Fishbonker
Life Member
I am not looking for a Chevy v. Ford, Republican v. Democrat or Cardinals v. Cubs argument here. But, what is the science on whether mineral stations contribute to the spread of disease?
I admit, I am skeptical that there is a proven connection or that mineral stations are any worse than what the deer would normally encounter in their habitat, etc, but...I am not interested in opinions, I would like to know factually what it is known about this.
I have no sense that mineral stations lead to disease, but I also do not know that from a scientific perspective. Before we go making more laws and rules, especially those that are "gray area" at best, I think we need to establish that there really is a problem here and not just a perception.
Unscientific, anecdotal observations of mine that make me skeptical...
1. We have had mineral stations on our farm for over 10 years, but have never seen any sign of disease.
2. There have been salt licks out in pastures, not to mention natural salt licks, for decades for cows primarily, but deer have used them too, so it isn't as if mineral stations are a brand new thing.
3. Deer lick each other, touch noses, eat from the same branch/field/etc naturally, are we sure that deer focused mineral stations significantly increase the exposure factor?
If I knew, from scientific study and not opinions, that mineral stations were overall a detriment to the herd, I would fill them in tomorrow.
Daver and all, I sure wish I could point to a study that says mineral sites potentiate the spread of CWD, but I can't. I also can't point to a study that says they don't.
How many prions get passed from deer to deer by grooming, making scrapes, licking branches or any of the natural activities of deer? I don't know. How many prions are concentrated in a mineral pile that gets used over and over and over? I can't tell you that either. I've never seen a scrape that was more than an inch deep but I've seen plenty of mineral piles that end up several inches deep which means it would, anecdotally, contain more prions.
Again, anecdotally speaking, you haven't seen CWD spread from your mineral piles or mineral put out for cattle because luckily you don't have CWD in your area.
When CWD was found in Allamakee County I thought for sure the DNR would ban feeding/mineral piles in the immediate area. They didn't because the DNR is not in charge. When every other state that has confirmed cases of CWD banned feeding/mineral piles what does that mean? It means the preponderance of evidence shows that CWD can and is spread through feeding/mineral piles. It also means, to me, that other states are making decisions based on biology not politics.
I'm reminded of the old country docs who treated their patients empirically, based on experience and reason not a bunch of tests for this or tests for that. They had the experience and reason to tell them what to do. Perhaps we are using the wrong word. Perhaps empirical would be better suited than anecdotal.
I have long been a proponent of black and white when it comes to banning baiting. Not only for enforcement but for disease control. I can only hope that we aren't so short sighted that we continue to allow mineral piles and the spread of disease at the cost of our grandchildren's hunting.
I will add, that this is my personal opinion, not necessarily that of the IBA.