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Deer #’s down statewide???

What I have been seeing the last 6 plus years is deer with respiratory infections. Either current or past, I asked my veterinarian about what I was seeing when it started showing up. I have gutted several younger deer that have what looks like bright yellow jello through the whole body cavity. I have gutted several older deer where the lungs were stuck to the ribcage. This is a 4.5 yr old buck I shot this week, everything in the chest cavity had to be cut away from the ribs.
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daniel93077 said:
2022:
Ringgold County 240 Acre Farm (CRP, Timber Strips, River): Had many bucks across all age groups that made it through the season and were on the farm the entire time.

Page County 360 Acre Farm (170 in CRP and Timber Strips): Found two bucks from 2021 that were almost definitely EHD. Deer numbers relatively low overall.

2023:
Ringgold County 240 Acre Farm (Same as above): Year started strong, after Mid-Oct extremely concerning decline in buck/overall deer numbers. Never found any EHD deer but I have to think it was a contributing factor in the decline. I'd say overall numbers 70% lower.

Polk County 240 Acre Farm (110 Acres of Timber/Remainder in Crops) Near Red Rock: Deer numbers, ratios, age structure good through the entire season. No signs of EHD

2024:

Polk County 240 (Same one as above): Deer Numbers still good. Farm has more carrying capacity but overall healthy population with no signs I've seen of EHD (did smell a possible dead one once near the pond but couldn't locate it)

Montgomery County 470 (80 acres of timber and creek bottom, remainder in crops): Relatively even buck/doe ratio. Seem to be missing most the 3.5 year old age class. and all but one of the 3 bucks older than that are bully scrubs. Most subtantial cover for a couple miles around. I was told in its prime it'd hold 200 deer during the winter. I didn't see anywhere near those type of numbers when I picked up the farm this past Feb. I estimate the farm hold 25-30 (roughly even buck/doe). I found two likely EHD kills from 2023. I haven't seen signs of if there yet this year....overall nice running water source though the whole farm so hopefully that's helping.
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This is a darn good summary & analysis!!!!!!!!

crietveld said:
What I have been seeing the last 6 plus years is deer with respiratory infections. Either current or past, I asked my veterinarian about what I was seeing when it started showing up. I have gutted several younger deer that have what looks like bright yellow jello through the whole body cavity. I have gutted several older deer where the lungs were stuck to the ribcage. This is a 4.5 yr old buck I shot this week, everything in the chest cavity had to be cut away from the ribs.
315763b4ff1b531569b326a28db82e56.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
crietveld said:
What I have been seeing the last 6 plus years is deer with respiratory infections. Either current or past, I asked my veterinarian about what I was seeing when it started showing up. I have gutted several younger deer that have what looks like bright yellow jello through the whole body cavity. I have gutted several older deer where the lungs were stuck to the ribcage. This is a 4.5 yr old buck I shot this week, everything in the chest cavity had to be cut away from the ribs.
315763b4ff1b531569b326a28db82e56.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I’m going a year back in my memory…. I think I recall that what u are seeing is the after effects of ehd. Inflammation that causes that scaring & maybe opens things up to other issues (say infections). Im 90% sure I recall this being viral related & after effects of major inflammation.
 
crietveld said:
What I have been seeing the last 6 plus years is deer with respiratory infections. Either current or past, I asked my veterinarian about what I was seeing when it started showing up. I have gutted several younger deer that have what looks like bright yellow jello through the whole body cavity. I have gutted several older deer where the lungs were stuck to the ribcage. This is a 4.5 yr old buck I shot this week, everything in the chest cavity had to be cut away from the ribs.
315763b4ff1b531569b326a28db82e56.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Very true and have heard others say of seeing the same conditions that you are talking about and have related it to EHD.
 
We had a mixed season. Overall saw a lot of deer, but a couple of drives we saw less than last year. A couple of drives we saw 20 plus deer similar to last year. The biggest thing is 2 years in a row lots of really small does, and limited mature does. I was watching a field one night with a dozen does eating beans. Only 2 were mature size. Saw LOTS of bucks also. One guy in our group had spoke with a friend who hunted first season. Said they normally kill 30 plus I believe but only got a dozen. Similar to others it can vary from mile to mile.
 
Now that I know there are WAY to many deer around me, I may pop in a stand today and zap a doe.
Haven't sat in a stand since Halloween and am having withdrawals.
 
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