Following the discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) on October 14th, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission enacted a CWD Surveillance Zone on October 22nd. The rapid evolution of the situation has caused turbulence in the sportsmen’s community.
In turbulent times, leadership is essential. Kentuckiana Safari Club welcomes the League of Kentucky Sportsmen’s leadership with respect to this urgent matter. The League’s draft position statement is below. We support the draft statement and look forward to the publication of the final version.
“The League of Kentucky Sportsmen generally supports the KDFWR’s CWD response in the Breckinridge County finding of a positive case on a captive cervid facility. We do, however have certain reservations as to its handling and implementation. LKS representatives have attended every briefing/meeting held by the KDFWR/KDA and have participated in those discussions from the floor.
This is a case of a single deer, held within a fenced deer breeding facility, being put down and tested for CWD. There having been a positive finding in that case, the KDFWR and the KDA were notified and a special meeting of the KDFWR Commission was called.
We find it unconscionable that a representative from the Ky Dept of Agriculture, in whose jurisdiction this lies, was not at that special-called meeting to answer immediate concerns and required actions on their part. Our commissioners were trying to get the necessary information with which to make a reasonable decision about implementing the CWD plan. The KDA has been less than transparent and forthcoming with the details of this incident and we find this concerning.
We still do not have definitive, clear answers as to the disposition of the deer on that facility and the other facilities that may have deer that were bought and sold from that facility. Nor do we have a clear picture of how that land will be remediated considering the possible decades’ long endurance of the prions causing the disease. This is a huge concern for every sportsman. At the special-called commission meeting, the 3rd District Commissioner, in an attempt to gain further insight, asked the Deputy Director of the KDFWR if the CWD plan could be implemented in part, and were there opportunities to modify the plan, specifically with respect to the baiting mandate. He was told it was “all or nothing.” That does not seem to be the case because the plan calls for mandatory check stations as well as a moratorium on baiting, carcass transportation, etc. The Deputy Director of the KDFWR removed mandatory check stations before recommending implementation of the regulation, so it was not – “all or nothing.”
According to our own KDFWR’s figures, deer hunting is approximately $800 Million dollars in state revenue annually. The latest Western Kentucky University study puts the captive cervid industry at $78 Million annually. A difference of $722 Million dollars. The risks to our wild deer herd by captive cervid facilities is too great to endure in the Commonwealth. In 2019, at a quarterly KDFWR Commission meeting, representatives of the four largest wildlife conservation organizations in Kentucky pleaded to double fence captive cervid facilities to further isolate these captive harbingers of disease from our wild deer population. That plea fell on deaf ears, and we were told, “the cost would harm the Captive farmer.” Well now the cost is harming the hunting public. So, we renew our plea for double fencing these facilities. This new case of CWD at one of these facilities should mandate such an action, without our request. These captive cervid farmers knew when they got into the business, it is their burden to bear. The cost of that double fence should be the new cost of doing business and pales in comparison to the financial risk the Commonwealth is exposed to without it.
We call for legislation to protect our wild deer herd and the $800 Million dollars that deer hunting provides the Commonwealth.”
Once again, thank you to the League for leading on this urgent matter. If you want to learn more or take action, we have added the necessary links below for your convenience.
A great deal more information can be found at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife’s CWD page here - KDFWR CWD.
If you would like to email the Commissioner of the KDFWR, his official email is rich.storm@ky.gov.
If you would like to email your Fish and Wildlife District Commissioner you can find their address at this link - F&W Commissioners.
If you would like to leave a message for your State Senator or Representative you can call the Kentucky LRC Legislative Message Line at (800) 372-7181.
If you would like to call or email your State Senator or Representative directly visit this link to access their information - Who’s my Legislator?