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BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Dr. Helen Schwantje, Wildlife Veterinarian/Fish and Wildlife Branch, sent out this request a few weeks back:
I have spoken on CWD and Bovine TB at BCWF AGMs but we are not getting the samples we need for confidence that these diseases are not present. And we need to. For that we are asking for your help in ways to outreach to hunters who harvest any cervid in three focus areas of BC – the Peace Region and East Kootenay in general and in MU 8-23 in the North Okanagan.
In short, The BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations would like your help in testing for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in our wild deer, elk, and moose populations.
http://nprg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/image001.jpg
Heads Wanted Flyer Provincial
Heads Wanted Flyer Cherryville/MU 8-23
Information Bulletin
What You Need to Know
Information for Hunters
For more information, please contact Adam Hering – Wildlife Health Biologist – 250-953-5140 Adam.Hering@gov.bc.ca
Or
Mike Bridger – Fish and Wildlife Biologist – Peace Region – 250-787-3294 Michael.Bridger@gov.bc.ca
Government has updated their Wildlife Health website, which also includes a poster describing the surveillance program. Some of the collection sites listed are no longer in existence.
Do you have any ideas as to how to get hunters to participate in this important research program?
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
offer me a guaranteed leh.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sofa King
offer me a guaranteed leh.
I'll pass that on.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
I would suggest the best way is to advertise this at those meat cutting drop off locations, and even have them ask each person dropping off an animal to participate. Not sure if this has been around for a few years but I've dropped on game at these locations and never heard about this.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mikey Rafiki
I would suggest the best way is to advertise this at those meat cutting drop off locations, and even have them ask each person dropping off an animal to participate. Not sure if this has been around for a few years but I've dropped on game at these locations and never heard about this.
Good idea, and yes, the program has been around for a while. We have several freezers at the North Peace Rod and Gun for the program and got a few heads in the early years of the program, but nothing in the last couple of years.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Where close to 8-23 is there a drop off ... bang animals down every year in that MU
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Liveforthehunt
Where close to 8-23 is there a drop off ... bang animals down every year in that MU
Good question - I will see what I can find out.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
First I've heard of all of this. Between my son, father and I, we could have dropped off at least 3 heads last year.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
They had a freezer at franks store in cherryville for them
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wrenchhead
They had a freezer at franks store in cherryville for them
Excellent thx. I will make sure I drop a couple off this year
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Where are the drop points in the east kootenays?
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Five minutes ago I received an email from the Province's wildlife veterinarian asking me to have patience.They will publish information in the near future as to where to submit CWD samples and how to submit CWD samples.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dracb
Five minutes ago I received an email from the Province's wildlife veterinarian asking me to have patience.They will publish information in the near future as to where to submit CWD samples and how to submit CWD samples.
I have just added some more information in the original post. I am still waiting to hear re drop-off sites in 8-23.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
We've been taking our deer and elk in to the Ministry since the 90's. My boys used to patrol the highways for road kill back in 96 & 97, sever the heads and take them in. I have no idea how many heads we've contributed, but it would be a lot. To date, there is no evidence of CWD in the EK.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dracb
Five minutes ago I received an email from the Province's wildlife veterinarian asking me to have patience.They will publish information in the near future as to where to submit CWD samples and how to submit CWD samples.
In Cranbrook go to the FLNRO office, pick up a batch of cards that you fill out (one for each head) and take them to the office and they put them in the freezer.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
J_T
We've been taking our deer and elk in to the Ministry since the 90's. My boys used to patrol the highways for road kill back in 96 & 97, sever the heads and take them in. I have no idea how many heads we've contributed, but it would be a lot. To date, there is no evidence of CWD in the EK.
Here is some data collected to date:
http://nprg.ca/wp-content/uploads/20...or-Hunters.pdf
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
I have added some updated information to the original post.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Go ask the guide outfitters trophy hunters.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Chronic wasting and otherwildlife disease sample collection sites"
"I finally have an up to date head-submission location list that you can post.
I’ve also attached some other documents that you can feel free to distribute as you wish. All of these and more are available on our new wildlife health website www.gov.bc.ca/wildlifehealth . I’m currently working on creating a dedicated page on there specifically for “Hunter Information” so that all of this can be found in one spot.
In the meantime…
For CWD surveillance submissions (Peace and Kootenay Regions), heads can be dropped off at the following locations:
- Peace Region
o North Peace Rod & Gun Club, FSJ
o Peace Taxidermy, Hwy 29
o Russell's Custom Meat Cutting, Chetwynd
o Ministry of Environment, FSJ
o Ministry of Environment, Fort Nelson
- Kootenay Region
o Ministry of Environment, Cranbrook
o Cliff's Meat, Kimberley
o Backcountry Meats, Fernie
o Rick’s Fine Meats, Cranbrook
o COS Ministry of Environment, Invermere
For Bovine Tuberculosis surveillance (north Okanagan MU 8-23) and CWD submissions heads can be dropped off at these locations:
- RT Sausage and Custom Cutting
o 39 Byers Rd
Lumby, BC V0E 2G1
- Frank`s General Store
o 1193 Highway 6 (corner Sugar Lake Road),
Cherryville, B.C. V0E 2G1
- Ministry of Environment Offices, Penticton
o Ministry Of Environment
102 Industrial Pl
Penticton, BC V2A 7C8
o Open during regular business hours
(250) 490-8200
Head submission supplies (bags and labels) will be available at the front desk.
There’s also a prize draw (donated by grouse river in Kelowna) that all hunters who submit heads in MU 8-23 for TB testing are eligible to win! "
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Hunting season is well under way, but I don't believe we've received many, if any, heads here in the Peace region.
I realize it can be a bit inconvenient to drop-off heads, but I really urge everyone to make an effort to help out with this program. Although there is currently no evidence of CWD in BC, it's extremely important that we keep monitoring for it, as it is potentially a huge threat to our ungulate populations. This program provides a great opportunity for you to get involved in wildlife research and management in the Province. We need as many deer, elk, and moose heads as possible!
Please give me a call at 250-787-3294 if you have any questions, or would like to arrange a pick-up/drop-off.
Thanks,
Mike
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
I think it should be based on area. I volunteer to collect and tag any heads in and around Lower Mainland. Keep them in a chest freezer and figure out a way to get them to you guys once there's a shippable amount?
Contact me via PM OP and we can put something together. I agree, we should be doing this, we want research to be sustainable and we want our harvest to be justified scientifically as well. Willing to help if needed.
Let me know.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xenomorph
I think it should be based on area. I volunteer to collect and tag any heads in and around Lower Mainland. Keep them in a chest freezer and figure out a way to get them to you guys once there's a shippable amount?
Contact me via PM OP and we can put something together. I agree, we should be doing this, we want research to be sustainable and we want our harvest to be justified scientifically as well. Willing to help if needed.
Let me know.
That would be great, and I appreciate the offer for help. As far as areas go, the primary focus is on the Peace and Kootenay regions, due to their close proximity to Alberta (which has tested positively for CWD). So we're not too interested in testing deer from the Lower Mainland area at this time, but if you were able to secure heads from hunters who may be traveling back from the Peace or Kootenays, that would be very valuable.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Just wondering ,how much enforcement has there been up till now on the sale of natural game lures that are still being sold in all the sporting good stores?
Deer farms that are producing these lures seem to be where the core areas of CWB originated.
Who do we ask that question to?
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bownut
Just wondering ,how much enforcement has there been up till now on the sale of natural game lures that are still being sold in all the sporting good stores?
Deer farms that are producing these lures seem to be where the core areas of CWB originated.
Who do we ask that question to?
I have heard of CWD being linked to ungulate farms and how baiting helping spread CWD by bringing deer into close quarters with each other
I have never heard the sale of natural game lure causing an out break. I have never heard of the CWD being present in a commercially sold natural game lure
Is this something you view as a possibility or is there a documented case of a commercially sold game lure being contaminated with CWD?
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wild one
I have heard of CWD being linked to ungulate farms and how baiting helping spread CWD by bringing deer into close quarters with each other
I have never heard the sale of natural game lure causing an out break. I have never heard of the CWD being present in a commercially sold natural game lure
Is this something you view as a possibility or is there a documented case of a commercially sold game lure being contaminated with CWD?
There was a confirmed case where a deer piss farm became CWD positive.
Many pee farms are in jurisdictions where No CWD testing is required.
No CWD infected wild deer has been attributed to Bottled pee, but how would you test for that?
There are a couple of infection sites where the originating source is unknown.
Could CWD be transferred by infected Deer pee in a bottle? Absolutely!
Just another note on Deer pee. The condition these poor animals live in and the trials they endure so hunters can have a bottle of stink is disgusting.
I really can't understand hunters, most of whom claim to care about deer and wildlife, would actually support this industry.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bownut
Just wondering ,how much enforcement has there been up till now on the sale of natural game lures that are still being sold in all the sporting good stores?
Deer farms that are producing these lures seem to be where the core areas of CWB originated.
Who do we ask that question to?
just wondering, are most blind or tree stand Bow Hunters using scent? Piss rags or bottles, rut scents, doe in estrous, etc etc .
I purchased a bottle once years ago, never seen any reaction to them, still have 3/4 of it left. Not much ch of a believer, mind you have don't use scent blockers or sprays as cover up. I just don't wear my man cologne either lol.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Have tried the "stuff" and so far, the odd young deer seems to be slightly interested, but most don't even acknowledge the stuff, according to cams
.
I "think" that the buck I killed this year "might" have been attracted to some doe in heat stuff, but he could also have been just walking that trail.......
And the doe in heat stuff was the synthetic stuff.....
I forgot all about dropping the head off this year. Damn
Cheers
SS
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wild one
I have heard of CWD being linked to ungulate farms and how baiting helping spread CWD by bringing deer into close quarters with each other
I have never heard the sale of natural game lure causing an out break. I have never heard of the CWD being present in a commercially sold natural game lure
Is this something you view as a possibility or is there a documented case of a commercially sold game lure being contaminated with CWD?
A few years back it was a big concern and that's when all the Synthetic Lures started showing up. I don't know of any solid regulation on the sale of such
natural products, but they seem to still be on the racks. I used many natural lures in past years and as of now stopped that routine. Look at where they
are produced.
As far as baiting goes, any time you concentrate wildlife things start showing up. Sickness, Predators knock at the door,
Years back I used small amounts of lure to tuck a deers head behind a log or brush so I could draw my bow and make a clean shot, but after seeing what shows up on
other hunters trail cams, I don't bother anymore.
Baiting was never big on my list, but as long as it's legal, it will continue to grow, especially when hunters don't see many critters.
With all the wolf sign in the backcountry, the last thing I want to do is concentrate game with lures and feed.
Thats my own opinion, and I am sure I will get shit on for saying it on this site, but oh well.
Like the old saying "A wise man changes his mind often, A fool never "
The trend lately in the states is to put CWD front and center, they are also watching how much impact the wolves are having. Alberta east is on the look out also.
We need to be more proactive for sure, nows the time for change. We may be one bad winter from a major decline.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bownut
A few years back it was a big concern and that's when all the Synthetic Lures started showing up. I don't know of any solid regulation on the sale of such
natural products, but they seem to still be on the racks. I used many natural lures in past years and as of now stopped that routine. Look at where they
are produced.
As far as baiting goes, any time you concentrate wildlife things start showing up. Sickness, Predators knock at the door,
Years back I used small amounts of lure to tuck a deers head behind a log or brush so I could draw my bow and make a clean shot, but after seeing what shows up on
other hunters trail cams, I don't bother anymore.
Baiting was never big on my list, but as long as it's legal, it will continue to grow, especially when hunters don't see many critters.
With all the wolf sign in the backcountry, the last thing I want to do is concentrate game with lures and feed.
Thats my own opinion, and I am sure I will get shit on for saying it on this site, but oh well.
Like the old saying "A wise man changes his mind often, A fool never "
The trend lately in the states is to put CWD front and center, they are also watching how much impact the wolves are having. Alberta east is on the look out also.
We need to be more proactive for sure, nows the time for change. We may be one bad winter from a major decline.
There's a time and place for voicing your concerns, Bownut. A thread like this is the perfect place for a debate on the subject.
Site rules state no calling down a legal harvest of any kind of game, but starting a new thread or posting on this one will be better received.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stone Sheep Steve
There's a time and place for voicing your concerns, Bownut. A thread like this is the perfect place for a debate on the subject.
Site rules state no calling down a legal harvest of any kind of game, but starting a new thread or posting on this one will be better received.
Don't see how I was calling down any hunting methods, just talking about the core concerns on CWD. Theres lots of funded studies that will confirm the comments.
Branching out and learning has always been a driving force for me, it saves on trying to reinvent the wheel.
If individuals want to take what I say as a personal attack, then they can take it as deep as they want to.
Thanks for the reminder and remember it works both ways.......
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Well learned something new from this thread
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
curly top
just wondering, are most blind or tree stand Bow Hunters using scent? Piss rags or bottles, rut scents, doe in estrous, etc etc .
I purchased a bottle once years ago, never seen any reaction to them, still have 3/4 of it left. Not much ch of a believer, mind you have don't use scent blockers or sprays as cover up. I just don't wear my man cologne either lol.
Ya me too, don't think that you should put too much faith on the wonder products, still goes back to reading the sign and watching your wind for sure.
It makes me laugh when you think about it, remember the old photos of a group of hunters standing over a bunch of bucks. long before all the gadgets.
How cool was that!
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
CWD is spread by close contact and fluid transfer along with some other factors. Not much different than domestic sheep/ wild sheep contact. The devil is at the door,
Some of the top Bios are already warning us about the future and that's why more States are singing a different tune.
This my sound silly, but start to youtube CWD State by State and then look at their changes in regards to hunting practices . I am not talking that far away either.
Scary stuff when you think about all the products that hit the shelves that without much regulation. Hope I am wrong..
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Used some kind of doe in heat piss(code red I believe) in front of one cam. Zero interest from the deer. Saved the tarsals off my buck to use next year and expect much better results.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
The doe in heat lure works way better if you vape it.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
One of the biggest concerns of CWD being introduced into BC from AB and Sask is the transportation of infected deer that were harvested in those provinces. This appears to be the biggest concern from those that are on point.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ourea
One of the biggest concerns of CWD being introduced into BC from AB and Sask is the transportation of infected deer that were harvested in those provinces. This appears to be the biggest concern from those that are on point.
You are probably right on this,lots of guys bringing back racks from alta, sask
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dannybuoy
You are probably right on this,lots of guys bringing back racks from alta, sask
It's when the whole deer is transported where the risk is high
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Yes transportation is a big concern, thats one of the concerns that they can monitor, it's all the other unknown that scares me. Deer and elk farms seem to be located near the hot zones and when you can buy over the counter scent
lures from the central states it leaves me wondering how well they monitor those products.
Transmitting via body fluids is probably still the number one way of contracting CWD. Like I said before I sure hope I'm wrong.
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Re: BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ourea
It's when the whole deer is transported where the risk is high
I dont know much about it,was guessing that brain bits or something