LA FA 26 Full Book

Fall 2026

volume 14 issue 3

DREAM GENOMICS: THE NEXT PHASE Sponsored by iLdfa

DEER FARMERS & PRESERVE OWNERS RAISING EXOTICS Sponsored by WOL

SPREADING A POSITIVE DEER FARMING MESSAGE Sponsored by SETDA

SEE ADS IN

SIDE

B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s:

JOSH KAPLAN

President

212 Aspen Drive, Raceland, LA 70394 985-227-3664 jkaplan@blackhawkwhitetails.com

MYRA BOLLINGER

DANIEL THOMAS

Vice President

242 Daniel Thomas Road Springhill, LA 71075 318-469-9404 dbthomas40@gmail.com

KRISTINA ROTHSCHILD

Administrator

Secretary/Treasurer

ZACARY MARTIN (‘27)

JARRETT ROGERS

Whitetails Of Louisiana P.O. Box 436, Folsom, LA 70437 985-892-0056 whitetailsoflouisiana@gmail.com

5530 Hwy 129 Jonesville, LA 71343 417-691-3316 zacarymartindjw@gmail.com

RICK PRIEST (‘27)

18610 Lake Harbour Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70816 225-572-9212 rick@bigladeer.com

JASON BORDELON

8834 Hwy 114 Cottonport, LA 71327 318-730-8254 jbordelon@sqsolutions.com

3220 Tisdale Road Eros, LA 71238 318-355-4197 krisrothschild@yahoo.com

625 Bear Creek Road Quitman, LA 71268 318-914-3049 drwhitetails.llc@gmail.com

KEVIN MEADOWS (‘26)

123 Journie Grace Street Benton, LA 71006 318-423-8997 kevinmeadows0123@gmail.com

JOSH MCCOY

3045 Westfork Baton Rouge, LA 70818 225-485-7205 jmccoy@dynamicgrp.com

1

2

In This Issue:

Table of Contents: Advertisers Index.....................................................................................................................................55 Activity Page............................................................................................................................................51 D&K Design - Advertising Information.....................................................................................................54 Recipe: Venison Crunchwraps................................................................................................................38

Articles: Dream Genomics: Deep into Phase Two of CWD Cutting Edge Technology..........................................27 More Deer Farmers and Preserve Owners Raising Exotics....................................................................23 Partnering on a Buck - What You Should Know......................................................................................43 Spreading a Positive Deer Farming Message - Sharing Florida’s Insight...............................................32

WOL: 2026 Sponsors..........................................................................................................................................5 Business Cards.......................................................................................................................................47 Cervid Transport Document.....................................................................................................................56 Featured Farm Story: ........................................................................................................................10-11 Membership Application..........................................................................................................................17

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PUBLISHING

Kathy Giesen, Editor/Publisher 67 41st Ave. NW, Hickory, NC 28601 deerassociations@gmail.com 435-817-0150 • Fax: 435-359-5333

Next Deadline for Ads, Articles, and Business Card Submissions: December 1st, 2026

Website: deersites.com (Editorial Provided by Contributing Writers)

3

4

Whitetails of Louisiana Magazine Deadlines 2026 Use this QR Code or go online to DeerSites.com for more deadlines and up to date event information!

Spring: February 14th Summer: May 26th Fall: September 8th Winter: December 1st 5

EVENT

HIGHLIGHTS MARKSVILLE, LOUISIANNA

FALL EXPO & Benefit Auction

Better Together!

6

7

SCIENCE GEARED FOR DEER

Keep the peace.

Protect your herd.

INJURIES ☑ REDUCES During rut, handling and stressful times

PERFORMANCE ☑ BETTER Healthier bucks today.

Stronger genetics tomorrow.

SUPPORT ☑ COMPLETE Magnesium, Vitamin B1, Inositol, Probiotics & BuckSweetTM

CALMER BUCKS.

STRONGER HERD. SCIENCE GEARED FOR DEER

sales@headgearllc.com | 484-951-3229

ORDER HERE:

.

9

FEATUR ED

FA RM

S T O RY

blackhawk W H IT E TAI L S

G R O W I N G B I G A N D M A R K E TA B L E D E E R By: Gail Veley

J

osh Kaplan is able to do now, what he’s been waiting to do for four years. Stand back, look at the herd that now resides at Blackhawk Whitetails in Vidalia, Louisiana, and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Kaplan, Herd Manager of Blackhawk Whitetails has spent these past four years wisely along with Owner Josh McCoy, acquiring flushed embryos from well-known deer farms and placing them into the herd. Now, those four years of waiting are speaking loud and clear as to the results. This herd is healthy and thriving and not only exactly what the market is seeking, over time it will carefully and thoughtfully grow further and further resistant to CWD. Blackhawk Whitetails, known for growing big-bodied typical and non-typical deer with sizable racks, recently added northern blood into their breeding strategy to outcross and reach that goal even faster.

Adding to their genetic resilience is “Make Ya’ Famous,” a yearling buck and son of Blackjack out of a MoneyTalks doe, that portrays exactly what Blackhawk has been striving towards. “He’s a buck I hold close to my heart,” Kaplan said.

“He’s big-bodied and wide and looks exactly like his Dad, Blackjack.

“He is absolutely beautiful. We have a waiting list for people wanting semen from him. He is a building block and also has two brothers and three sisters. When Keith Warren saw him, his jaw was on the ground.”

In addition to “Make Ya’ Famous,” Kaplan feels Blackhawk has several other good bucks including an “Anchorman” son with Back in Black, Major League, Unforgiven in his pedigree as well as a MoneyTalks doe as his mama. “Select deer in our herd go back to MoneyTalks,” he said. “We bred with him heavy.

This is the first year we have our pedigrees absolutely right. It’s one thing to acquire embryos elsewhere and breed. But when you’ve created your very own self-sustaining herd,

QUALITY GENETICS 10

that’s a whole other feeling.”

Close to 500 deer reside among 50 acres of breeding pens from fawns, yearlings, bucks and does at Blackhawk Whitetails. Kaplan doesn’t just enjoy the breeding side of the industry, or when racks grow out or when fawns are born. He knows every single deer by sight, including their personalities. Knowing them all so well is actually one of the best and worst parts of his job. When the herd size needs to be trimmed down to maintain health, adequate space and balance, there are some he must send on to their adjacent 2,000 acre preserve, Blackhawk Sporting Club.

Kaplan feels very grateful to both work and live at Blackhawk Whitetails, a place where the neighboring Mississippi River and Red River meet the Atchafalaya River wetland swamp, the largest wetland in the U.S. “It’s the perfect backdrop for the perfect job,” Kaplan said.

“I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I wasn’t raising deer. It’s my passion.”

v

A F I R S T- C L A S S F A C I L I T Y

Make Ya Famous

B U I LT F O R E X C E L L E N C E

11

C E RV I D H E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T Powered by

Weaning fawns and preparing your females for breeding season starts with a vaccine program developed by deer farmers for deer farmers...

AVAILABLE NOW Sign up for The Hoof Prints Membership and save $100 per bottle.

AI-1 VACCINE

Don’t Delay. Order Today at cervidhealth.com or Call the Office at 484-951-3229.

BUILD BETTER HERDS | CERVIDHEALTH.COM

Limited INTRODUCTORY Offer!

USDA 840 Microchip

This new reader will be your favorite time saver ever! Memory stores in the 10’s of millions of events, plus so much more ….

Avid MiniTracker IV

877- 330- EZID (3943) Sales@EZidAvid.com http://shop.ezidavid.com www.EZidAvid.com

12

Event Overview Louisiana Event Popular and Well-Attended

A Word of Thanks from Administrator Myra Bolliger On August 21st and 22nd, members of Whitetails of Louisiana (WOL) and their friends and family gathered at the Paragon Casino in Marksville, Louisiana for our annual event. As usual, WOL showed its strong and enthusiastic membership base. We are so grateful for everyone’s support. Close to 200 people attended.

We enjoyed a catered meal, a raffle table and had a very successful DVAuction on Saturday night. We auctioned off a wide variety of items from stocker bucks, does, semen straws, trips, jewelry and more. We appreciate every state

that tuned in and participated. We also enjoyed a talk from Dr. Christopher Seabury regarding valuable updates on CWD resistance.

Here in Louisiana, we feel things are looking brighter in terms of our state regulations. We encourage everyone from deer farmers to preserve owners to continue standing together in unity to fight CWD. Mark your calendars for next year and be sure to attend our next event.

It seems they always get better and better.

Thank you again, everyone, for your support.

We truly appreciate you all!

Whitetails of Louisiana

13

14

15

512-920-4757

orders@WildlifeCaptureEquipment.com

979-203-6735

info@DanInjectDartGuns.com

Let our 25+ years of experience in the field be yours

HUMANE DARTS

Side-Ported Needles Re-Usable!

NET GUNS & NETS

16

CARRY RUGS

Use as close as 1 yard!

Lightweight!

Virtually Silent!

Low Maintenance

PISTOLS Great For Short Range Shots!

BLOWPIPES

HOODS AND MASKS

C02 DART GUNS

Made of Aluminum Won’t Bend or Break!

JAB STICKS

Fully Automatic. Liquid Releases within 1-1.5 seconds!

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION WHITETAILS OF LOUISIANA POST OFFICE BOX 436 FOLSOM, LA 70437 985-892-0056 OFFICE whitetailsoflouisiana@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP NAME: _______________________________________________ DATE: ______________ FARM NAME: _________________________________________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________ CITY: _________________________ STATE: ______ ZIP CODE: _________ PARISH: __________________ CELL PHONE: ___________________________ WEBSITE: ______________________________________ EMAIL: _______________________________________________________________________________ _____BREEDING FACILITY

_____HUNTING RACH

OTHER: __________________________

I AM JOINING AS: (PLEASE CHECK ONE) ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP (VOTING PRIVILEGES): $100.00/YR. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (NON-VOTING): $50.00/YR. LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP (VOTING PRIVILEGES): $750.00

I HEREBY MAKE APPLICATION TO THE WHITETAILS OF LOUISIANA AND I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION I HAVE PROVIDED IS TURE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE:

SIGNATURE: ______________________________________________________ DATE: _____________ Mission and Purpose:

To promote the business of raising and marketing Whitetail Deer in the state of Louisiana.

To promote high ethical standards in the care, handling, and harvesting Whitetail deer To provide educational opportunities for members of the corporation and other interested people through the sharing of information concerning whitetail deer.

To serve as a collective voice in governmental issues that affect whitetail deer producers, so as to enhance the whitetail deer industry.

To require members of the corporation to operate in a legal, honest and forthright manner with fellow members, other whitetail deer producers and the general public .

17

18

19

20

21

22

More Deer Farmers and Preserve Owners Raising Exotics By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Whitetails of Louisiana

I

nside a deep forested oasis in Loranger, Louisiana, it feels like anything but. Instead, it imitates Africa, Europe or Asia. Echoing from all corners is the bugle call of an elk. Choreographed in symphonic splendor joins the roar of a red stag, followed by the high-pitched bark of an axis deer accompanied by a bull frog sound of sorts, a rather rhythmic and rutting roar of a neighboring fallow deer. There are even more exotic species to be found than these who engage in this evening choir every October. It may very well be Brandon Bollinger’s favorite time of year. As darkness begins to greet the landscape he heads for his four-wheeler and to his preserve, 2 Brothers Whitetail. There, the sound that completely envelopes the land does more than provide auditory entertainment. Bollinger also knows having them is a very wise business decision. “People call me all the time and ask me what to raise,” Bollinger, who’s been raising exotics since 2014, shared. “This is a no-brainer.

With raising exotics, you won’t lose your money. If you’re already raising whitetails this is an easy add-on. If you’re not, you can get into the deer industry less expensively starting out with sika and axis deer, which are smaller and cheaper to keep and feed, compared to elk or fallow deer.”

deer being a perfect example. For Becky and Brendan Compton of BRC Fallow Deer in Wichita, Kansas, who exclusively raise fallow deer, their numbers have expanded quickly through use of A.I. “What we’re seeing is an interest in bigger antlers and better genetics and 300 inches of pure quality paddles,” explained Brendan. “Rather than buying less expensive stocker bucks, preserve owners are wanting fallow deer. We think it may take about 10 years for the fallow industry to have more well-diversified genetics, but it’s definitely going in that direction.”

That, combined with a greater ease in raising fallows compared to whitetails, is another selling point. “While fallow may be flighty, they never really all out panic like whitetails,” Becky said. “Maybe a “six” on a scale of one to 10, but not a whitetail 10.”

However, while exotics may be less risky to raise, a whitetail hunt will still outsell an exotic hunt at about a five-to-one ratio, believes Leffler, whose been raising exotics since 2017. Yet, he has still struggled to meet demands for exotic hunts and has worked very hard the past three years to increase his numbers of mature trophy quality exotics.

In Bollinger’s opinion, it seems the market caters to black buck, fallow, elk, axis and red stag more than other exotic species. And an additional selling point, along with their hunting marketability, is the fact that exotic species are protected under the Department of Agriculture in states where they are raised, and not subject to other government regulations. “With exotics and whitetails, you are probably very close to the same profit margin, and the market is solid both ways,” Bollinger said.

“Regardless of whitetail popularity, you will probably never be able to raise enough exotics to satisfy the demand. It’s a great way to expand your business or get started in the first place.”

Management strategies include raising exotics who co-mingle safely, such as sika and red stag, who are naturally more aggressive and need a larger property and feeding areas, but hold their own. In terms of disease, “exotics are also almost bullet proof,” said Dr. Bill Leffler of Two Base Down Whitetails and Preserve in Morriston, Florida.

“Most of the time the only thing that would kill an exotic is fighting with another one.” Like the whitetail, quality genetics play a huge part in the production exotics, the fallow

23

BullBarnFence.com (724) 675-8296 | sales@bullbarnfence.com 406 Cornell Road • Blairsville, PA 15717 24

25

26

26

DREAM GENOMICS

DEEP INTO PHASE TWO OF CWD CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

W

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Illinois Deer Farmer’s Association

ith Phase One for developing a blood test for early CWD detection essentially in their rearview mirror, scientists at Dream Genomics, a visionary biotech firm started in 2023 and based out of Northbrook, Illinois, are now deeply entrenched in Phase Two, Biological Confirmation. This second phase is moving ever closer to finishing up, explained Dr. Gary M. Pusateri, CEO and Founder of Dream Genomics.

Biological confirmation, Phase Two, entails gathering sample after sample from virtually anywhere CWD is detected in the U.S. and Canada in whitetails, mule deer and elk, and pinning down the specific genes that distinguish themselves as being the answer to the diagnosis of CWD. Phase Two has involved extensive travel, time, effort and research on behalf of Dr. Pusateri as well as Dr. Michael Falduto, Chief Technology Officer and Founder and Dr. Scott Magnuson, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder. The more testing that takes place during Phase Two, the closer they come to being 90 percent accurate

(or better) as to which specific genes reveal the presence of CWD, regardless of the location a deer farmer raises deer. As this dedicated trio of scientists works diligently to finish Phase Two and continue onto Phase Three, Assay Development, they are very grateful for those investors who have allowed their work to move forward. However, they are also hopeful that new investors will contribute in order to more fully guarantee their work can be seen to full fruition. “We aren’t connected to a university,” Dr. Pusateri explained.

“We currently rely on support from our investors, grants and self-funding for everything that we do.”

To come full circle in their gamechanging quest, Phase Three, the final phase, involves moving accurate and targeted samples onto PCR plates.

Assuming CWD positive genes become paired down to the fewest specific and acutely accurate number needed for testing, more tests could be run per plate, therefore not costing a deer farmer as much money to test their herd. “This is why Phase Two is so important,” Dr. Pusateri explained.

“We want to ultimately be so accurate that both time and money are saved.

We are doing whatever it takes to be at that point. We are looking at a 24hour turnaround once Phase Three becomes fully operational.”

If any deer association, private individual or corporation is interested in donating or investing in Dream Genomics research, please contact Dr. Pusateri at his office at 847-2919602 or his cell phone at 715-8917878 or email him at gpusateri@ dreamgx.com. Potential investors can also check out the website at www:dreamgx.com. “The best part about supporting our research is that you have two very large opportunities to gain,” Dr. Pusateri said. “One, in making live diagnostics available to all and helping the entire industry permanently move forward. Secondly, with potential personal gains from investing in the company. If the USDA accredits this test, a deer that tests negative could potentially be moved anywhere, opening doors for deer farmers to completely flourish rather than be held back by regulations.”

27

28

29

30

31

Spreading a Positive Deer Farming Message

Sharing Florida’s Insight By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Southeast Trophy Deer Association

S

am Petersheim fills and checks the feeder he provides outside his fence for the local wild deer, as often as he fills and checks the feeders inside his fence, for his very own deer. Of the eight wild does who visited his feeder this past spring, only three out of the eight had fawns, while one adult doe had only one fawn. “What happened to the other 60 percent?” Petersheim wonders. Actually, he already knows the answer. “We have an abundance of bobcats and coyotes and panthers here in Florida and fawns are part of what they live on.”

Petersheim started deer farming in 2002 in Illinois, eventually ending up in 2022 in Myakka City, Florida at Crescent Ranch, where through it all he’s noticed a trend. While making money is certainly a goal with deer farming, it is not the number one goal. “Deer can be raised on land not suitable for other farmed species yet can still provide safe forage and habitat for native species such the gopher tortoise and sandhill cranes. We look out for them, too,” Petersheim, 70, explained. “The average life span of an adult deer in the wild is about 1.5 years, if they even make it to adult-

32 32

hood. The deer at a farm or preserve receive the very best care. Raising deer is very therapeutic and very addictive. You get to see the fruits of your labor into building what you have. We are working hard to perpetuate a species that isn’t as prevalent in the wild as it used to be.”

As more and more land is encroached upon by humans for development, wild spaces for hunting are becoming more rare. “People are not being able to hunt in the wild as they did in the past because of poor land management practices, fighting with other hunters and shooting deer too young,” said Blaine Flynn of Flynn Farms near Pensacola, Florida.

“This forces hunters into high fence hunting, which offers something the wild might not. A chance to leave with something.”

Flynn feels there are many false misconceptions about high fence hunting. “You can find good and bad hunts, but I’m a firm believer that the industry as a whole is doing everything as ethically as we can,” Flynn, 38, emphasized. “The only time you see a fence at my place is when you’re pulling in. With preserves, we

can control the genetics inside the fence and keep bad genetics out. This will ultimately benefit wild deer, too.

Deer farming is also a recognized and supported form of agriculture. It is not illegal to raise deer.”

In addition to sharing a deep passion for raising quality deer, Petersheim and Flynn value the friendships and working relationships they have formed from being in the industry.

And perhaps even greater in longterm value is breeding towards CWD resistance, driven 100 percent by deer farmers and preserve owners.

“If the state of Florida started letting us turn our deer out in the wild, we could possibly save the native deer population here,” Flynn said. “Deer farmers are changing their entire breeding programs and leaving prominent bucks on the back burner in order to make genetic advancements towards CWD resistance. At the end of the day, there is no greater commitment towards conservation then this.”

33

GET A FREE QUOTE TODAY

29

1,000+

HIGH-TENSILE FENCE INSTALLATION

CUSTOM-BUILT GATES & OPENERS

Years in Business

Miles Built

REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

Get 25% off braces & gates with promo code “SSGFWhitetails”

CUSTOM WATER GAP SOLUTIONS

MATERIALS & DIY SOLUTIONS

Installing Peace of Mind, One Job at a Time ssgamefence.com | (256) 808-0203 | info@ssgamefence.com

SHOCK EFFECT IS BACK UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

MAXIMIZER

SEA CAL

CONDITIONER

BUCK CHILL

COLOSTRUM

FAWN GEL

Shock Effect, LLC | 18503 HWY. VV ETHEL, MO 63539 Contact Josh • 318-794-9550 • joshbroadway@att.net 34

Your trusted source for sedation and immobilization products.

ADDITIONAL FEATURED SEDATION KITS

MK Kit

NEW!

Medetomidine / Ketamine 5/150 mg/mL 30mL vial + Atipamezole 20 mg/mL 30mL vial

MK2™ Kit Medetomidine / Ketamine 10/200 mg/mL 30mL vial + 2X Atipamezole 20 mg/mL 30mL vial

MAB2™ Kit

MKB2™ Kit

Medetomidine / Azaperone / Butorphanol 20/18/50 mg/mL 10mL vial + Atipamezole 40 mg/mL 30mL vial + Naltrexone 50 mg/mL 30mL vial

Medetomidine / Ketamine / Butorphanol 20/100/50 mg/mL 10mL vial + Atipamezole 40 mg/mL 30mL vial + Naltrexone 50 mg/mL 10mL vial

Available as a complete kit with sedation and reversal agents or sold separately.

Compounding and quality you can trust with fast and free shipping nationwide. *Sterile preparations available in all states except CA.

Get in Touch PHONE: (940) 373-7171 EMAIL: wildlife@mixlab.com PRESCRIBE: e.mixlab.com LEARN MORE

WEBSITE: www.mixlab.com

The information in this advertisement is general and provided as an informational aid. It does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medications shown, nor is it intended as medical advice or for evaluating the risks and benefits of any medication. Consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of health problems. The information and statements here have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the FDA has not approved these medications to diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. Medications compounded by Mixlab are prepared at the direction of a veterinarian and are not intended for use in food or food-producing animals. Mixlab does not recommend, endorse, or represent the efficacy, appropriateness, or suitability of any dosing, products, procedures, treatments, services, opinions, veterinary providers, or other information contained in this advertisement.

Mixlab is not responsible or liable for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or other information, services, or products obtained through this advertisement.

37

Ingredients

Venison Crunchwraps

•

1 pound Ground Venison

Sauce

For the Crunchwraps

•

2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce

•

½ cup Mayonnaise

•

•

1 teaspoon Salt

•

2 tablespoons Diced Pickles (or Dill Pickle Relish)

4 Burrito Size Flour Tortillas, Warmed Fo

•

4 Taco Size Flour Tortillas

•

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

•

1 tablespoon Yellow Mustard

•

4 Tostadas

•

1 teaspoon Onion Powder

•

1 tablespoon Ketchup

•

•

½ teaspoon Black Pepper

•

2 teaspoons White Vinegar

8 Slices American or Cheddar Cheese

•

2 tablespoons Water

•

1/2 teaspoon Paprika

•

2 tablespoons Finely Chopped White Onion

•

2 tablespoons Diced Pickles

•

½ cup finely Shredded Lettuce

Instructions 1. Make the sauce: in a small bowl, add mayonnaise, diced pickles, yellow, mustard, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and paprika.

Mix the ingredients together and then sit in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

2. Preheat a large skillet or griddle to medium high heat with a tablespoon of oil. Once preheated, add in the ground venison and cook it until it’s brown breaking it up as it cooks. Season all over with Worcestershire sauce salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Add in water and mix until the seasonings are well distributed. Removed from heat.

3. To assemble the crunch wraps, start with one warmed burrito size tortilla. It’s important that the burrito is warmed so that it doesn’t rip while wrapping. Add a thin layer of the sauce, then top with 1/4 of the ground venison and add two slices of cheese. Top with the tostada, add some more sauce and top with shredded lettuce, diced onion and diced pickles. Top the filling it a taco sized tortilla and wrap up the edges of the burrito sized tortilla around the taco size tortilla so that they are overlapping.

4. Continuous assembling the remaining crunch wraps until you run out of ground venison.

5. Take the assembled crunch wraps back to your skillet or griddle. Place them down and let them cook for one or two minutes to seal, adding oil to the skillet as needed. Flip over and let cook for another minute on the other side to toast it.

6. Serve warm and enjoy.

38

39

40

41

42

42

PARTNERING ON A BUCK What You Should Know By: Gail Veley • Inidana Deer and Elk Farmers Association

I

n an effort to minimize risk, capitalize on gains and join the evolving market of SS genetics, many deer farmers have taken to developing partnerships on bucks.

“Partnerships are getting more and more common,” said Ryan Halfman of Black Label Whitetails in Portland, Michigan. “Having a partnership can really help you lower your investment in gaining access to a really nice buck. The idea is really causing a surge because the whole market is redefining itself due to markers.

A huge advantage with partnerships is that you share both the risk and the reward.”

A partnership may involve two individuals, a few or several individuals depending on what is desired and agreed upon. Parameters of a partnership involve the acquisition of a certain number of semen straws each year for breeding on your farm, in exchange for sharing management costs of the buck such as marketing and advertising. Agreements are also reached on where the buck will reside, with the understanding that it could be exempt from potential boarding charges and will also be used for live cover in the breeding season.

When Joe Johnson of Whiskey River Whitetails in Canton, Ohio first became aware of breeding buck Black Rifle owned by Josie Borkholder of Lone Pine Whitetails in Nappanee, Indiana, he was immediately taken in. The big typical fiveyear-old buck who measured 273” at age four, whose pedigree included Triple Digit, High Heat, Storm Express and Ms. Patrick, started the wheels turning for Joe. “I got into the business in 2023. Shortly after that, I saw Black Rifle for the first time at an IDEFA event,” he said. “Then I saw him in person the next day. After buying so much from Josie, I had the idea to sit down and talk to him about a partnership. Neither one of

us knew how to draw up a partnership in legal terms. Josie initially sent me a document to review. We went back and forth three or four times and then we agreed to it.”

“We are both in 50-50,” Joe said.

“Our agreement is that there is no status quo. We split the cost of semen straws and marketing with respect to the semen straws that we get. We use our shares for A.I. or live cover and we don’t share the offspring. Our agreement also includes a clause that if Black Rifle were to die, any semen still available would be split 50-50.” Black Rifle, a homegrown buck raised at Lone Pine, now resides at Whiskey River.

Typically in partnerships, should a third party or additional partners want to participate, all partners

would need to agree. And should a partner want out of a partnership, the other partner or designated partners get first right of refusal in buying the share. “I would caution against having too many partners,” Halfman, who has partnered on bucks at more than ten different farms, advised. “While I believe in proactively seeking partners and recognizing good opportunities, it’s simpler to have less partners involved.” Although partnership contracts are designed to be binding, Halfman feels a lawyer is not necessarily needed. “I’m a handshake kind of guy,” he said. “I believe in trust. Partnerships can be great. It can help build your reputation. And reputation is everything in this industry.”

Black Rifle @ 5 owned by Lone Pine & Whiskey River 43

44

45

LIGHTER WEIGHT. MORE EFFECTIVE. MINIMAL TRAUMA. IF YOU HAVEN’T TRIED PNEU-DART’S RDDS, YOU’RE MISSING MORE THAN YOUR TARGET

Did you know impact trauma can negatively influence medical treatment?

We do. Which is why we’ve spent 58+ years perfecting the ideal remote delivery device.

Shorter in length and lightest on the market, our disposable RDDs, with patented Slo-Inject® technology, provide ultimate accuracy while reducing the potential for problematic hematomas. Pneu-Dart.

When you can’t afford

E B R AT I N

SERVIC

E

O

F

EL

G

C

to miss.®

PneuDart.com > 866.299.DART

46

FREE business card ads for members of Whitetails of Louisiana If you would like your farm or business featured on our business card pages, email digital pdf file or scanned image (must be readable resolution) of your business card to the email address below.

This gives Whitetails of Louisiana members a way to reach out to one another for services and to buy or sell deer! There will be limited pages for these card spreads, first come first serve. The overflow would be placed in the next issue and cards will be rotated each quarter.

Email to: Myra Bollinger whitetailsoflouisiana@gmail.com

4747

47

ALCATRAZ NADR: 363039 S/S -0.170879

EMPEROR CONTACT:

CATLIN DUTSCHMAN (254) 644-8094 CATLIN@HATADARANCH.COM 48

NADR: 268756 S/S -0.152973

50

Word Search Autumn Brisk Caramel Cider Crisp Festivals Harvest Maize Orchard

Pinecones Pumpkin Quilt Scarecrow Squash Stew Sunflower Turkey

SUDOKU The rules for sudoku are simple: A 9x9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-9 with no repeated numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically.

To challenge you more, there are 3x3 squares marked out in the grid, and each of these squares can’t have any repeat numbers either.

Answers to puzzles can be found on our website: www.deersites.com

51 51

New World Screw Worm Population on the Rise

A

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Southeast Trophy Deer Association

parasitic fly that was eradicated from the United States in the early 1980’s has re-emerged and is now affecting several areas of Mexico and parts of Texas. The New World screwworm, a greenish-gray fly with distinctive red eyes, lays its eggs in the open wounds, cuts or lesions of living animals. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae (maggots) feed on the animal’s living tissue for approximately seven days, causing severe damage as they grow. After reaching maturity, the larvae leave the wound, pupate, and eventually emerge as adult flies, continuing the cycle by infesting other animals. A single female screwworm can lay up to 300 eggs in a single event, allowing infestations to spread rapidly.

If an infestation goes undetected it is often fatal to the affected animal, said Dr. Juan Campos, DVM, Assistant Professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. “The screwworm can affect a wide range of warm-blooded species, including livestock, dogs, hogs and humans.

One of the first signs is a lesion that doesn’t heal, grows rapidly, and has a distinct, unpleasant and recognizable odor. The lesion can progress quickly, expanding from the size of a ping pong ball to that of a baseball within just 24 hours.

However, when detected early and treated promptly, affected animals often have a good chance of survival. Administering an appropriate dose of approved antiparasitic medications can effectively treat infestations, while strategic usage can significantly reduce the risk of new cases. “Treating captive-raised deer will be particularly challenging, as they are not as tame as regular

52

livestock,” said Dr. Campos. “If the fly spreads, new management efforts may increase costs for producers. Additional personnel might be needed to monitor herds and identify cases early.”

A breakthrough in screwworm control occurred in the 1960’s through an eradication program that included large-scale releases of sterile flies. Scientists discovered that the female screwworm mates only once in their lifetime. Based on this finding, they developed the Sterile Insect Technique, which involved mass-producing, sterilizing, and releasing male screwworm flies into the wild. No viable offspring were then produced, causing a population decline. Although the effort took approximately two decades to achieve its objective, it was ultimately successful, leading to the eradication of the screwworm from the U.S. and much of North America. The parasite was not detected again until cases were reported on a cattle operation in Mexico, in November of 2024.

While the re-emergence of the screwworm is concerning, Dr. Campos emphasized that awareness, surveillance, and prompt reporting remain the most effective tools for controlling its spread.

“People should be vigilant, but they should also understand that this is a manageable situation,” Dr. Campos said. “The fly cannot survive prolonged cold winters, which limits its ability to establish populations in northern regions. Producers and veterinarians should contact their state Dept. of AG or animal health authorities immediately if they suspect a case. No one will be penalized for reporting an infestation.

Communication is essential, and no one should hesitate to reach out.”

Monitoring the movement of the screwworm remains a priority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which continues to coordinate public outreach efforts.

To learn more about the New World screwworm, visit the APHIS website. www:screwworm.gov.

P U B L I S H I N G

P R I N T

D I G I T A L

30in YEARS Business CELEBRATI N G

AND

20 YEARS

serving the deer industry

For 30 years, D&K Design has built our business around publishing, print and promotion. For the past 20 years, we’ve been proud to bring that experience to the deer industry – supporting breeders, ranchers and associations across the country.

Honoring the Heritage. building the Future.

P R E F E R R E D P A R T N E R P R O G R A M

3-YEAR RATE LOCK

5% SAVINGS

SIMPLE ANNUAL RENEWAL

YOUR CONNECTION TO THE DEER INDUSTRY DeerSites.com • 435-817-0150 • deerassociations@gmail.com • Facebook: DeerSites P E O P L E

P R O G R A M S

A S T R O N G E R T O M O R R O W

53

54

ADVERTISERS INDEX 1900 Feed.............................Inside Front Cover

MixLab................................................................ 36

Black Hawk Whitetails................Cover, 2, 9, 50

NADR - North American Deer Registry....... 24

Blosser Whitetails...................................... 40-41

Pine Creek Deer Farm.................................... 15

Bull Barn Fence Factory................................. 24

Pneu-Dart, Inc................................................... 46

CC Bar Whitetails............................................. 39

Prime Acres....................................................... 42

Cervid Health Management.......................... 12

Rocky Ridge Whitetails................18, 22, 37, 49

Crescent Ranch................................................ 19

Rocky Top Whitetails....................................... 26

Daniel Thomas Whitetails...................................

Shock Effect....................................................... 34

.......Center Spread, 30-31, Inside Back Cover

Spotted Acres................................................... 33

DanInject USA................................................... 16

Springfield Whitetails................................21, 35

DeerDoc............................................................. 20

Straight Shooter Game Fencing................... 34

EZid, LLC............................................................ 12

Tranquility Springs Whitetails................. 44-45

Five O’s Ranch................................... Back Cover

Walnut Ridge Whitetails................................. 25

Hatada................................................................ 48

Woodard Whitetails........................................ 14

HeadGear, LLC....................................................8

Zehr Brothers Whitetails...................................4

Meet Our Team Magazines Published Quarterly By:

Editor / Publisher

Kathy Giesen

advertising4@mac.com

Production Artist

Samantha Uchytil

deerassociations@gmail.com

Accounts Receivable

Amy Stefanowicz

astefanowicz72@gmail.com

Journalist

Gail Veley

gbveley@live.com

55

L OU IS IA N A D E P A R T M E N T O F A G R IC U L T U R E & F OR E S T R Y MIKE STRAIN DVM COMMISSIONER Date: ________________

Seller Pen License Number: _______________

Purchaser Pen License Number: _________ Seller Farm Name: __________________________________________________________________________________ Physical Address (City/Zip/Parish): _____________________________________________________________________ Seller Cell Number: _________________________

Seller Signature: ________________________________________

Purchaser Farm Name: ______________________________________________________________________________ Physical Address (City/Zip/Parish): ____________________________________________________________________ Description of each animal: Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Owner ID: ___________________________ Microchip: _______________________

Sex: __________

Send To: LDAF 5825 Florida Blvd, Suite 4000 Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Fax or Email: (225) 237-5555 VetReports@ldaf.state.la.us

AHS-20-57 (R. 2/17)

56

5825 Florida Blvd, Suite 4000, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 Telephone: (225) 925-3980 Fax: (225) 237-5555 email: VetReports@ldaf.state.la.us