trophybluf@borderlandnet.
Member
Always have a ton of respect for Dr James Kroll. Wish there were more biologist like him. Very good podcast and worth watching!
CWD
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flounder9
Member
“It is interesting to note that, in 2001, the State of Texas shifted its deer management strategies toward the same leanings that Kroll has suggested for Wisconsin. In Texas, the change was brought about via heavy lobbying from the high-fence deer ranching industry. This pressure helped convince the Texas Parks and Wildlife to change their regulations and allow private landowners to select the own deer biologists.”
http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2002-02-01/feature5
www.texasmonthly.com
https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/...-will-high-fence-hunting-bias-skew-final-plan
Texas CWD Surveillance Positives Tracking Page is outdated
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wil...-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml#texasCWD
My last figures of Texas CWD Totals To Date were 1061 Confirmed, but that is way outdated.
Texas CWD total by calendar years
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/texas-cwd-tse-prion-positive-samples-by.html
Counties where CWD Exposed Deer were Released
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/257/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites.pdf
Number of CWD Exposed Deer Released by County
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/258/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites-NbrDeer.pdf
CWD Status Captive Herds
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
Wisconsin Caltive CWD Positives update 1/30/2024
HOLY SMOKES Wisconsin Captive CWD Positives update January 2024
Chronic Wasting Disease Positives in Farm-raised Deer Revised: 1/30/2024
https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents/WI CWD Positives1.pdf
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
Wisconsin CWD year 2024
DNR Zone # Sampled # Analyzed Positive for CWD
Central Farmland Zone 7100 7100 175
Central Forest Zone 628 628 18
Northern Forest Zone 1850 1850 5
Southern Farmland Zone 7494 7483 1573
Unknown Zone 31 29 0
Totals: 17103 17090 1771
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/cwd/summary/YearZone/2024
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/registersample
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/results
https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FarmRaisedDeer.aspx
https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FRDHerdStatusPrograms.aspx
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
Feb. 27, 2025
Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
News
AUSTIN – A recent investigation by Texas Game Wardens
resulted in approximately 1,200 pending charges and 22 suspects from across the state involved in the deer breeding industry and black-market wildlife trade.
The suspects and charges are associated with three deer breeding facilities, ten release sites, one deer management pen and three illegal facilities not registered in the Texas Wildlife Information Management Services (TWIMS) database, meaning they were operating or receiving deer in violation of registration requirements and disease monitoring protocols.
"The hard work and commitment of our Texas Game Wardens to uncover these violations cannot be overstated," said TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz. "Their pivotal role in conservation law enforcement helps ensure the health of all deer populations in the state. These violations don’t just break the law—they undermine the very foundation of responsible wildlife management in Texas."
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has referred the cases to prosecutors’ offices in 11 Texas counties.
The cases stem from a prior investigation involving the illegal smuggling of captive white-tailed deer, ultimately leading wardens to uncover this much larger network of alleged offenders after the arrest and conviction of two individuals that occurred in Montgomery County.
The investigation uncovered approximately 500 Class C charges, 700 Class B charges, 22 Class A charges and multiple state jail felony charges. Due to the ongoing nature of this case, the final number of charges filed may vary.
"I am incredibly proud of the dedication and diligence Texas Game Wardens devoted to this case," said Col. Ronald VanderRoest, TPWD law enforcement director. "An operation of this size and scope did not develop overnight and the widespread violations may have continued unchecked, posing an even greater threat to Texas’ deer populations and the integrity of the deer breeding industry, if not for their hard work.”
TPWD has established science-based regulations and procedures to both manage deer breeding in Texas and prevent major disease outbreak, all with the goal of ensuring the long-term sustainability of native and captive deer in Texas.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease and can devastate deer populations by silently spreading through direct animal contact and contaminated environments. Without close monitoring, illegal movement of captive deer increases the risk of introducing CWD to areas it is not known to exist, potentially leading to widespread outbreaks which will impact more than just the health of Texas deer.
Yoskowitz also noted that with many rural Texans depending on hunting as their full or supplemental income, a large-scale outbreak of CWD could pose a significant threat to white-tailed deer hunting, which has a $9.6 billion annual economic contribution and could irreversibly alter Texas’ rich outdoor heritage.
By circumventing requirements, disregarding regulations and falsifying official records, the suspects in this case intentionally placed the state’s entire deer population at risk, explained VanderRoest.
"These individuals and ranches operated with impunity, repeatedly violating established laws designed to protect Texas’ natural resources and safeguard the state’s wildlife against disease transmission," VanderRoest said. "Systematic abuse of the regulatory framework governing the deer breeding industry will not be tolerated as we focus on our mission of conservation law enforcement."
Class C pending charges include transferring deer without valid antemortem CWD tests, lack of identifying tattoos or valid transfer permits, failure to report mortality within the required seven-day period following detection and failure to submit CWD samples within seven days of collection. Additional pending charges include illegally selling and purchasing wild white-tailed deer and hunting deer in a closed season to falsify and circumvent CWD testing requirements by submitting samples from free-ranging wild white-tailed deer in place of breeder deer.
Class B pending charges include possession of wild deer in breeder facilities to replace dead breeder deer, multiple Trap, Transport and Transplant (TTT) permit violations and criminal mischief for the destruction of county and state property.
TTT charges stem from the illegal trapping, transporting and transplanting of free-ranging white-tailed deer for release for hunting, trapping previously released wild deer and reselling them, illegal operation of unregistered facilities participating in the same TTT activities and the undocumented and unauthorized transportation and release of unidentified fawns.
Suspects face Class A charges for taking white-tailed deer without landowner consent and for hunting exotic animals from a public roadway or right of way.
Pending state jail felony charges include tampering with government records falsifying information in TWIMS reports, which were certified as accurate. These incidents include falsifying tests through the submission of tissue samples from poached wild deer for CWD testing in place of the samples of breeder deer, tag swapping between breeder deer, and swapping tags between breeder deer and replacement deer captured in the wild.
TPWD remains committed to enforcing these laws and will hold violators accountable. Texas Game Wardens will continue to pursue those who disregard regulations and illegally exploit Texas’ natural resources, putting both captive and native populations at risk.
About Texas Game Wardens
Texas Game Wardens, within the Law Enforcement Division of TPWD, are responsible for enforcing laws related to the conservation and management of natural resources and public safety through community-based law enforcement. Their mission is to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Additionally, they play a crucial role in search and rescue operations during natural disasters, exemplifying their commitment to protecting both the environment and the people of Texas.
If you witness a wildlife violation in progress, please call 1-800-792-GAME(4263) immediately and report it to Operation Game Thief (OGT), Texas’ Wildlife Crime-Stoppers Program. Dispatchers are available 24/7. Reports can be made anonymously, and tipsters may be eligible for rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to a conviction.
Commission Agenda Item 6
January 23, 2025
Item Type: Action
Presenter: Alan Cain
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Detection and Response Rules – Recommended Adoption of Proposed Changes
Department records indicate that within the last five years, 29 deer breeding facilities where CWD has been confirmed transferred a total of 8,109 deer to 235 additional deer breeding facilities and 460 release sites located in a total of 139 counties in Texas.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/meetings/2025/0123/agenda/item.phtml?item=6
Commission Agenda Item No. 5 Exhibit B
DISEASE DETECTION AND RESPONSE RULES
PROPOSAL PREAMBLE
1. Introduction.
snip...
A third issue is the accuracy of mortality reporting. Department records indicate that for each of the last five years an average of 26 deer breeders have reported a shared total of 159 escapes. Department records for the same time period indicate an average of 31 breeding facilities reported a shared total of 825 missing deer (deer that department records indicate should be present in the facility, but cannot be located or verified).
https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/meetings/2022/1104/agenda/item.phtml
terry
http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2002-02-01/feature5
Which Side of the Fence Are You On?
All over Texas, ranchers are putting up eight-foot fences to keep their deer from roaming so they can charge more for hunting leases. Purists say shooting such deer doesn't amount to "fair chase." Biologists say penning them in causes disease. I say it's the best thing that could happen to the land.
www.texasmonthly.com
https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/...-will-high-fence-hunting-bias-skew-final-plan
Texas CWD Surveillance Positives Tracking Page is outdated
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wil...-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml#texasCWD
My last figures of Texas CWD Totals To Date were 1061 Confirmed, but that is way outdated.
Texas CWD total by calendar years
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/texas-cwd-tse-prion-positive-samples-by.html
Counties where CWD Exposed Deer were Released
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/257/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites.pdf
Number of CWD Exposed Deer Released by County
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/258/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites-NbrDeer.pdf
CWD Status Captive Herds
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
Wisconsin Caltive CWD Positives update 1/30/2024
HOLY SMOKES Wisconsin Captive CWD Positives update January 2024
Chronic Wasting Disease Positives in Farm-raised Deer Revised: 1/30/2024
https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents/WI CWD Positives1.pdf
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
Wisconsin CWD year 2024
DNR Zone # Sampled # Analyzed Positive for CWD
Central Farmland Zone 7100 7100 175
Central Forest Zone 628 628 18
Northern Forest Zone 1850 1850 5
Southern Farmland Zone 7494 7483 1573
Unknown Zone 31 29 0
Totals: 17103 17090 1771
https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/cwd/summary/YearZone/2024
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/registersample
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/results
https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FarmRaisedDeer.aspx
https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FRDHerdStatusPrograms.aspx
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
Feb. 27, 2025
Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
News
AUSTIN – A recent investigation by Texas Game Wardens
resulted in approximately 1,200 pending charges and 22 suspects from across the state involved in the deer breeding industry and black-market wildlife trade.
The suspects and charges are associated with three deer breeding facilities, ten release sites, one deer management pen and three illegal facilities not registered in the Texas Wildlife Information Management Services (TWIMS) database, meaning they were operating or receiving deer in violation of registration requirements and disease monitoring protocols.
"The hard work and commitment of our Texas Game Wardens to uncover these violations cannot be overstated," said TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz. "Their pivotal role in conservation law enforcement helps ensure the health of all deer populations in the state. These violations don’t just break the law—they undermine the very foundation of responsible wildlife management in Texas."
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has referred the cases to prosecutors’ offices in 11 Texas counties.
The cases stem from a prior investigation involving the illegal smuggling of captive white-tailed deer, ultimately leading wardens to uncover this much larger network of alleged offenders after the arrest and conviction of two individuals that occurred in Montgomery County.
The investigation uncovered approximately 500 Class C charges, 700 Class B charges, 22 Class A charges and multiple state jail felony charges. Due to the ongoing nature of this case, the final number of charges filed may vary.
"I am incredibly proud of the dedication and diligence Texas Game Wardens devoted to this case," said Col. Ronald VanderRoest, TPWD law enforcement director. "An operation of this size and scope did not develop overnight and the widespread violations may have continued unchecked, posing an even greater threat to Texas’ deer populations and the integrity of the deer breeding industry, if not for their hard work.”
TPWD has established science-based regulations and procedures to both manage deer breeding in Texas and prevent major disease outbreak, all with the goal of ensuring the long-term sustainability of native and captive deer in Texas.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease and can devastate deer populations by silently spreading through direct animal contact and contaminated environments. Without close monitoring, illegal movement of captive deer increases the risk of introducing CWD to areas it is not known to exist, potentially leading to widespread outbreaks which will impact more than just the health of Texas deer.
Yoskowitz also noted that with many rural Texans depending on hunting as their full or supplemental income, a large-scale outbreak of CWD could pose a significant threat to white-tailed deer hunting, which has a $9.6 billion annual economic contribution and could irreversibly alter Texas’ rich outdoor heritage.
By circumventing requirements, disregarding regulations and falsifying official records, the suspects in this case intentionally placed the state’s entire deer population at risk, explained VanderRoest.
"These individuals and ranches operated with impunity, repeatedly violating established laws designed to protect Texas’ natural resources and safeguard the state’s wildlife against disease transmission," VanderRoest said. "Systematic abuse of the regulatory framework governing the deer breeding industry will not be tolerated as we focus on our mission of conservation law enforcement."
Class C pending charges include transferring deer without valid antemortem CWD tests, lack of identifying tattoos or valid transfer permits, failure to report mortality within the required seven-day period following detection and failure to submit CWD samples within seven days of collection. Additional pending charges include illegally selling and purchasing wild white-tailed deer and hunting deer in a closed season to falsify and circumvent CWD testing requirements by submitting samples from free-ranging wild white-tailed deer in place of breeder deer.
Class B pending charges include possession of wild deer in breeder facilities to replace dead breeder deer, multiple Trap, Transport and Transplant (TTT) permit violations and criminal mischief for the destruction of county and state property.
TTT charges stem from the illegal trapping, transporting and transplanting of free-ranging white-tailed deer for release for hunting, trapping previously released wild deer and reselling them, illegal operation of unregistered facilities participating in the same TTT activities and the undocumented and unauthorized transportation and release of unidentified fawns.
Suspects face Class A charges for taking white-tailed deer without landowner consent and for hunting exotic animals from a public roadway or right of way.
Pending state jail felony charges include tampering with government records falsifying information in TWIMS reports, which were certified as accurate. These incidents include falsifying tests through the submission of tissue samples from poached wild deer for CWD testing in place of the samples of breeder deer, tag swapping between breeder deer, and swapping tags between breeder deer and replacement deer captured in the wild.
TPWD remains committed to enforcing these laws and will hold violators accountable. Texas Game Wardens will continue to pursue those who disregard regulations and illegally exploit Texas’ natural resources, putting both captive and native populations at risk.
About Texas Game Wardens
Texas Game Wardens, within the Law Enforcement Division of TPWD, are responsible for enforcing laws related to the conservation and management of natural resources and public safety through community-based law enforcement. Their mission is to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Additionally, they play a crucial role in search and rescue operations during natural disasters, exemplifying their commitment to protecting both the environment and the people of Texas.
If you witness a wildlife violation in progress, please call 1-800-792-GAME(4263) immediately and report it to Operation Game Thief (OGT), Texas’ Wildlife Crime-Stoppers Program. Dispatchers are available 24/7. Reports can be made anonymously, and tipsters may be eligible for rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to a conviction.
Commission Agenda Item 6
January 23, 2025
Item Type: Action
Presenter: Alan Cain
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Detection and Response Rules – Recommended Adoption of Proposed Changes
Department records indicate that within the last five years, 29 deer breeding facilities where CWD has been confirmed transferred a total of 8,109 deer to 235 additional deer breeding facilities and 460 release sites located in a total of 139 counties in Texas.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/meetings/2025/0123/agenda/item.phtml?item=6
Commission Agenda Item No. 5 Exhibit B
DISEASE DETECTION AND RESPONSE RULES
PROPOSAL PREAMBLE
1. Introduction.
snip...
A third issue is the accuracy of mortality reporting. Department records indicate that for each of the last five years an average of 26 deer breeders have reported a shared total of 159 escapes. Department records for the same time period indicate an average of 31 breeding facilities reported a shared total of 825 missing deer (deer that department records indicate should be present in the facility, but cannot be located or verified).
https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/meetings/2022/1104/agenda/item.phtml
terry