This reminds me of how Saskatchewan handles CWD.
Gov went against the advice of their Biologists and caved under heavy lobbying by outfitters (95% for American clients) and the Game farm canned "hunting" organizations.
Baiting continued, herd density reductions were stopped, and CWD spread like a prairie wildfire. With only very limited testing (thanks Sask Gov) CWD rates in areas are over 50%.
Here in Alberta, without baiting, and during the years of herd density suppression, CWD was not spreading into Alberta, but was contained to the near the Sask border, infection rates were 1-2%.
Our containment measures WERE working!
Then lobbying pushed to end the herd density suppression, the greatest effort to do so was from the Outfitting community.
Once herds were allowed to grow, so did the rate of infection and spread of the disease.
But go ahead, keep singing, Lalalalalallaaaaa…..
I sense a different issue at hand here. Many seem to be apposed to ANY change.
I get the frustration from recent changes, the feeling of being hit and run on....
But don't let that get in the way of changes that really do need to happen for the sake of Wildlife.
This is NOT an Hunter issue, this is a Wildlife Health concern.
There are plenty of studies showing evidence of increased disease transmission between ungulates due to baiting.
I agree, there is a lack of studies directly researching CWD transmission and baiting.
But they are not really necessary, Other research applies.