Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Funds Dries Up

CWD Monitoring and Research Funding Dries Up

Once Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) made national headlines, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pumped Millions of dollars into monitoring and research efforts. CWD, now found in 23 states and three Canadian provinces was determined not to be transmissible to humans, questionably leading to the downsizing of allocated funds to the monitoring and research efforts.

Kip Adams, Director of Education for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) said: “My Understanding is that once it was determined that CWD was not transmissible to humans the USDA saw no need to keep funding…”

The Chronic Wasting Disease Management Act (HR-4454) introduced to the senate in November formed by the National Deer Alliance, QDMA, National Wildlife Federation, and the CWD Alliance aims to dedicate $60 Million for CWD monitoring and research.

CWD Funding Dries Up

July 23, 2018/0 Comments/by THRiL

Hunting, Recreation, THRiL

New Poll Shows Hunters and Anglers Willing to Be Taxed More for Conservation

Hunters and Anglers Willing to Be Taxed More for Conservation

Original Post from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A nationwide telephone survey recently showed that hunters and anglers would agree with a tax increase to fund conservation efforts. The poll was commissioned by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and conducted by the research firm Pubic Opinion Strategy.

It has always been known that sportsmen, hunters and anglers are big supporters of conservation. Through the Pitman-Robertson and Dingel-Johnson excise taxes hunters and anglers already pay towards conservation efforts on state and federal lands. The recent poll now showed that 81 percent of respondents would agree to a tax increase to fund conservation, 31% willing to pay $100 or more in new taxes to restore and/or maintain water quality or quantity.

Read The Full Blog Here on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Full Story Here

May 17, 2018/0 Comments/by THRiL

Hunting, THRiL

CWD Prions Confirmed at Mineral Sites for Deer

University of Wisconsin Detect CWD Prions at Mineral Sites for Deer

Original Article from Journal Sentinel Here

Research published May 2nd, 2018 have verified Chronic Wastings Disease (CWD) in the environment at a site where deer gather. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found CWD prions in the soil or water at 9 of 11 mineral sites for deer tested in south-central Wisconsin.

The results that the prions were found is not the “breakthrough” considered in this research, rather the analytical methodology to detect and monitor the presence of the prion.

“Detection of prions in environmental reservoirs represents an important first step in understanding environmental transmission of CWD as well as the potential for cross-species transmission,” said Joel Pedersen, lead author of the study.

PHOTO: This map shows the sites of the mineral licks sampled by UW researchers for their CWD prion study. (Photo: University of Wisconsin)

The results of the study suggest that mineral sites in CWD outbreak zones may serve as reservoirs of CWD prions that contribute to disease transmission to susceptible animals.

Read the Full Article and Research Publication Here.

May 3, 2018/0 Comments/by THRiL

Recreation, THRiL

U.S. Secretary of Interior Orders Increase in Opportunities for Public Lands and Waters!

Increase in Recreational Opportunities for Public Lands and Waters

Original Post and Picture from U.S. Department of Interior

Secretarial Order 3366 directs interior bureaus to create and deliver plans to the Department within 90 days. These plans are meant to increase recreational opportunities on public lands and waters. It also will designate one full-time employee charged to oversee recreational opportunities.

“From my first day on the job, I have made it abundantly clear that we are going to refocus on Interior’s long-standing but recently forgotten recreation mission,” said Secretary Zinke. “We are incredibly fortunate, as Americans, to have amazing public lands and waters to carry out our tradition of outdoor recreation but the Department must continue to create opportunities to increase access for these pursuits.”

Read the full post and details of Order 3366 here!

Secretarial Order 3366

April 19, 2018/0 Comments/by THRiL

Recreation, THRiL

More Than $1.1 Billion Directed to Sportsmen and Conservation

U.S. Secretary of Interior Announces $1.1 Billion for Conservation

Original Post and Picture from U.S. Department of Interior

On March 20, U.S Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced more than $1.1 Billion in national funding for state wildlife agencies. These funds are from revenue generated by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration acts.

Secretary Zinke commented “Every time a firearm, fishing pole, hook, bullet, motor boat or boat fuel is sold, part of that cost goes to fund conservation. The best way to increase funding for conservation and sportsmen access is to increase the number of hunters and anglers in our woods and waters.” To date, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has distributed more than 20.2 billion for state conservation and recreation projects.

Read the full article and see each state’s total funds for sport fish and wildlife this year here.