Since 1999, more than 400 people have become ill and 30 have died from the West Nile Virus, including at least a dozen deaths so far this year. Yet some in the press would rather downplay the risk, defending mosquitoes more than our deer hunting tradition. Yes, I'm talking about the greatly exaggerated risks of chronic wasting disease jumping the species barrier to humans. While I agree the odds of getting sick or dying from a mosquito bite are astronomically low, they're much greater than the odds of contracting CWD from a deer you shoot. Despite ongoing surveillance, there has never been an instance of people contracting a prion disease from butchering or eating meat from CWD-infected animals. There has been plenty of speculation, however, including statements like "No one can say with absolute certainty that CWD will never cause human disease." The hype and hysteria created by the big city media over CWD is threatening to keep less passionate hunters home. If far fewer deer shot is the result - something that's no certainty considering dedicated hunters could make up some of the difference by shooting more deer - a higher population of whitetails will mean increased risk of disease transmission, vehicle/deer accidents, crop damage and starvation. Let's put it into perspective: A booming deer herd has killed dozens of Wisconsin motorists through collisions in the past decade. Where's the scary headlines there? No talk of "one-third of the drivers might give up driving this year," like the silly, small and overpublicized St. Norbert study of a few hundred people that has now been extrapolated to make it sound like one-third of the blaze orange army is considering not hunting this fall.

The fact that there is no pathological confirmation of a link between CWD and human health concerns is still enough to create fear of the unknown. But CWD has been found in Colorado for more than three decades, with no increase in the incidence of CJD - a rare brain disease that strikes less than one in a million people. Dr. Paul Brown, chairman of an FDA advisory panel on CWD, said that "to date, there's no identified instance of disease in human beings attributed to chronic wasting disease, either through contact (with sick animals) or through consumption." Also, there has never been a case of "mad cow" disease in the United States. The USDA has examined thousands of brains from suspect cattle (downers or animals with neurological symptoms) without finding any evidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). A story at www.meatingplace.com even suggests that such mad cow hype is really an attack on modern agri-business, big corporations and biotechnology. I believe the flames of CWD hysteria are being fanned by folks who don't like hunting all too much, either. We haven't heard much from PETA or any of the other fanatical anti-hunt groups. That they're keeping quiet about CWD right now should concern you. Could it be that some of the "experts" (anti-hunting vets, researchers, etc.) whose pockets they line are the ones fueling the scary headlines?

You may have read or heard about the three Wisconsin men who died from brain diseases in the 1990s. All three participated in an annual wild game feed, with the meat coming from all over North America. Two died from CJD. One was diagnosed with Pick's disease, another brain disease that is not related. Two of the three men who died were reportedly in the meat business. One made dog food from processed meat and bone meal and another was in the cattle business. I haven't heard if any of them ever went to Europe and ate in a country where new-variant CJD is known to have occurred, but that would be a biggie. A medical doctor in the area said he is more concerned that an unknown case of BSE may have been in some beef the men ate than he is that CWD caused the deaths. The Center for Disease Control is investigating these cases, as they do all CJD deaths.

Hunt for the Hungry (HFTH) has 14 Northeastern Wisconsin venison processors plus Paul's Pantry itself ready to take donated whitetails this fall, with several more awaiting the state's decision this week on bids for disposal of deer carcasses. Otto's in Luxemburg will not be cutting deer this fall, but Marchant's in Brussels and Haberli's in Sturgeon Bay both will again be involved in the HFTH program. Hunt for the Hungry coordinator Lee Dudek is challenging hunters to take a friend or family member afield this year, someone who otherwise might not or would not hunt. The "Adopt a N.E.W. Hunter" plan promotes going one-on-one from a hunter education class to the gun club, sport shop, licensing agent and ultimately, the woods. "What better way to insure the future of deer hunting than to prepare new hunters to carry on the tradition with responsible, ethical dedication to deer management, harvesting of God's renewable resource, and donation to others in need?," Dudek said. If you have room for another hunter to join you or your group, now's the time to plant the seed of unselfishness. Being a mentor is very rewarding, whether a tag is filled or not.

The early September Canada goose hunt opens Tuesday with a five-bird daily bag limit. Stop by any licensing agent for the details on what you'll need, and don't forget a trip to the post office for your federal waterfowl stamp. Meanwhile, a few spawn-minded salmon and brown trout are beginning to gather around the piers and in the harbors, but the best bite is still in deep water.

 

You can reach Kevin Naze by e-mailing wildtimes@itol.com or by writing P.O. Box 233, Algoma.
 

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