NY/WV SPRING 2024

Spring 2024 l Volume 7 l Issue 1

TOP 30 NORTH AND SOUTH AND CHUPP’S AUCTIONS OFFER VALUABLE NETWORKING VENUES

Sponsored by WOO

ROCKY RIDGE WHITETAILS Focused on CWD Resistance and Quality Breeding

Sponsored by Rocky Ridge Whitetails

HUNTERS – EMBRACING CAMARADERIE, NATURE AND CONSERVATION

Sponsored by UDFOM

Join our Team!

Welcome to the recently updated New York and West Virgina Deer Farmers Associations Joint Quarterly Magazine.

We are excited for you to explore the many industry articles, deer farming and vendor advertisements, and much more. We would like to encourage you to JOIN or RENEW your membership with one or both state associations in support of keeping the Cervid Industry live and well in these two states.

Benefits you will experience as a member include:

• Quarterly Newsletters containing information, education, and an opportunity for you to advertise along with an emailed ebook each quarter.

• Invites to all State Association Events and National Events.

• Connections to other cervid breeders and preserves. Communications about recent events and legislation affecting your cervid operation.

• Member listing on our website, Free business card placement in the quarterly magazines, and periodic emails about upcoming events.

Mikey Gets His Red Stag

Sponsored by Easton View Outfitters, LLC

When Mikey Jones of Vermont and I entered the Easton View Outfitters woods last Saturday, it was 5:45 a.m., and the young man asked me, “Are you going to get me a big elk?”

With my fingers crossed, I looked at that smiling face.

“You bet.”

It was hot as we made our way up the long hill to the edge of the woods. Mikey, who is having some medical problems, had hunted with me several years ago, and he wanted me to guide him again on this hunt.

Slowly and quietly, we entered the woods and hadn’t gone too far when Mikey whispered, “There they are,” and pointed to two elk about 50 yards away standing in some fallen trees. We waited for an opening, I got him in position and he shouldered his .270 rifle. It was a tough shot — close, but no hit.

As they ran off, I could see the disappointment in Mikey’s eyes, but I told him we would get one.

Our second encounter was about a quarter of a mile along the wood’s edge and they were, I believe, the same elk. We were again able to get a bit in front of him and waited for him to come to us. But after 20 minutes or so, he didn’t show, and we decided to sneak and peek our way into the woods. When we found him, there

was another elk with him, moving through some heavy brush and downed trees — but we did find an opening in the brush and trees for a shot. It wasn’t a good shot, but Mikey took the shot and off they went.

Several hours later, now using a Kubota, we caught up with some elk and deer that I believed we could get down. Quickly, we made our way around and were able to back the Kubota into the heavy foliage and trees and wait about 50 yards from where I expected them to come out. Shortly thereafter, I was in the right spot, but unfortunately facing in the wrong direction. There the two of them stood less than 20 yards behind us. And, before Mikey could shoulder his gun, they disappeared.

We decided “no lunch,” and continued to hunt. There were several other almost-encounters that afternoon, and at about 4 p.m. John Bushee, of Vermont, and friend of the Jones family joined the hunt. He was a big help. Also joining us was Easton View Outfitters owner, Dave Vanderzee. It was about 4:30 p.m. when Dave called me and said he had seen the elk/red stags enter the swamp. So, Mikey, John and I headed down to the swamp.

Walking through this sinking mud made things difficult and not very quiet. It wasn’t too long after that Dave called and told us one was heading our way. John saw him first and pointed him out, and he and Mikey moved in quietly. From where I was, I could see him and Mikey shoot — and he hit him.

He went down and then up, heading out of the swamp. For the next several hours, we were all looking for the deer, and at 6:15 p.m. there was a shot followed by a phone call from Dave: “I got him.”

That long face on my buddy Mikey turned into one smiling and happy young man. As for the red stag, it was a large 14-pointer — definitely a trophy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

New York Deer and Elk Farmers Association

Dave Vanderzee President Easton View Outfitters 518-210-8889 eastonviewoutfittersllc@gmailcom

Mike Kerry Four Season Whitetails 315-783-2848 fourseasonwhitetails@hotmail.com

Robert Root

Moriah Elk Farm 607-657-8069 rootnyelk@aol.com

Tom Peryea 518-561-3555 tomselkranch@juno.com

Tim Rater

French Creek Whitetails 716-355-8870 timrater21@gmail.com

Mike Czora Prime Whitetails 585-330-9100 mike@primewhitetails.com

Mike Rosenwie

Concord Whitetail Scents 716-912-7314 rosey9473@hotmail.com

Wayne Hettenbaugh Valley View Whitetails NY 716-499-9367 whett6@hotmail.com

Dan Jennings JB Farms 413-822-1040 dan.jennings02@gmail.com

New York Deer Farmers Share in Exciting Times A Word from NYDEFA Member Dana Hoover

Here in New York, we are moving ahead with our efforts to put CWD behind us, thanks to the hard work of all the people putting their time and energy into research. Free CWD testing is available through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. We encourage every deer farmer to apply. If you’ve been hanging on the fence about testing, now is a good time to participate. Test results also include parentage markers and valuable resistance-based information that can help guide our breeding decisions. Questions about applying for free testing should be directed to Dan Jennings at 413-822-1040. Genetic testing is almost as exciting as fawning season. We are all now in the midst of seeing what we have and relishing every moment.

We have so much to look forward to in the deer industry, including The NYDEFA Annual Picnic August 3rd at my farm, MountainSide Whitetails (in the Finger Lakes region) in Penn Yan, New York. Mark your calendars for a fun day of camaraderie and good times. We also have so much to be thankful for here in New York, including the ability to ship our deer to other states and breed with the best genetics and semen straws available. Our membership numbers are up and there is room here for more deer farmers to join us. Our beautiful state also offers a chance to raise the finest deer without a lot of heavy competition, something we know every existing deer farmer and newcomer find appealing.

In closing, let me just say that New York deer farmers have it pretty good and I wish the best of luck to everyone in the year ahead. As we all well know, if you’re ever bored with your life, become a deer farmer. You will never be bored again.

Dana Hoover

Mountain Side Whitetails dana@abcmailbox.net

I recently attended the NADeFA Convention in Springfield, IL. The event was very well attended and as usual, it’s always good to see old friends and make new ones. ~ Pictured: NADeFA 2024 Board of Directors

NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMERS ASSOCIATION

1023 Route 146

Clifton Park, New York 12065

Phone: 1-518-383-2200 E-mail: nydefa@nydefa.org

All memberships renew in March.

Please send your check, payable to NYDEFA, to the address above.

Please check the appropriate box. If one is not checked, the “Do not publish” will be used ◊Publish my information◊Do not publish

Name: __________________________________________________ Spouse/Partner:___________________________________________________

Farm/Firm:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________ County:____________________________________

City: _____________________________________________________ State: _________________ Zip: ________________________________________

Business Ph.: (______) _______-___________ Home Ph.: (______) _______-___________ Fax:(______) _______-

E-mail*: ____________________________________________________ Website: _______________________________________________________

*Urgent updates are sent electronically, which allows us to expedite communication and decision making. Please provide.

Type(s) of cervid: ____

Type of Farm: Preserve/Scents/Breeding/Venison/Petting Zoo / Other: _____________________________

Veterinarian’s Name: _________________________________________________________ Phone:(______) _______-

Membership Level Cost Benefits

Active Member $50 Email notices, voting privileges, meeting minutes, and membership directory.

Friend of the Farmers $_______ Thoughtful donation. Additional contributions are greatly appreciated.

~ Thank you for your support! ~

Quarterly Newsletter

E-mail updates on timely issues

Northeast Cervid Marketing Cooperative Initiative

Numerous sales, marketing and networking opportunities

Jack Oliver President

Shadow Valley WT’s 304-288-4090 shadowvalleydeerfarm@yahoo

Mark Cobb Secretary/Treasurer

Gobblers Ridge Exotics 304-532-4514 mark.cobb@gmail.com

Board of Directors

Andi Manspile

S & J Whitetails 304-222-9914 amanspile@gmail.com

Melinda (MJ) Christy Vice-President Greenbrier Mountain WT’s 240-695-7730 greenbriermountain whitetails@gmail.com

Kenny Shoemaker

Double K Farm 304-538-2219 doublekfarm1@yahoo.com

Debra Jett

Back To Our Roots Wildlife 304-553-5208 jettswildlife@gmail.com

Kerby Watson

Peaceful Valley Whitetails, LLC. 304-452-8787 kerbywatson71@yahoo.com

Brenda Strwderman

North Mountain Farms 304-703-5387 b_strawderman@yahoo.com

Bob Perrine

Mountain Clean WT’s

304-452-8689 bob@mountaincleanwhitetails.com

As I ponder what to say in this letter, I reflect back on my 25 years of raising Whitetails...

The very fact of being a part of something for 25 years is a milestone in itself, but the rapid changes in our industry are absolutely astonishing. I have seen many farms come and go in that time. Any farms that have endured this long, you know what I mean. Any farm less than 10 years old, may have no idea what has been done to make deer farming a possibility for them.

When I started in March of 2000, there were very few deer with pedigrees. The ones that did have pedigrees, were normally just the bucks. Now, not only DNA has taken precedence, but genetic markers have been finited to help us breed more disease resistant livestock .

Once upon a time a 200 inch buck was the goal at maturity, now yearlings are surpassing that regularly.

And in my corner of our industry, piebald deer have went from being taboo, to being revered and admired.

Change is among us at a rapid pace, and we have a lot to be thankful for.

While some states fight to keep their farms, other states are basking in abundant growth. Twenty years ago, we were told CWD was going to put us all out of business. Many of those same states are thriving, in the wild herds and domestic herds.

Which brings me to send THANK YOU, to Whitetails of Wisconsin for the research they fund from their fundraisers. I will continue to donate and support them.

Thank You to Shawn Schafer and NADeFA for leading the deer farming industry through the trials and struggles. If it weren’t for NADeFA, I’m not sure any of us would still be raising cervids of any species.

Thank You to the crew of representatives that visited Washington DC to bring attention and funding to our industry. Research funding, indemnity money and general agriculture funds they helped aquire have helped deer farming tremendously.

Thank You to my wife, Trish, for dealing with my passion of raising piebald whitetails.

Thank You for crying with me in the hard times, and cheering with me in the good times. Thank You for helping me do things many people told me couldn’t be done.

Thank you to the WVDFA board members for trusting me with the presidency another year.

The WVDFA, will be holding their fall fundraiser on September 14 2024. Please plan to buy a raffle ticket, make a purchase, make a donation or attend our function and put some personality to the names and faces we see on social media. You will be surprised by who knows who you are.

At the time this is released, fawn season will be in full swing, bucks will be hitting stride in antler growth and fundraisers will be getting close.

I pray everyone is safe and prosperous.

Jack Oliver WVDFA President

Shadow Valley Whitetails.

WEST VIRGINIA DEER FARMERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Date: ____________________________________ ____ New Member ____ 202_ Renewal

Primary Member Name: ___________________________________________________________________

Second Farm Member Name:_______________________________________(Family/Farm membership only) Farm Name:_____________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________________

State: _________________Zip: _________________

Home Phone:___________________________________ Other Phone:

License#: _______________________________ E-mail: ______________________________________

What type of deer and/or services will you offer: __ Whitetail __ Elk __ Red Deer Other ___________ __ Scents __ Urine __ Antlers __ Venison __ Breeding Stock __ Shooters

Annual Membership Levels

___ Active WV Propagator (voting privileges) $75 ___ Family Membership (2 voting privileges) $100 ___ Associate Member (no voting privileges) $25 ___ Other ___________________________

Active WV Propagator is a proprietor, partnership, firm, corporation, division of an organization or individual actively engaged in whole or in substantial part, in the husbandry of domestic deer for commercial sale of venison or the breeding of stock to support such operations.

Family Membership, membership is same as Active WV Propagator but includes 2 voting privileges from the same household. This includes spouse, significant other, partner or child 18 years or older.

Associate Member is anyone who has an interest in cervid farming, but does not own deer. Associate Members do not vote and cannot hold office in the Association. They may attend all activities sponsored by the Association and they will receive the WVDFA Newsletter.

Other, Lifetime membership, sponsors, or representatives apply. I hereby make application to the West Virginia Deer Farmers Association, Inc. and certify that the information I have provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Would you approve sharing your information with other deer farms or folks interested in deer farming? ______

Make Checks/Payments payable to: WV Deer Farmers Association, Inc. C/O Mark Cobb, Secretary 215 Eastwood Road

ADVOCATES FOR CWD RESEARCH FUNDING IN D.C.

APRIL 2024 | Washington, D.C.

This year, the NADeFA fly-in to Washington, D.C. happened between April 8-10th. Members from North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Michigan, and New York joined together to represent NADeFA in our nation’s capital. The group had the opportunity to talk to lawmakers about the key issues that affect them, specifically the adverse effects of chronic wasting disease (CWD), the need for a cure, and the importance of indemnity money for deer farmers and ranchers nation-wide.

The Congressional meetings were focused on two sets of asks for FY 2025. The first one, is for the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act to be funded at $15 million. For context, the bill was passed in the last Congress by efforts from Capitol Hill Consulting Group, in collaboration with the NADeFA fly-in, and was authorized $70 million a year for research and development efforts aimed at finding a cure. Of that amount, half will go to State Agriculture and Wildlife agencies to manage CWD activity within their states, while the other half will be used to improve the science surrounding the disease. However, NADeFA is asking for a fifth of the authorized dollars due to the limited funds in FY2025, and are seeking to use it as seed money to get the program started. The second request was for Congress to appropriate $18.5 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) to fund the Cervid Health Program, a $1 million increase over FY24, and ensure that indemnity money is set aside for those farms affected by CWD.

One of the main priorities for the visit this year was to characterize CWD as a national issue and emphasize that with increasing Congressional support focused on live testing and genetic resistance research efforts, an answer for this disease is on the horizon. Key meetings included Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Congressman GT Thompson (R-PA), Congressman Brian Babin (R-TX), and Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). Additionally, NADeFA members were able to meet with APHIS Administrator Dr. Michael Watson in USDA and Taylor Schmitz from the Congressional Sportsman Foundation.

In their free time, the group had the opportunity to visit Arlington Cemetery and closed the successful trip with the yearly tradition of dinner at Fogo de Chao, an internationally-renowned Brazilian steakhouse. The impact of those who took time out of their schedules to come to D.C. is incredibly valued and noted. Fly-ins are an essential component in Congressional communication, especially when discussing issues affecting you and your community. The meetings have a proven record of securing policy changes as seen with the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act. It was a pleasure having NADeFA visit us here in D.C. last month and we are excited for next year’s trip!

By Caroline Herrera Capitol Hill Consulting

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ROCKY RIDGE WHITETAILS FOCUSED ON CWD RESISTANCE AND QUALITY BREEDING

By: Gail Veley

When asking John Ervin Stoltzfus at Rocky Ridge Whitetails what he breeds for, his answer always begins the same way. “I don’t take short cuts. I breed for super large mainframes, such as beam length, tine length, width, and solid mass,” he said. He feels confident in his decisions and validated by the fact he is consistently winning antler competition awards at NADeFA. “I really like the “wow factor” when you get those antlers in your hands,” he added.

John Ervin likes to breed a variety of deer for his customers to choose from, such as large clean typicals, large typical mainframes with extras to help increase score and give more character. Close to 15% of his herd he breeds for 500”+ and 600”+ giant nontypical’s with a focus on large balanced mainframes. In addition to breeding for a variety of antler types, he also breeds for health, body size and proven “pass down” genetics. “All of these factors have been a high priority for many years at Rocky Ridge Whitetails

emphasized. However, his focus has also shifted to another unavoidable trait in the quest to produce quality deer, breeding for CWD resistance.

Scientific research by experts such as Dr. Haley, Dr. Seabury and numerous research facilities like the one found in Aimes, Iowa has paved the way for a future potentially void of CWD. “I’ve always had a passion and fascination to study, breed, watch and follow genetics and pedigrees in whitetail deer,” John Ervin said. “About 6 years ago when I heard about Dr. Haley’s research in whitetails on CWD resistant genes, it got my attention. I always had a feeling that nature has a way of taking its course and the weak will die off. But the strong genes will survive and reproduce. If they could breed out sheep scrapies, then why couldn’t deer farmers breed deer CWD resistant deer, since both are a prion disease.”

John Ervin also feels optimistic about a genetic test first introduced three years ago by Dr. Seabury, a 50K Genomic Estimated Breeding

resistance. Continued research will include updating this genomic test through CWD positive herd research. “I believe CWD research needs to be continued especially since it’s a regulated disease,” John Ervin explained. “I am grateful to Dr. Seabury and to NADR for updating GEBV research annually. NADR is now doing the GEBV and codon marker test.” As a result of this test, recommendations now include breeding away from codon 96 GG and instead breeding the combination codon 96 SS and lower negative number GEBV’s, which is proving successful in making deer less susceptible to contracting CWD.

John Ervin feels determining breeding markers is easy and while that itself may not take long, breeding lower and lower GEBV numbers will take a lot more time if your goal is to have your whole herd at the lowest GEBV numbers possible in spite of variables such as prion contamination exposure. “I find it very interesting on GEBV pass down,” John Ervin said, and explains

“You would expect that in breeding a 200” class doe to a 400” buck, that the sons should be close to the middle at 300”. But anyone that has been breeding deer long enough knows that isn’t nearly the case, with some being under 200” and some being somewhere between 200” to 400”. And sometimes you get that one that is even bigger and better then both parents. And, naturally the desire is to breed the bigger and better deer, if you are striving to improve and take your herd to the next level.”

In the 27 years that John Ervin has spent raising whitetails, he has seen and appreciated the efforts of deer farmers striving to produce their next level of deer. He is hopeful the industry will see the same thing happen with GEBV’s and that CWD will cease to exist on deer farms. He understands the numbers have continued to rise for CWD positives and CWD trace-out quarantines in his home state of Pennsylvania and for many other states. “There has been a lot of CWD found in the wild in the recent years and it seems to have an effect on many deer farms going CWD positive,” John Ervin shared. “Our Pennsylvania Game Commission does a good job at supplying the records on tracking CWD in the wild herds, but they don’t have a good solution to eradicate CWD. The following are reports on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website for Bedford and Lancaster Counties.

Bedford County wild deer #CWD tested #CWD positive

2012/2013 season 5% positive 20 1

2013/2014 season 0.34% positive 581 2

2014/2015 season 0.43% positive 462 2

2015/2016 season 0.94% positive 636 6

2016/2017 season 2.56% positive 678 18

2017/2018 season 3.99% positive 1103 44

2018/2019 season 5.23% positive 1223 64

2019/2020 season 7.76% positive 1263 98

2020/2021 season 14% positive.......... 886 .................. 124

2021/2022 season 22.15% positive 614 136

2022/2023 season 32.54% positive 676 220 2023/2024 season results still coming in and to this date percentage of CWD positive has increased again

While you can track each county on the PA Game Commission website for wild deer, John Ervin picked the first county (Bedford) where CWD was found in 2012 and his own county (Lancaster) where his farm is. While he is thankful no CWD was ever found in his county in wild deer to this date, he does understand that could change in the future with wild deer CWD positive appearing on the other side of his farm fence, and he wants to be prepared with a resistant herd if that would ever happen. And while his farm is double fenced, he understands as do all deer farmers, that there are also other ways to spread CWD. John Ervin also already seen a tremendous shift in those desiring CWD resistance genetics in the amount of

Lancaster county wild deer #CWD tested #CWD positive 2012/2013 season 0% positive 2 0 2013/2014 season 0% positive 116 0

2014/2015 season 0% positive 52 0

2015/2016 season 0% positive 49 0

2016/2017 season 0% positive 52 0

2017/2018 season 0% positive 67 0

2018/2019 season 0% positive 296 0

2019/2020 season 0% positive 290 0

2020/2021 season 0% positive............ 245 .................. 0

2021/2022 season 0% positive 199 0

2022/2023 season 0% positive 202 0 2023/2024 season results still coming in with no CWD positives to this date

semen he sells, as well as his embryo and breeding stock sales. He has also heard first-hand from hunting ranches that while CWD resistance genes will not make a difference to hunters, it will make a difference for stocking preserves if CWD resistant deer lower the risk of bringing the disease onto their property. “Because

of this, I believe we have the potential for a very bright future and great opportunities for our next generation,” he said. “I’m so happy to be sharing my passion with my wife Mary Ann and our five precious children, and to be meeting the genetic demands of my customers and their clients.”

A Moment with Publisher Kathy Giesen

REFLECTIONS ON “THE BEST YEAR YET” IN THE DEER INDUSTRY

Hello!

In the deer industry, we are in the midst of my favorite months of the year, January - March. Many of you might recall that I like to refer to these months as “Membership Drive Months”. Several of the state associations we service have renewal dates in this time frame and our team is here to help promote. As I reflect back on 2023 and look ahead in 2024, I’d have to say that because of our Membership Drive in 2023, that it was “the best year yet” for our ever strong and growing deer industry. Last year, we were able to raise more than $5,000 worth of membership money to support 15 state associations. At most state association events, you will find our Multi State Booth, decorated in honor of every deer association we represent. That reminds me, I’d like to also give a warm welcome to Alabama and Ohio, the latest state associations to be taken under our wing, bringing our membership drive now to 17 state associations.

While it’s important to join and support your specific state association, you can also join others and in doing so, receive that state association’s magazine each quarter. What a productive way to stay on top of the latest trends or current events! This year, by joining four state associations from January - March, you were entered into a drawing for a very valuable and useful donation. Thank you, Lester Eicher of Springfield Whitetails, for a donation of one semen straw, of The Ace. More information to come on our winners for the 2024 drawings!

In addition to staying active in your association through your membership and event participation, is the renewal (or perhaps the beginning) of advertising in our magazines. Advertising allows you to establish your product or service and to remain front and center with those that need what you’re offering. Advertising has been proven time and again to be most effective when done consistently and regularly. When others consistently see your ad, they remember you and feel compelled to reach out when the time is right. It may not happen the first time, but can happen with regular advertising or perhaps the recognition remains mindful during sales and auctions.

Through our state association magazines, we offer a great service for getting your information out, interesting content and a really good product. We provide the connections necessary to keep you and your customers in the loop. I’m grateful for our team. Customer Care Representative Sam Uchytil, Journalist Gail Veley, Our Publishing Team and for our Shipping Associates that see to it that your magazines reach your mailboxes each quarter. We realize how blessed we are to be involved in such a great industry. And in the deer industry, we stick together!

It’s hard to believe things could get any better. Yet, we are never surprised when they do! Let’s all get excited for 2024 and for the adventures that lie ahead! And remember to renew your membership and advertising!! We are counting on you! Thank you!

Kathy Giesen

Editor / Publisher, D&K Design

Cell: 435-817-0150

Fax: 435-359-5333

deerassociations@gmail.com www.deersites.com

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TOP 30 NORTH AND SOUTH AND CHUPP’S AUCTIONS OFFER VALUABLE NETWORKING VENUES

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by Whitetails of Oklahoma

The annual Chupp Auction and the Top 30 North and South Auctions not only provide opportunities to promote a farm or product, they are vitally important to keeping the enthusiasm for the deer industry going. The Chupp Auction, thought of by some as the “springboard” to Top 30 “encourages farms to put their best stuff in,” offers Ivan Hochstetler of Double D Whitetails in Dundee, Ohio. “It gives people the incentive to keep breeding ‘up’ with the best genetics they can afford and gets them more excited for Top 30.”

According to Whitetail Sales and Service co-owner Chris Ezell “we had a great turnout this year at Top 30,” he said. “We want everyone to realize how necessary it is to make time for events like these. This is almost as important as attending the annual NADeFA convention.”

Hochstetler, who has spent the last 14 years breeding deer, has been in the Top 30 North auction for the past 10 years, offering an auction lot of three bred does. “I’m extremely happy with what I got this year for my lot,” he said. “It’s very meaningful to be included. We are grateful to Kevin Grace who started it all.”

When Eddie Ray Borkholder and his wife Diane prepare to participate in the Top 30 North auction, loading up to come includes more than packing a suitcase and deciding which three of his treasured Patrick-line does will be sold. It also includes a production of baking “Fry Pies” started long before the actual auction date. “This year we brought 300 pies,” Eddie Ray said. “We give them away at our booth. It’s a half-moon glazed pie filled with blueberries, strawberries, coconut or apple. We never have any trouble attracting people to our booth. That’s one of the best things about auctions like Top 30. Meeting all the people who attend. A lot of the guys in it back then are gone and it’s a whole different group of people now talking about deer. We love it. We are very thankful to Kevin Grace and the Chupp brothers for starting these auctions, and to Chris Ezell and Lester Eicher for keeping it going.”

Like Hochstetler, Eddie Ray, who has been participating in Top 30 North since 2001, was also extremely happy with what his auction lot brought in this year. “The atmosphere of the auction and the excitement of bidding might entice someone to pay more for what you’re selling compared to if you

were just selling the same deer off of your farm,” Ezell said. “That’s another great aspect about being involved.”

Getting into the Top 30 as a consignor is not quite as daunting of a task as it might seem, Hochstetler, 67, shared. Along with the Top 30 North or South is also the Select 20, a secondary group of auction participants. Each year, the top five Select 20 auction winners take the place of the lowest Top 30 auction participants when the next Top 30 Auction North or South occurs. “This makes way for newcomers and encourages everyone to bring their best,” he added.

“Every deer farmer should do whatever it takes to be a part of these auctions,” Ezell said. Dates, times and places for each and every auction (as well as advertising deadlines) can be easily found by visiting https://www. whitetailsalesauctionllc.com, or talking with Eicher or Ezell. A percentage of the profits from auctions often end up being donated to a worthy cause such as nonprofit organizations that support hunting or land conservation.

Quarterly Calendar Update

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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 NYDEFA & WVDFA 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.

FALLOW DEER GAINING IN DEMAND AND POPULARITY

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by WOO

Fallow deer, known for their hardiness, adaptability and apparent resistance to contracting CWD and EHD, are gaining popularity as perhaps a more low-risk animal to raise, compared to whitetails. Although whitetails are and always will remain the Number One animal in North America to hunt, producers and hunters alike are increasingly intrigued by fallow deer with their unique paddle or rack with tines. “I’ve had hunters willing to pay $50,000 to $500,000 for the right fallow buck,” shared Lance Clawson of Caveman Wildlife in Austin, Texas. Credited as being one of the first in the U.S. to raise high-end pedigreed fallow deer, Clawson maintains a herd of approximately 150 in a partnership with Jason Milligan of Cross Canyon Whitetails. Clawson also partners with Chris Ezell on a herd numbering approximately 160 at Ezell’s farm, Dangerous Whitetails of Oklahoma in Adair, Oklahoma.

Originally from Europe, fallow deer were brought to the U.S. during the 19th century as domesticated animals

and as such, no license is currently needed to raise them, said Ezell, who has raised fallow deer for nine years. Having originally bought them to merely help keep the grass “mowed” on his expansive farm, Ezell started appreciating more and more their calmness and their ability to take stressful situations in-stride. Even better was “a combination of three very important things. Their hardiness, they adapt to any environment, are CWD non-susceptible and don’t get EHD,” Ezell emphasized. “They are very efficient animals and usually have only one fawn in June with an unbelievable success rate.”

Clawson, who’s efficiently raised fallow deer for 20 years, first promoted them as a viable choice for hunters from his booth at a Texas Deer Breeders Association show in 2015, after CWD started becoming a more prevalent issue for whitetail breeders in Texas. Pleasantly surprised by the response he received, Clawson said he “just kept going with it.” He began to work steadfast towards developing a registry and later found support through The Exotic Wildlife Association in Kerrville, Texas. “I feel a strong allegiance toward the EWA for coming through for those of us who raise fallows and want to continuously improve them through quality genetics and pedigrees,” Clawson said. More recently, The North American Deer Registry (NADR) began a fallow deer registry as well.

While Clawson, 54, admits he may not be a professional at marketing his fallow deer, he appears to be a professional at producing world-record bucks. “We are creating a species that has never been seen before” said Clawson, whose farm sports

“The 400” Club” with the likes of American Made, Lightening and Bullwinkle, the fallow buck unofficial world record holder. “Everyone who visits our farm immediately wants to go and see Bullwinkle,” Clawson said. “They are immediately drawn to him and intrigued by his size and stature.”

Under the right setting and super genetics, fallow deer racks (or palmate racks as they are called) can be four to six inches wide, Ezell said. “With superior genetics, they could be 10 to 15 inches wide. Fallow deer can also be a variety of coat colors and look different from each other.” Since he began promoting his fallow deer, Ezell has shipped them to states such as Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maine, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. Using embryo transfer, he and Clawson and Milligan have helped improve the genetics on both of their farms in a continuous effort to make a science out of raising fallow deer. “They are also good eating and big for the meat industry,” Ezell said. “The future for fallow deer is very bright.”

GROUND VENISON TACOS

With my quick, flavorful ground venison tacos, the meat is sauteed with a mixture of herbs and spices until perfectly cooked! Simply serve the ground venison taco meat on your favorite tortillas with the condiments you love, and dinner is served!

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

• ½ Cup Diced Onion

• 1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic

• 1 Pound Ground Venison

• 1 Large Diced Roma Tomato

• ¼ Cup Chopped Cilantro

• 3 Tablespoons Lime Juice

• ¼ Cup Water or Broth (to help cook down the venison)

• 4-8 Tortillas

• Seasonings – 1 ½ tablespoon chili powder, ½ tablespoon cumin, ½ tablespoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt & pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

1. Sauté onion. In a large skillet or non-stick frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer and gets close to smoking, add ½ cup of diced onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent, tender, and fragrant.

2. Sauté venison. To the onion, add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute before adding 1 pound of ground venison. Then, loosely break up the venison and stir into the onion and garlic. Allow the venison to sear for 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and break up the venison as it browns.

3. Add seasoning. Once the ground venison is browned, add the seasoning, including 1 ½ tablespoon of chili powder, ½ tablespoon of cumin, ½ tablespoon of paprika, ½ teaspoon each of salt & pepper, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of onion powder. Next, add ¼ cup chopped cilantro, 1 large diced Roma tomato, 3 tablespoons of lime juice, and ¼ cup of water. Stir the mixture until combined.

4. Simmer taco meat. Next, bring the ground venison taco meat to a boil, reduce heat to low, and then simmer for 5 minutes or until the taco meat reaches your desired consistency. When the taco meat is done, remove the pan from the heat and serve in about 4 to 8 of your favorite taco shells/tortillas. Top with desired condiments and serve!

Word Search

SUDOKU

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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.

Last Issues Puzzle ~ Answer Key ~ Answers to puzzles will be available in the next issue, or can be found on our website: www.deersites.com

Coloring pages can be mailed to “Samantha Uchytil, 19291 59th St NE, New London, MN 56273” for a chance to be featured in the next issue!