Agree on above. Antlers are easy biting for midge. Then- the 2nd kicker is when the antlers start to shed velvet- it’s a blood bath & attracts midges like crazy. When we find em- I’d say well over 50% die when they are shedding velvet. Dunno if “size of antlers” has big component but I gotta think the more antler, surface & blood- possibly bigger draw & target. Age likely has something to do with it IMO. I guess my “theory” would be a buck that has something else like a “stressed condition” from old age, previous hard ruts, parasites, etc all could have impact. Maybe with other conditions - that could be difference between surviving ehd or not.
The newest strain or latest strain of Ehd to hit iowa (warren, Madison, lucas, etc) is likely different than what we saw in 2012-2013 for example. Some in dnr said deaths were different where they often died so quick - didn’t make to water. Seemed to kill more does & fawns as well.
I’ve been on way too many farms seeing various degrees of ehd over last 10-20 years. Last 10 was when I really started digging in, reading, talking to experts and trying to find links to higher die offs. One huge one that I’m personally absolutely convinced...... higher the cattle areas - more ehd/BT u will see. No doubt in my mind. Shipping in cattle from down south & all over the country and local cows being carriers. Then- cattle creating perfect midge breeding grounds - often go hand in hand with massive deer die offs from ehd. Not the whole picture but it’s a huge element. If I could design a “perfect hunting farm” it would be in a location 10, 20, 50 miles from cattle. In reality- I’d want to be 1-2 miles away which some studies show the major impact range of wind drifted midges. U get past a few miles & midges from cattle yards would clearly be less frequent from winds. Guess it could be farther. If I could be 100 miles from a stupid cow- I’d love it. Will it ever happen? Clearly not. Just stating it to help understand the disease as well as low to high risk areas and why xyz deaths may be worse in some areas vs others.
Hopeful our resistance is building to new strains.
***take note..... if u all find dead shed bucks or bucks that died late or randomly (as in, u don’t think from hunter & doesn’t look like a november death from a buck fight)..... look at hooves. See if deformities, cracks or infected areas around hooves. Very likely ehd survivor that died from secondary infection.
