Post by: bobcat on February 15, 2009, 08:56:13 AM
The Associated Press • Published February 15, 2009
ELLENSBURG – State wildlife officials estimate about 50 percent of the deer population in two central Washington counties has been lost since 2004, and while all the causes aren't known, at least one is believed to be lice.
Officials in Yakima and Kittitas began receiving reports about black-tailed and mule deer with hair loss syndrome in 2002. The deer population began declining in 2004.
At first, the type of lice causing the deer to lose hair was thought to be one of several native species already found in wild deer populations in the United States.
But test samples showed that the type of lice causing the problem — Bovicola tibialis — typically is found only on European fallow deer, which had been farmed in central Washington. According to reports by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, some of those deer may have escaped, inadvertently introducing the lice into the local environment.
Game farms have since been banned in Washington, though several existing ones have been allowed to continue operating.
"This is a new situation in Eastern Washington," said James Mertins, an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture who was the first to discover the exotic lice species had invaded the area.
The chewing lice cause deer to begin obsessively grooming or rubbing. Bald patches then begin to appear, which make the deer more susceptible to environmental stresses.
One reason the lice species may be thriving, Mertins said, is that it has no females or males and everyone can lay eggs. That means the species populates very quickly.
Only about a half-dozen species worldwide reproduce that way, Mertins said.
"This is sort of a worst-case scenario," he said.
David Darda, associate dean of biological sciences at Central Washington University, said the native deer's ability to overcome this infestation will depend heavily on its genetic diversity.
"If you've got a decent genetic variety, you may have a large die-off initially, but as time goes by the variety can improve the deer's ability to fight," Darda said. "It'll be interesting to see what happens in five years."
Post by: bowhuntin on February 15, 2009, 09:09:37 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on February 15, 2009, 09:17:58 AM
Post by: norsepeak on February 15, 2009, 09:20:01 AM
Post by: bowhuntin on February 15, 2009, 09:25:35 AM
Unfortunately, I saw 4-5 deer in Chelan Co. last year with hair loss. Along Hwy 97 between Blewett Pass and Hwy 2.
That's not good.
Post by: Antlershed on February 15, 2009, 10:21:47 AM
Post by: colockumelk on February 15, 2009, 10:55:00 AM
Post by: bowhuntin on February 15, 2009, 11:00:07 AM
I talked to a WDFW official and asked if the herd had taken over a 50% loss then why hasn't it gone to permit only. If it is that bad then why can we still hunt a herd that is so decimated. I mentioned that I believe it's because they don't want to lose the revenue and the loss of tags that a permit only for a bit would bring. He scoffed at me like I was an idiot and said that revenue had nothing to do with it. That going to permit only wouldn't help out at all. And yes people these are the same people who are managing our herds. Makes you wonder huh.
I think revenue is a part of it, but I also think that if you closed an area to a general hunt then you would have a bunch of hunters that need a new place to go and hunt. There would be huge increase of pressure in other parts of the state on the deer herds.
Post by: bowhuntin on February 15, 2009, 11:01:23 AM
Post by: bobcat on February 15, 2009, 11:09:35 AM
Post by: bowhuntin on February 15, 2009, 11:12:48 AM
Post by: colockumelk on February 15, 2009, 11:41:28 AM
I do think that it should still go to permit only. Between the cougars, the lice, and then hunting season they don't stand a chance. In my opinion if they did do this yes maybe hunters would go somewhere else. I know I have already. I don't hunt in Yak or Kitt counties. And to be honest I don't understand why people still hunt for deer around here. Finding a legal buck is hard. I took my wife out to the LT one day during rifle season and we saw two 2x2's that were over 20inches wide. Although that is another problem unto itself.
The only poaching I would be okaywith is if someone went around the LT after the season and shot all the big mature two points they could find. Get them out of the gene pool ASAP.
Post by: 270Shooter on February 15, 2009, 12:37:28 PM
You have to spend a lot of time scouting areas, and once you find a good drainage you really need to get to know it well.
Post by: Elkrunner on February 15, 2009, 01:05:01 PM
Post by: colockumelk on February 15, 2009, 03:14:32 PM
There are still plenty of legal bucks to go around where I hunt. I know I seen em. In elk season :'(. I didn't get to hunt deer there this year, but I will hunt it this year.
You have to spend a lot of time scouting areas, and once you find a good drainage you really need to get to know it well.
Or you can do what I do and go to parts of the state that actually has a healthy population of legal bucks. I took the wife to the Manastash and saw 30 does and two 2x2's that were both over twenty inches wide. By the looks of their bodies both were about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old. Anywhere else those deer would be taken out of the gene pool.
Also forgot to mention the WDFW guy who is a genius doesn't think that those massive perma 2x2's are just breeding more of the same. He asked me how I didn't know they weren't 1 or 2 year olds with really good genetics. That 24 inch 2x2 I saw with a pot belly, gray on his face, swayed back etc was sure as hell no 2 1/2 year old. Again this is the who is in charge of our deer and elk. Makes me feel good inside.
Post by: bankwalker on February 15, 2009, 06:55:14 PM
Unfortunately, I saw 4-5 deer in Chelan Co. last year with hair loss. Along Hwy 97 between Blewett Pass and Hwy 2.
4 of the 9 deer in one herd i seen up around cooper lake (north west side) this year had hair loss. the other 20 or so does i had seen along lake cle elum and south east of cooper lake were all healthy deer
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on February 15, 2009, 07:56:13 PM
Post by: bankwalker on February 15, 2009, 08:48:17 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on February 15, 2009, 08:52:19 PM
Post by: colockumelk on February 19, 2009, 01:11:20 PM
Post by: ing on February 22, 2009, 07:57:00 AM
Post by: 270Shooter on February 22, 2009, 07:59:51 AM
I think it all a bunch of BS. I hunt outside of Yakima regularly and have never seen a deer with hair loss. I had a multi deer tag last year and pushed bucks every day of the muzzle season and finally killed a nice four point on opening day of rifle. One of my best seasons.You got pics?
:drool:
Post by: Red Dawg on February 22, 2009, 08:02:42 AM
I think it all a bunch of BS. I hunt outside of Yakima regularly and have never seen a deer with hair loss. I had a multi deer tag last year and pushed bucks every day of the muzzle season and finally killed a nice four point on opening day of rifle. One of my best seasons.you will not notice it until this time of year, I have never seen a bad one during hunting season, only while hunting sheds in the spring. I would love to see some pics of that buck.
Post by: colockumelk on February 22, 2009, 11:15:03 AM
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on February 22, 2009, 11:26:27 AM
I think it all a bunch of BS. I hunt outside of Yakima regularly and have never seen a deer with hair loss. I had a multi deer tag last year and pushed bucks every day of the muzzle season and finally killed a nice four point on opening day of rifle. One of my best seasons.
Come over to this side of the mountains and I could show you at least one deer per day, in a different GMU every day for a whole week that has it. About the only place I haven't seen it yet is down by the Columbia in Wahkiakum and Cowlitz Counties.
Post by: ing on February 23, 2009, 12:04:24 PM
Post by: 270Shooter on February 23, 2009, 04:41:39 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on February 23, 2009, 08:00:42 PM
Post by: cackle on June 24, 2009, 01:14:21 PM
Post by: ing on June 24, 2009, 09:36:37 PM
nice buck ING this must have been last years that tony told me aboutYep thats the one.