What some are calling an ambiguous loophole in an Indiana state law, trappers who are taking wild coyotes outside of the prescribed coyote trapping season, are keeping them alive and selling them to dog trainers and using them to collect urine for use by trappers. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that practice has to stop.

Coyotes are being sold to states that allow hound trainers to use live wild animals for training purposes. Indiana does not allow this so trappers are selling the coyotes to states like South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia where the use of live animals is allowed for dog training.

Animal rights groups are pressuring the IDNR saying the practice is cruel and inhumane but some legislators who sit on the Natural Resources Study Committee don’t see it that way at all.

State Sen. Greg Walker, who is on the committee, said he did not see a problem with selling the animals to dog-training facilities because the care is often better than their lives in the wild.
“For the kennels which do the training of hunting dogs, they prefer to keep the animals in good condition,” said Walker, R-Columbus.
Generally, trainers do not allow the bait animals to be caught, Crider said.
“It’s really nothing that runs counter to what these animals experience in the wild anyway,” Walker said. “It’s part of their natural makeup, it’s part of their DNA, and so if it’s cruel, I guess sometimes you’d say nature is cruel.”

While the DNR is suggesting a change to the rules, the Study Committee could propose legislation that would override any DNR recommendation.

Tom Remington

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We are at a point where it would be safe to say that this year’s outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is quite widespread. Here’s a list of states that have confirmed cases of the virus that is carried to deer by biting midges or no-see-ums: Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, Montana, Mississippi and Georgia. In addition, some states are waiting for test results to confirm what they already suspect - South Carolina is one such state.

To confirm the presence of the disease, blood and certain tissue has to be analyzed.

According to both the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Alabama Department of Conservation, dealing with EHD is quite routine. Charles Ruth, Deer/Turkey Project supervisor for the South Carolina DNR says flair-ups in that state seem to run in cycles of 3-5 years and there’s a reasonable explanation.

“This is probably related to the fact that once deer are exposed to the disease they are more resistant to it. Therefore, if you have disease one year the deer become exposed or inoculated to the disease and you do not see much disease activity until there is turnover in the deer population. After several years you are dealing with another cohort of deer and their systems are ‘naïve’ to the disease. The last time there was significant hemorrhagic disease activity in South Carolina was in 2002, therefore, disease activity could be relatively high this year.”

This theory is confirmed by a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“We have some cases every year,” said Keith Guyse, a whitetail specialist with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division in the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “In the Coastal Plain, the virus is there frequently enough that deer have been exposed to it and have some resistance to it.

Both representatives indicate that EHD in their respective states is pretty much routine only because of the build up of a certain degree of immunity. Therefore, these southern states don’t see wide outbreaks of the disease that often. When EHD hits the more northern climes, EHD seems to grab harder. Ruth explains.

Deer likely die in South Carolina each year from hemorrhagic disease, however, there is no indication that a major outbreak has occurred in the state since the mid 1970s. The disease is part of life for deer in the Southeast and fortunately it appears that Southern deer have acquired some immunity to the disease, said Ruth. Northern deer, on the other hand, are not exposed to the disease as frequently since the insect vector is not as common in cooler climates. For this reason, significant outbreaks and mortality from hemorrhagic disease are more likely in northern deer populations.

Guyse from Alabama makes reference to the same theory.

“Typically in North Alabama and above the fall line, they’re not exposed to it as often. So over a period of time you have a population that doesn’t have much resistance. When you have (outbreaks) up there, it tends to be more noticeable.”

This helps us understand why some states may have more severe outbreaks, killing larger numbers of deer, than others but why this year are outbreaks so widespread across the landscape of the country? Some have related it to the summer heat and drought. That may be true, I don’t know. It would be logical to assume that being that the virus is carried and spread by tiny midges or gnats, a larger than normal population of that insect would be directly proportional to the spread of the disease. Of course science isn’t that simplistic and we know that there are probably many more factors to consider or it could be just merely a coincidence.

However, Guyse from Alabama eludes to the theory of increased numbers of midges, somewhat.

“Auburn (researchers) had traps out to catch the flies and they might catch a few every once in a while, and then all of a sudden they catch hundreds,” Guyse said. “Much of that still is a mystery.”

Obviously, they don’t have a good handle on it either.

Hunters and others should be aware of the symptoms they may find on deer suffering from the disease.

Symptoms of hemorrhagic disease include poor physical condition, sloughing hooves, abrasions or sores on the brisket and legs, and ulcerations on the mouth, tongue, and rumen (stomach).

As I said earlier, verification of the disease has to be done in the lab.

If you see sick or dead deer in your travels, please report it to the appropriate authorities. It is highly recommended that nobody eats any of the meat from deer sickened by EHD.

Tom Remington

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A new mentoring program signed into law in Oklahoma by Gov. Brad Henry provides for young hunters under the age of 16 to hunt small game without first taking the required hunter safety class, providing that hunter is with a licensed hunter over the age of 21.

The same law allows hunters 16 - 35 to hunt all game without first taking a hunter safety course and they must be accompanied by a licensed hunter over 21.

South Carolina also has a newly signed bill with a similar mentoring program. The National Wild Turkey Federation has more on both stories.

Tom Remington

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There’s an enthusiastic group that has formed a brand new organization called the Appalachian Houndsmen Association. Even though they aspire to eventually become a nationwide entity, their focus right now is on Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. The club’s motto pretty much tells what’s on their mind.

Preserving the Houndsmen’s Heritage for the Next Generation in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.

If a lot of you are like me, when you read or hear the word hound, a whole array of mental images crop up in your head. I spent some time browsing around their new website in order to get a better idea of what the Houndsmen were all about. I found out it isn’t just coon dogs nor is it rabbit dogs or bear hunting dogs. It’s all about every kind of dog you can imagine that’s used in the varied hunting and outdoor sports including breeding of sporting dogs as well. Read what the website says about what they are all about.

The Appalachian Houndsmen Association is an association that was started on the basis of joining together all of our clubs from all the different hunting areas to be able to unite(sic) as one large voice to stand up and fight to protect our hunting and breeding rights. We want members from all types of dog hunting, coon hunters, big game hunters, beaglers, fox hunters and bird hunters. We need everyone to be able to make our voice heard. As our motto states “Preserving Our Hunting Heritage for the next Generation”, is a large and bold undertaking and this cannot be accomplished by one person or one club or one group of hunters. Together as a united group we can fight and be heard.

The reason for a united front comes because of the increased pressure from anti-hunting and animal rights groups. I see the AHA is taking action to speak up in support of what they do and the long time heritage associated with it. More and more people are learning as have the AHA that the only ones that are going to fight for what you believe in is you, so they are banding together.

One of the issues that AHA is involved in is support of a bill in South Carolina that would permit the use of dogs in hunting and training for bears. That bill is H3258. There has been opposition to this bill by some anti-hunting and animal rights groups and leaders of the AHA are encouraging its members to contact all the South Carolina representatives and Senate Wildlife Committee members.

There’s more to the Appalachian Houndsmen Association than just getting people together to fight for rights. Their website is soliciting much needed membership to help the cause. There’s also a busy schedule of events including a lot of shows and qualifying competitions and they have plans to start a youth moment within the organization called “PUPS“.

It is clear to me that this new group has a firm grasp and understanding of the importance of hunting as part of our American heritage. They want to work hard to guarantee that heritage to the next generation and they need your help. I would suggest that first you visit their website and learn more about them. There you will find contact information and how you can become a member and get involved. Don’t wait until it’s too late and above all else, don’t wait and let someone else do all the work. Get involved.

Tom Remington

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Chris Cobbett is part of Northwoods Adventure TV. He and his partner, Nate Fenderson travel to many places filming their hunting adventures. Cobbett has his own blog as part of the U.S. Hunting Today network and is also an active member of the Maine Hunting Forums.

His son is seven years old and has fallen in love with hunting - no surprise there.

Recently, Chris and son, Dylan, went on a turkey hunting trip to South Carolina. Chris shares the stories at his blog and has posted some film footage of the successful turkey hunt at the Maine Hunting Forums. It is an absolute must that you watch these two videos. If you have high speed Internet access, you can stream the video right at the site. If not, it’s worth downloading it to watch. Seriously.

Tom Remington

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Would this even be in the press if the two Governors, one from South Carolina and one from Georgia, had played golf?

The two governors met to go hunting quail before a deal was reached about the port of Savannah. Is this really about who paid for the trip or is it more about the fact they went hunting instead of doing what most politicians do, play golf.

Tom Remington

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Hunting groups with the support of the NRA have been trying for some time now to get a bill passed through both Houses in South Carolina to bring about a referendum vote on a Constitutional amendment that would guarantee hunting and fishing rights there.

The Bill made it through the House last year and got hung up in the Senate until the end of the session when nothing was done. Once again this year, a similar thing has happened because one Senator, Dick Elliot, doesn’t think the bill is needed.

Although a Senate subcommittee approved the bill, Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, moved to table it on Tuesday when the full committee met.

“I think this is one of the most ludicrous things I’ve seen all year,” Elliott said.

It makes no more sense than a constitutional amendment to guarantee people the right to go to church, he said.

“That dog won’t hunt,” Elliott said.

A Senate committee tabled the bill in an 8-7 vote but Senator Tommy Moore pulled the bill out of committee and sent it to the floor for a vote.

If the bill should survive a vote in the Senate, the NRA has a few dollars to use to promote passage of the bill via a referendum vote.

Tom Remington 

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A bill that would have extended the bear hunt in the South Carolina mountains by one week is all but dead in the water. The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee never moved the bill out of committee to the full Senate because of existing controversy between hunters and residents in those areas. It is more than likely the bill will see no further action this year.

Tom Remington

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The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is asking birdwatchers, hikers and just about anyone who enjoys wildlife and the outdoors, to buy a hunting license. It isn’t that they are necessarily looking for hunters, they are looking for dollars.

The DNR doesn’t have enough money to meet the demands of the public in providing high quality wildlife management. Nearly all the funding for game and non-game wildlife come from the sale of hunting licenses. Depending upon how many dollars are taken in through license sales, determines the amount of federal matching money coming back to the state for wildlife management programs.

How long will it be before this request becomes a mandate?

Tom Remington

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Clemson University newspaper called the Tiger Town Observer, is sponsoring a raffle to raise money and awareness. Editor and Chief Andrew Davis says he wants to raise awareness of the 2nd Amendment and educate people about their rights to keep and bear arms.

Davis says proceeds from the raffle will go toward paying expenses to run the paper, fund a self-defense program for female students and to a democracy foundation in Iran.

And this is the hoot! A spokeswoman for the University said they did not condone the event (raffle) but would not act to stop it.

Tom Remington

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There was a public meeting on Tuesday at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College with representatives of the South Carolina DNR. A presentation was made by Dr. Charles Ruth. The meeting was to discuss a proposal to change the bag limit on bucks to the same 5 buck limit as is currently being used in the high country. They also discussed charging fees for buck deer, turkey and doe deer tags, which are now free.

Dr. John Rheney, a columnist for the Times and Democrat, attended that meeting and gives his take on the activities of the meeting, adds commentary and basically concludes that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Read his article here.

Tom Remington

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