Texas Parks & Wildlife Tightens Rules on Deer Breeders

June 21, 2016 – Yesterday, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission heard public testimony from TALT and many other concerned citizens and industry representatives, regarding proposed rules to help keep chronic wasting disease (CWD) out of the Texas wild white-tailed deer population. This is an important issue for many Texas rural landowners who earn income from hunting. Currently, CWD has only been found in confined deer breeding operations in Texas. The spread of the disease could be economically devastating to the landowners and rural communities that make up this $2 billion industry.

The following is an excerpt from the Austin American Statesman regarding the hearing and the outcome.

Texas Parks & Wildlife tightens rules on deer breeders

June 21, 2016 – by Tim Eaton

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted new rules Monday to combat a disease found in deer, but the new rules could put a strain on many of the state’s 1,300 deer breeding businesses.

The commission’s vote came after months of discussions with interested groups, including breeders, ranch owners who sell hunting leases, environmental groups and livestock organizations.

The purpose for new regulations is to address how the state is going to deal with chronic wasting disease. The neurological condition — which affects deer, elk and maybe moose, but not humans — can cause weight loss, behavioral changes, brain lesions, excessive salivation, pneumonia, difficulty swallowing and head tremors.

It was discovered last year at a breeding facility in Medina County, near San Antonio.

With the commission’s unanimous vote on Monday, deer breeders will have to comply with increased regulation. There will be limited movement of breeder deer across the state, increased postmortem testing for chronic wasting disease and more live testing for the disease, too.

Click here to read the full article

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