Now before someone starts bellowing that you shouldn't shoot a fawn- this guy says they taste better. What? You want them to shoot mom and leave the kids? Regardless, venison is delicious. Some flour, salt, pepper, butter...alright, I'm off topic. North Dakota, our deer are dying from something other than chronic wasting disease (CWD).

If you don't know about CWD, ND Game and Fish will tell you this

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause long-term population declines if left unchecked. There is no treatment or cure, and once established in an area, it remains indefinitely. For these reasons, CWD poses a major threat to North Dakota deer, elk and moose and the future of hunting these animals.

But, It's 2020, so throw some more ****  on the fire. Here's EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE (EHG). Wait, it might seem worse in lower case- epizootic hemorrhagic disease.  Bad stuff for a deer, and bad stuff for a deer hunter,  as it kills the deer they wanna kill.

Or, if you want a refund for your license, the state will give you one...here's how you do it.

Based on continuing reports of white-tailed deer mortality in western North Dakota caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease, the state Game and Fish Department is allowing hunters with whitetail licenses in units 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F the option of turning those licenses in for refunds. Hunters who return their licenses will have their bonus points restored, if applicable, to the same number of points prior to the 2020 deer gun lottery.

Wait, here's more from the ND Game and Fish Website...

White-tailed deer license holders who want a refund must mail their tag, along with a note requesting a refund due to EHD, to the Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office no later than Nov. 5. Envelopes postmarked Nov. 5 will be accepted.

Populations are still out there. This isn't a call to panic, but only a reality check that there could be a little less in some areas.

So, hunters, check your unit.

After you're done, let's ask...What the heck is EHG? Once again from Game and Fish. I mean, let's stick with facts- the Department's doing a great job tackling the issue

EHD, a naturally occurring virus that is spread by a biting midge, is almost always fatal to infected white-tailed deer, while mule deer do not usually die from the disease. Hunters do not have to worry about handling or consuming meat from infected deer because the virus that causes EHD is not known to cause disease in humans. In addition, the first hard freeze typically kills the midge that carries and transfers the EHD virus, which will slow or halt the spread of the disease

Regular folks like myself might ask- "Haven't we had the hard freeze and ain't the critters dead?"  Well, yes...you would think, and it seems that the infected deer can die pretty darn quickly.

Other than lack of deer in some areas, problem solved right?  Take your chances if you like, but the State will send you a refund.  Pretty fair I say.

Done and done.

Gotta wonder where those midges and their disease go after they all up and die with winter on the way- this article helped me out.

Regardless of the temperature, mosquitoes, midges, and black flies – along with their eggs or larvae – are always around.

Even in the winter when we don’t see them, their eggs are clinging to life and waiting for the arrival of warm temperatures. Eggs and larvae rarely freeze to death. Instead, they remain attached to vegetation or buried in mud under streams, lakes and similar bodies of water.

Whatever, we'll be over it in 2021.

Good luck to all hunters!  You're making memories...and I have a ton of them.

HERE'S A QUESTION- Y'ALL EVER HUNTED OUTSIDE THESE SMALL TOWNS?  RUSO HAS TO BE ON THERE RIGHT? SHOT MYSELF WITH 30-30 OUTSIDE OF BENEDICT- IS THAT ON THERE? i'm ok btw.


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