen, animals will travel greater distances and take greater risks to find food and water. Because of this, many urban dwellers may spot “abandoned” fawns, birds, turtles and other wildlife in their daily walk to the car or office.

It’s common for many folks to “find” apparently lost or abandoned fawns and other young wildlife and take them in, thinking they are doing the right thing, but this typically does more harm than good. Concerned citizens should leave young animals alone unless they are obviously injured or orphaned. It is best to observe any wildlife species from a distance for a while in order to make that determination. This could take as much as 24 hours.

Staying too close to the “orphaned” animal will likely keep mamma from returning, creating a pre-determined outcome. I know that the compulsion to aid or investigate an apparently stranded little animal can be overwhelming, but in doing so you could harm its chances of rejoining its parent. If an animal is adopted, even for a few days, animals may lose the skills necessary to fend for themselves in the wild.

When most folks find an abandoned fawn they immediately think, “What should I do?” The fact of the matter is that wild animals have been making it just fine by themselves for many, many years. Removing a wild animal such as a fawn or bird from the field will often do more harm than good. Not only will the animal be abducted from its mother and from a wild life, but it alarms the animal. Many times, young animals will die from the stress created by people capturing, handling and retaining them. It’s best to just leave them alone.

Game camera surveys have been used to estimate population parameters among a variety of wildlife species, including white-tailed deer. These parameters include buck to doe ratio, fawn recruitment estimates, and age-related information. However, this deer survey technique involves placing bait in front of the camera in order to capture animals more frequently, which could introduce biases in parameter estimates. From September 2008 to March 2009, researchers at Auburn University monitored cameras placed at random, along game trails, and at feed stations to determine if sex and age structure could be accurately assessed in a population of white-tailed deer.

Since cameras placed at random should have provided the least biased estimates of population structure, researchers compared estimates from feed stations and trail-based cameras to those from random sites to determine if they accurately assess population structure. The results results indicated that there was no single time period in which both sex ratio and recruitment estimates could be determined accurately from cameras placed at feed stations.

Trail-based camera surveys provided deer population estimates very similar to those from random sites, and may provide a feasible alternative to using baited camera stations for estimating whitetail population parameters. Results indicate that game camera surveys could be combined with other deer survey methods to create a more precise hybrid estimate of the population. More precise estimates are needed for proper deer management and habitat management.

Add that with quality native food supplies and that should give hunters a lot to look forward to this season. It also means that like last year that deer hunting over feeders may not be as productive because of the abundant natural forage available. According to Alan Cain, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department whitetail deer program director:

“Acorn crops have been pretty good and there is plenty of vegetation in South Texas, so the deer have plenty to eat. That’s going to make it difficult for bowhunters to attract deer to supplemental feeding locations.”

When archery season kicks off, most deer are still in a summer pattern, especially in South Texas where the rut is still a couple of months away. Bowhunters should consider focusing their efforts along heavily traveled game trails or near acorn-producing trees. Deer hunters know all too well that corn feeders cannot compete with acorns—deer just love them!

As always, state biologist are pushing for increased whitetail deer management through the harvest of antlerless deer. Cain recommends that hunters take advantage of opportunities to harvest does this season in an effort to offset the high fawn production estimated across the state.

“Folks need to keep deer numbers at a level the habitat can sustain during lean years.”