Pennsylvania Spring 2023

Josh Newton (2025)

President

Cervid Solutions, LLC / Red Ridge Whitetails

15223 Route 87 Hwy

Williamsport, PA. 17701

Office: 844-478-2870 / Cell: 484-951-3229

Email: jnewton@redridgewhitetails.com

Lloyd Stoltzfus (2023)

Vice President

Walnut Ridge Whitetails

142 Churchtown Rd.

Narvon, Pa. 17555

Office: 717-768-3471

Email: wrwhitetails@yahoo.com

Mark Gee (2024)

Tioga Ranch

P.O. Box 64

Tioga, Pa. 16946

Cell: 570-418-0840

Email: tiogaboarranch@gmail.com

John Fisher (2025)

World Class Genetics

152 Meadow Lane

Loysville, Pa. 17047

Cell: 717-582-1896

Email: 5starjohndaniel@gmail.com

Elam Lapp Jr. (2023)

Nationwide Scents

183 Spain Road

Herndon, Pa. 17830

Office: 570-425-2804

Email: nationwwidescents@gmail.com

John Manta (2024)

Julie Acres Deer Farm

255 Wolf Bridge Rd.

Carlisle, PA 17013

Cell: 717-448-8764

Email: julieacres@aol.com

Katryna Stegmeier (2023) Secretary

Pine Valley Whitetails

275 Pine Valley Road

New Ringgold, Pa. 17960

Cell: 484-619-1690

Email: pinevalleywhitetails@gmail.com

Timothy Hill (2023) Treasurer

Three Rivers Whitetails

20 Sutton Lane

Washington, Pa. 15301

Cell: 724-705-3955

Email: timothyhill81@gmail.com

Bruce Snyder (2025)

Snyder’s Whitetails

2358 Produce Rd.

Selinsgrove, Pa. 17870

Cell: 570-259-0051

Email: snyderswhitetails@yahoo.com

Isaac Martin (2024)

Bambi’s Paradise

230 Dusty Hollow Lane

McClure, Pa. 17841

Cell: 570-412-0064

Email: ike@pikrite.com

Tess Stevenson

PDFA Administrator PO Box 394

Harrisburg, PA 17108

Office: 717-801-0533

Email: office@padfa.com

Andy Goodman, Partner Legislative Counsel

Milliron & Goodman Governmental Relations

200 N. Third St.

Harrisburg, Pa. 17101

Office: 717-232-5322

Email: andy@millirongoodman.com

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

President Message- Winter 2023

Well here we are again. It has been from all accounts a solid hunting season in the PA ranch market. In my discussions with farmers and ranch owners the vast majority seemed happy with pricing on ranch stock and hunt bookings remained strong. I am seeing this trend of good demand and limited supply for a few years to come, perhaps longer.

I hope everyone had a productive breeding season, before you know it fawns will be upon us. Make sure you start ordering supplies for fawning now as supply chain issue are far from resolved. Ear tags, fawn paste, meds etc. are essential for success in the preparation of fawns.

Oh, don’t forget to get your TSU from All flex or NeoGen.

This leads nicely to my next point, take advantage of the funds available to you (via Department of Ag) to sample your fawns or adult animals. The TSU tube is the preferred method, plus when you use them NADR credits the testing fee $3. The funding covers parentage, GEBV, and PRPN codon markers. For more info on this reference the “CWD” Tab at www.padfa.com.

Shifting gears, as long as I can remember PDFA has hosted a fundraiser event each spring. Many call it the “Spring Sale,” the Board of Directors named it, The PA DEER AND OUTDOOR EXPO some years back and the name stuck. As part of the planning each year as an association we must look to see what we feel is best for the industry here in the state. Planning events for our membership is one such item.

The PDFA board has voted to combine our two events the PA DEER AND OUTDOOR EXPO and THE PA EASTERN FALL CLASSIC STOCKER AND BREEDER AUCTION. These combined events will take place September 13-15th 2023. PDFA is working hard to formalize a schedule of events and will have details very soon. This decision was based on feedback from membership, man power available, and resources.

This change opens up a few new opportunities to the board of directors I would like to highlight; Focus on membership recruitment and value. Additional communication efforts highlighting this combined event. Smaller fundraising efforts throughout the spring and summer. I am greatly looking forward to this new format and encourage all of you to consider participating.

If you are not following our Facebook page, please do so we will have updates regularly through-out the coming months! Hope to talk to and see you all soon!

Josh Newton

PDFA President

Video message available in our online eBook or view it on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxbK1qqK5rs

ThePADeerFarmersAssociationisproudtoannouncewehaveapprovedandsecuredagreatbenefit forourmembers.InshortifyouareamemberofPDFA,youcanreceiveda50%discountforanyBuck Listingoncwdbreeding.com! Thisisa$125savingsperlisting. Wehopeyoutakeadvantageofthis offeringandwelookforwardtoprovidingmorememberbenefitstoyousoon.

Submitted, LloydStoltzfus,VicePresidentPDFA

Greetings Board of Directors and Association membership,

As a long time, active member of the deer industry and Board of Director for the PA Deer Farmers association I understand that value to membership of state and national associations is a big part of being successful.

Each association that supports the raising of CWD susceptible species (Deer) has a duty to not only advocate for our rights to raise these animals but also to provide resources for those members to flourish.

As research on CWD has advanced and technologies like GEBV and Codon markers are available commercially for analysis at the North American Deer Registry (NADR) it is important to look at the next step for producers to access and use this data.

I am happy to announce in recent months that Deer Wizard LLC has launched a research tool and advertising platform for whitetail deer, www.cwdbreeding.com I encourage you to look at this site and what it can provide.

I offer to each deer association state and nationally the following member benefit; current buck listings for posting on www.cwdbreeding.com are $250 for a one year term. If any member of your association would like to utilize the listing feature and post a buck listing the cost is 50% off or $125.

This discount is only offered to members of your association and can used as a recruitment tool and member benefit.

Attached you will find a promotional flyer if you wish to use it. Here is a link to our announcement video as well, . I am also happy to discuss this member benefit to your board if need be.

Best Regards,

Josh Newton, Founder & CEO Deer Wizard LLC

Get your Gun Raffle Tickets!

You

There are many different ways to purchase your tickets so don’t miss the opportunity to Win!

• Call the PDFA Office at 717-801-0533

• Go to the PDFA Website at www.padfa.com

• Paypal-office@padfa.com

• Email the PDFA Office at office@padfa.com

The PDFA is selling raffle tickets to support our PAC fund that allows us to have a voice in Harrisburg with our legislators. The raffle winner will receive an AR Black Rain Ordinance Bull Shark along with a 150” Whitetail Hunt that was generously donated by the Shilo Ranch in Fenelton, PA. The winner is responsible for clearance and any costs associated with the gun pick up or transfer.

The winning ticket will be pulled on April 13th on Facebook Live at 8:00pm.

All of the proceeds of this fundraiser will go to our PAC Fund. No corporate funds will be accepted. Tickets can be purchased with personal funds by check, cash or credit card. $10.00 per ticket, 6 for $50.00 or 12 for $100.00. Thank you for your support and good luck!

AR BLACK RAIN ORDINANCE BULL SHARK

150” Whitetail Hunt

2023 FARM SHOW

BY ELAM LAPP JR.

OF NATIONWIDE SCENTS, PDFA BOARD MEMBER

N ATIONWIDE S CENTS

F RESH DEER URINE FROM OUR DEER TO YOUR DOOR

Attending the 2023 Farm Show at Harrisburg, exhibiting with the PA Deer Farmers booth was a highlight for me again this year. As I saw the thousands of people flow in masses by the booth it made me wonder what kind of future our industry would have if we could get 1% of these farm show attendees interested in Deer Farming. This is why I believe our presence at the Farm Show was so important.

I had many visitors, friendly faces and questioning sceptics stop by the few days I attended. A lot of interest was around a deer aging plaque we had on display. It was a wooden plaque with teeth mounted on it from one year old through eight years old. The teeth got progressively duller. Kids and adults alike ran their fingers over the teeth. It was especially fun to show the little children their corresponding age on the plaque and see them picture themselves as a buck at that age.

It was a highlight to see eyes light up as they got a glimpse of the large antlers from a four year old buck on display from Snyders

Whitetails. Many children took their pictures with beaming smiles while holding the antlers with the PDFA booth in background! The large antlers got a lot of people to stop and start a conversation. Most folks had no idea that there are Deer Farms in Pennsylvania or wanted to understand why we farm deer. I wore a grunt call around my neck and showed them the sounds that deer make. I was able to hand out some Membership Applications and sold a nice amount of gun raffle tickets. I had a few interesting requests for reindeer farms in PA. I personally didn’t have that answer but gave them contacts that could help them. I spoke with multiple hunters that really enjoy our ranches and hunt with one annually. There were droves of young hunters in the crowd. I took a case of 80 bottles of deer urine from our farm Nationwide Scents and passed them out to all young hunters that walked past. There were many excited kids over those takeaways.

Overall this is an important place to display our deer farming industry to be seen by new

prospects, legislatures, those with preconceived ideas about our industry, the general public and all parties that benefit from our farms. It was an enormous crowd. The conversations all the different deer farmers who manned the booth had over the week gave us the ability to educate the public on what we do and why we raise deer. They were able to see our passion for what we do. We hope to have gotten a number of people interested in starting a deer farm and others we hope to have changed their negative perceptions of our farms. Thank you to the other farmers who spent time at our booth January 7-15th, Bruce and Tammy Snyder, Josh Newton, Ike Martin, James who works at Nationwide Scents with me, and John and Julie Manta. Thank you for spreading the good news of Pennsylvania Deer Farmers!

Submitted by: Elam Lapp Jr. of Nationwide Scents, PDFA Board Member

THE IMPORTANCE OF METICULOUS RECORD KEEPING

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by WOL

Abig “framey” typical buck pauses from grazing and glances up at the horizon, focused on a noise in the distance. In that moment, Trey Havard just can’t help himself. He stops what he’s doing to admire the result of the careful genetics, hard work and dedication he and his wife Kayla have poured into their deer farm, Buddy’s Whitetails in Slaughter, Louisiana. While careful herd management is at the core of any successful deer farm, Havard, now in his eighth year of deer farming, also knows meticulous record keeping is just as important.

“Accurate records and identification of animals are very important in all livestock operations. Not only does it provide a means to track herd management and identify lost or stolen animals, but it also allows for disease traceability so veterinarians can rapidly identify which animals were potentially exposed to a disease,” said Louisiana Department of Agriculture

and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “Better records allow for an accurate, expediated analysis and response to any situation.”

Thorough record keeping can cover a wide variety of topics from substantiating pedigrees, the loss, sale or purchase of animals, number of fawn births, fence inspection, quantities of feed bought and fed and drug use, to name several. While accurate record keeping also allows a deer farmer to better ascertain the health and vitality of a herd, it can also allow them to retain their license and operate compliantly with their state’s governing bodies. In Louisiana (and other states) annual summer audits are conducted to essentially ensure deer herds are healthy, well-cared for and that they stay that way, Havard, 37, explained.

Preparation for the auditing process begins in May in Louisiana when the LDAF sends paperwork to existing deer farmers asking for updates or changes from the previous year, followed by a visit in June from state officials. Each inspection consists of verifying farm inventory and transfers, ensuring there is no over-population of animals as well as a fence inspection to confirm the safe containment of herds. “They want to make sure there are no washouts or places where a deer could escape,” Havard said. With the goal of all licensees maintaining compliance, should the LDAF find a deer farmer to be non-compliant in any audited areas,

the LDAF Commissioner has authority to revoke or suspend any license and/ or impose a fine of any licensee that is found guilty of violating Title 3 Revised Statutes.

While there are deer management software programs available for record keeping, deer farmers may opt to use an Excel spreadsheet for tracking (for example) the type and amount of medication used to safely knock a deer down or the number of times a fawn takes the bottle, urinates or defecates. Other programs such as Quickbooks can be used for tracking feed and medication expenses.

While parasite control is not usually a consideration when being audited, it may be another important issue to keep track of. In addition, breeding decisions and practices (such as match or line breeding) and genetics utilized also require meticulous oversight. “An extremely crucial thing is expense tracking with things such as medications and feed,” Havard said. “It’s important to track profits and losses. Another essential area is keeping track of which doe had fawns that survived or which does are more successful at producing healthy fawns. Without accurate records, it could get very hard to stay on top of this and every other aspect of running a successful deer farm. You can’t afford to overlook a single detail.”

FEEDING DIRECTIONS: WHITE-TAILED DEER:

• Fawns up to 1 week of age: Feed 16 oz. of formula daily, divided into 4 – 6 feeding.

• Fawns 1 week to 1 month of age: Feed 24 to 30 oz. of formula daily, divided into 4 feedings.

• Fawns 1 month to 2 months of age: Feed 30 to 35 oz. of formula daily, divided into 2 to 3 feedings.

• Fawns 2 months to weaning: Gradually decrease formula and number of feedings to approximately 15 oz. of formula once daily until fawn is fully weaned at 12 to 14 weeks of age. Provide a weaning diet and fresh clean water to the fawn. For oral use only. These feeding directions are guidelines. As each animal is an individual, the feeding rate may be increased or decreased according to the needs of the neonate.

Feeding directions for other species can be found on our website.

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320.232.7493

Submitted by: Bruce Snyder of Snyder’s Whitetails, PDFA Board M ember

FREE business card ads for members of Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association

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:

Tess Stevenson: office@pdfa.com

This gives PDFA 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.

Dana & Ella Hoover 4456 Champlin Rd. Penn Yan, NY 14527

P 315.595.2202

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Raising Quality Whitetails Bucks, Does, & Fawns For Sale

HARRISBURG OVERVIEW

On Tuesday, January 3rd, the House and Senate convened the 2023-24 legislative session and began to organize internal rules and leadership. As we explain below, the House is experiencing a much more challenging start to session than the Senate.

House

Prior to November, Republicans held a relatively safe majority in the House (113-89). However, during the most recent elections, Republicans lost 12 seats, bringing them down to 101 seats and for the first time in over a decade, Democrats secured a majority with 102 seats.

It’s important to note that three Democrat seats were vacated at the start of the new session:

• Representative Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny)

• Passed away on October 9th, 2022.

• Representative Summer Lee (D-Allegheny)

• Elected to Congress.

• Representative Austin Davis (D-Allegheny)

• Elected as the next Lieutenant Governor.

These three vacancies brought Democrats back down to 99 seats and put Republicans temporarily in the majority with 101 seats. However, the Republican majority didn’t last long. Democrats secured the three vacant seats along with the House majority during the February 7th special elections.

The complications have continued to compound. One of the first agenda items in a new session is for Representatives to elect a Speaker of the House. While Republicans and Democrats each had their nominees, several Republicans changed plans and arranged to join Democrats in the election of Representative Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) for Speaker, so long as he changed his party registration from Democrat to Independent. If he changed his party registration, that would bring the House ratio to an even split between Republicans and Democrats (101-101). Rozzi received support from the Republican leadership team as well as the Democratic caucus and was elected Speaker of the House. However, he has remained registered as a Democrat, giving Democrats a one-seat lead over the Republicans.

Since there are very close margins in the House, all bills will need strong bipartisan support to survive and successfully make it to the Governor’s desk.

The House Republican leadership team is comprised of the following members:

• Leader: Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster)

• Whip: Tim O’Neal (R-Washington)

• Appropriations Chair: Seth Grove (R-York)

• Caucus Chair: George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland)

• Caucus Secretary: Martina White (R-Philadelphia)

• Policy Chair: Josh Kail (R-Beaver)

• Caucus Administrator: Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland)

The House Democratic leadership team is comprised of the following members:

• Leader: Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia)

• Appropriations Chairman: Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery)

• Whip: Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia)

• Caucus Chair: Dan Miller (D-Allegheny)

• Caucus Secretary: Tina Davis (D-Bucks)

• Policy Chair: Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie)

• Caucus Administrator: Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh)

Now that the special elections are over, the House can finish their internal reorganization. While we are still waiting for the Democrat committee chairs, Republicans have released their list. Of interest to PDFA, Representative Dan Moul (R-Adams) will continue to serve as the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Chair. And Representative Dave Maloney (R-Berks), a strong champion for deer farmers, will replace former Representative Keith Gillespie as the new Chair of Game and Fisheries.

Senate

Republicans held onto the majority in the Senate (28-22). They recently announced their 2023-24 leadership team:

• Senator Kim Ward (Westmoreland) - President Pro Tempore

• Senate Joe Pittman (Indiana) - Majority Leader

• Senator Ryan Aument (Lancaster) - Majority Whip

• Senator Scott Martin (Lancaster) - Majority Appropriations Chair

• Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (York) - Majority Caucus Chair

• Senator Camera Bartolotta (Washington) - Majority Caucus Secretary

On the Democratic side, the leadership team is comprised of the following members:

• Senator Jay Costa (Allegheny) - Minority Leader

• Senator Tina Tartaglione (Philadelphia) - Minority Caucus Whip

• Senator Vincent Hughes (Philadelphia) - Minority Appropriations Chair

• Wayne D. Fontana (Allegheny) - Minority Caucus Chair

• Maria Collett (Montgomery) - Minority Caucus Secretary

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Chairs will continue to be Majority Chair Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) and Minority Chair Judy Schwank (D-Berks). The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee will have a new Majority Chair Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland). Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) will continue to serve as the Minority Chair.

Shapiro Administration

On Tuesday, January 17th, Josh Shapiro was sworn-in as the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania and has already started nominating his cabinet members. Of interest to PDFA, Russell Redding was nominated to continue to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. As you know, Redding served as Secretary of Agriculture under both Governor Tom Wolf and Governor Ed Rendell and previously served as Agriculture Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Harris Wofford. All cabinet appointees must be confirmed by the Senate with a two-thirds majority. In the meantime, they will serve as acting secretaries.

Our office is fully prepared to work with the newly elected and appointed officials and will make sure deer farmers continue to have an active voice in the Capitol.

GENERAL NOTE

We encourage deer farmers across the state to get to know their legislators (both the Senator and Representative). The more familiar they are with you and your industry, the better they can help address your legislative concerns. If you need help identifying your legislator, please reach out to our office.

We look forward to continuing to represent you in the 2023-24 legislative session.

Submitted by: Kerry Lange,

PDFA Lobbyist with Milliron Goodman

PRESLI BUSBY –ASPIRING VET, ETERNAL DEER ENTHUSIAST

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by Dr. Daniel Bontrager

The first time 17-year-old Presli Busby held a needle and injected antibiotics into a deer, she wasn’t filled with the apprehension most might feel doing so for the first time. “It felt pretty cool and natural,” the softspoken teenager and member of the Marianna, Florida FFA Chapter, said. However, Busby has spent most of her life being drawn to challenges. Her most recent one, entering an FFA (Future Farmers of America) Agricultural Proficiency Award Contest for Wildlife Management, earned her first place in the state and as an FFA finalist, a bronze medal.

While Busby is proud of her accomplishment, along with her parents and FFA Advisor Tony Watkins, it’s her mentor Dr. Daniel Bontrager, DC, who perhaps also feels like a proud father. Bontrager, owner of Bontrager Whitetails in Marianna, Florida, not only relies on her help at his farm, to him it still feels like just yesterday when he first met Busby as the four-year-old

daughter to a new employee at his chiropractic office. He never imagined he would watch her (then a little blond girl holding a bottle for fawns) grow up and not only love deer, but also be a serious contender for veterinary school.

“Presli is an amazing young woman,” Bontrager 66, shared. “Her Dad and I are friends and her mom, Terri, works at my office. Last winter, when my righthand man passed away unexpectedly, Presli stepped right up to help. When I would get home from the office and it was dark, Presli had everything with the deer taken care of. She is very conscientious and really takes care of business. She is a good kid and she’s honest and not afraid of hard work.”

The substantial amount of hard work to enter the proficiency contest, along with a very lengthy application, didn’t deter Busby when she began the process in February of 2022. In fact, it motivated her even more because, of the 150 or so members in her FFA chapter, she was the very first one to ever do so. “My advisor and I were thinking of more ways to be involved and I like entering contests,” she said. “Our goal is to have more of us enter for next year.”

As she begins her senior year of high school Busby has her sights set on vet school after earning a fouryear Animal Science degree from Chipola Community College. While working happily for Bontrager and studying takes up a great deal of her time, she also enjoys hunting with her father, Andy, 42, and her older brothers Jim, 22 and Hunter, 20. She also enjoys spending time with the family’s five dogs who include a Shih Tzu,

a Rottweiler, an English Bull dog, a Labrador Retriever mix and a Wiener dog. “The Shih Tzu is a boy, and the rest are girls,” Presli said. “And he’s in charge.”

Being in charge of her life is something Presli is obviously excelling at. As she prepares for the annual FFA Convention October 26th-29th in Indianapolis, Indiana, she is looking forward to hearing keynote speakers and mingling with others who share her same vision and goals. Established in 1928, the FFA teaches development of leadership and life skills that shape decision making and values. It also strives to help build the self-esteem of its members and prepare them for career success through agricultural education.

“I feel very blessed to be part of the FFA,” Presli said. “I feel grateful for the opportunities it has given me now and will give me in the future, and I am very grateful to work with Daniel on his farm. When I first thought about vet school, I was thinking dogs and cats. Now I’m thinking deer and livestock.” While Presli loves Florida, she has always wanted to try living somewhere else, too, and really likes the idea of living in Texas. With that being said, she better get ready for a lot of phone calls from Texas deer farmers when she becomes a veterinarian!

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PROTECTING FAWNS FROM PREDATORS

By: NexGen Pharmaceuticals

For the deer farmer (or the rural property owner who just wants to give deer herds a fighting chance), mitigating the predation of fawns to the greatest degree possible is an ongoing concern. Given the ongoing concern and intervention of wildlife biologists, starvation and disease are seldom the concerns they were in years past, which leaves predation as the most prevalent cause of fawn mortality. This is particularly true in the case of whitetail deer, which live in close proximity to humans in large numbers, even when we don’t consider farming operations. Here, we’ll look at a few key areas that deer farmers and property owners can effectively address to reduce the predation of deer fawns, as well as supporting herd health overall.

Predator control. Protecting fawns is obviously crucial to herd development. While bobcats, bears, eagles and feral dogs do kill their share of fawns, this is usually not in sufficient numbers to have a substantial impact on herds. Thus, most control efforts are directed toward coyotes which, statistically-speaking, are the leading cause of fawn mortality.

Most sportsmen and deer farmers agree that a healthy population of predators is good for ecosystems however, opportunistic coyote packs picking off fawns on a farm is far less than ideal. Like deer and other game animals, predators also need managing.

Those with experience in these areas agree that the most effective way to control predators is to hunt or trap them. Unfortunately, killing coyotes outright doesn’t do much to significantly reduce their numbers over the longterm, and they can be difficult to hunt— so keeping on top of them is an ongoing proposition.

Herd management. Managing herd sizes and ratios of sex and age are also essential components to ensuring the survival of more fawns. A high population density can lead to stress on all of the animals in a herd, and it disrupts their natural behavior. Keeping sex ratios balanced and ensuring that the carrying capacity of the land can support all of the deer is essential. This may mean relocating or removing a certain number of does periodically. The available research suggests that mature does produce more fawns; thus, removing younger does is more likely to improve fawn survival within a herd.

Habitat management and cover. Most of the evidence suggests that farmers and landowners who’ve been successful at reducing fawn mortality have taken a cue from wildlife biologists and wildlife managers. In order to reduce predation, one of the chief areas these experts advocate keeping on top of is that of habitat management. One of the ways this can be accomplished is by exploiting the natural behavior of deer (specifically, does and fawns) and managing your property in ways that enhance a fawn’s chances for survival organically.

The available literature maintains that providing cover is the single most important factor in reducing the predation of fawns. One thing to remember is that does and their fawns naturally seek cover. Whitetail deer in particular prefer the ecotone (forest

fringe). This is partly because these areas receive more sunlight, which promotes the growth of vegetation. More importantly, this zone typically provides more cover than open areas, but doesn’t have the predator density of the deep forest. One study revealed that fawns in areas with the little edge habitat were more than twice as likely to be eaten by a coyote than those in areas with more edge availability.1 Does have evolved to be protective of their fawns, and will seek out safe areas for them to rest. Providing places on your property/farm that are attractive in this regard can improve the odds for fawns. Cutting down small trees and placing brush areas for does to hide their fawns is a great idea. These will resembled the natural deadfall that does are accustomed to using for this purpose. Creating spaces like these will help to better protect them from predator animals in the area.

As mentioned earlier, we’ve learned a lot from the wildlife biologists who’ve dedicated many years toward refining the population management of deer— and among what we’ve learned is that responsible predator management supports both ecosystems and deer populations. Obviously, predator management is even more critical when we’re talking about deer farming. Wherever you happen to live, and whatever your predator problems are, addressing the three basic areas we’ve discussed will go a long way toward reducing the predation of deer fawns, as well as reducing overall fawn mortality and supporting a healthy herd.

1Gulsby, W. D., J. C. Kilgo, M. Vukovich, and J. A. Martin. 2017. Landscape heterogeneity reduces coyote predation on white-tailed deer fawns. Journal of Wildlife Management 81:601-609.

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Helps maintain normal digestive health

Supports a healthy immune system

Feed powder for 14 days to bottle fed fawns

Paste is ideal for fawns left on does

FAWN & DEER XTR

™

ROBUST FAST RESPONSE FOR FAWNS & OLDER DEER

Innovative formula delivers max digestive support, especially in newborns

Rapidly delivers help for GI health and a functioning immune system

May also be used post-tranquilization to support healthy recovery

CWD Genomic Susceptibility Subsidization Program Application

CWD Genomic Susceptibility Subsidization Program Application

This application is required for enrollment in the CWD Genomic Susceptibility Subsidization Program, which allows for the use of USDA grant funds to subsidize testing via the North American Deer Registry (NADR). Results from this testing will include a Genomically Estimated Breeding Value (GEBV) for each deer along with an interpretation of the results from Dr. Chris Seabury (Texas A&M University), pioneer and creator of this service.

This program allows each Herd Certification Program (HCP) participant to submit up to 12 samples from breeding white-tailed deer and each Herd Monitoring Program (HMP) participant to submit up to five samples until March 21, 2022. After March 21, 2022 and August 15, 2022 HCP and HMP may submit samples from up to 24 deer per participant until funds are exhausted. If funds remain after August 15, 2022, there will be no limit to the number of deer samples submitted per participant until funds are exhausted or until September 30, 2022, the end date of the program. Please note – the day samples are received by the laboratory will determine which round of funds disbursal applies.

This application is required for enrollment in the CWD Genomic Susceptibility Subsidization Program, which allows for the use of USDA grant funds to subsidize testing via the North American Deer Registry (NADR). Results from this testing will include a Genomically Estimated Breeding Value (GEBV) for each deer along with an interpretation of the results from Dr. Chris Seabury (Texas A&M University), pioneer and creator of this service.

Deer Eligibility - Each participating deer must adhere to the following rules:

1) Must be a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Hybrids and other species are not eligible.

This program allows each Herd Certification Program (HCP) participant to submit up to 12 samples from breeding white-tailed deer and each Herd Monitoring Program (HMP) participant to submit up to five samples until March 21, 2022. After March 21, 2022 and August 15, 2022 HCP and HMP may submit samples from up to 24 deer per participant until funds are exhausted. If funds remain after August 15, 2022, there will be no limit to the number of deer samples submitted per participant until funds are exhausted or until September 30, 2022, the end date of the program. Please note – the day samples are received by the laboratory will determine which round of funds disbursal applies.

2) Each deer must have official ID in place and must be listed as existing in the herd with the same ID on the most recently submitted herd inventory.

3) If the deer dies while still in your possession, it must be tested for CWD and the results must be shared with Dr. Seabury to further his research into CWD resistance.

Deer Eligibility - Each participating deer must adhere to the following rules:

4) The cost of testing is $75 per animal. The grant will cover $50 of this testing for each eligible deer and the owner/participant will be responsible for making payment directly to NADR for the remaining amount due. Testing will not be performed until payment from the owner is received by NADR and NADR is able to confirm funds sufficient to cover the subsidized portion are available. Unfunded samples will not be tested until payment has been received by NADR. NADR membership is not required.

1) Must be a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Hybrids and other species are not eligible.

2) Each deer must have official ID in place and must be listed as existing in the herd with the same ID on the most recently submitted herd inventory.

5) The herd participant must consent to allow NADR to share aggregated, anonymized data by state with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). This data will be limited to GEBV scores for each deer that are not associated with individual deer. A separate spreadsheet generated by NADR will be shared with PDA that provides farm/participant name, date of sample receipt, number of samples received, official ID for samples received, total amount due, amount paid by participant, and amount due from the grant. This is purely for financial accountability purposes to ensure the grant money is being spent towards improving captive cervid resistance to CWD.

3) If the deer dies while still in your possession, it must be tested for CWD and the results must be shared with Dr. Seabury to further his research into CWD resistance.

6) Animals known to be CWD positive and those with illness suspicious of CWD are not eligible for this program. NADR cannot accept samples from these animals.

Instructions for Submission

4) The cost of testing is $75 per animal. The grant will cover $50 of this testing for each eligible deer and the owner/participant will be responsible for making payment directly to NADR for the remaining amount due. Testing will not be performed until payment from the owner is received by NADR and NADR is able to confirm funds sufficient to cover the subsidized portion are available. Unfunded samples will not be tested until payment has been received by NADR. NADR membership is not required.

1) A full thickness ear punch of the pinna, no less than 2mm diameter, must be submitted in an Allflex tissue sampling tube or similar device. If an Allflex tissue sampling tube is not available, the tissue should be sealed in a clean genomics hair card. Great care must be taken to prevent cross contamination of samples and gloves should not be worn when collecting hair samples as hair is likely to stick to them and end up in the wrong sample.

2) The cervid owner or farm manager or designee thereof is responsible for sending the submission form to RA-AG-GEBV@pa.gov or address to Bureau of Animal Health – GEBV CWD Program, 2301 North Cameron Street, Room 412, Harrisburg, PA 17110. The submission form will be reviewed to ensure eligibility.

3) A copy of the submission form must also be enclosed with the samples. Samples are to be sent directly to NADR at 1601 Medical Center Drive, Suite 1, Edmond, OK 73034.

4) Samples may be collected by the herd owner, herd manager or designee or by an accredited veterinarian. It is critical that samples are properly and clearly labeled to ensure the animal listed on the report matches the animal from which the sample was taken.

5) The herd participant must consent to allow NADR to share aggregated, anonymized data by state with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). This data will be limited to GEBV scores for each deer that are not associated with individual deer. A separate spreadsheet generated by NADR will be shared with PDA that provides farm/participant name, date of sample receipt, number of samples received, official ID for samples received, total amount due, amount paid by participant, and amount due from the grant. This is purely for financial accountability purposes to ensure the grant money is being spent towards improving captive cervid resistance to CWD.

6) Animals known to be CWD positive and those with illness suspicious of CWD are not eligible for this program. NADR cannot accept samples from these animals.

5) The herd manger/owner is responsible for making payment for their portion ($25 per test) directly to NADR by check or credit card (please see NADR (nadeerregistry.com) for a credit card authorization form). The $50 subsidization from the grant will be paid directly from PDA to NADR. The owner’s portion of the payment MUST be received by NADR BEFORE ANY TESTING CAN OCCUR.

ANTLER REPLICATION TECHNIQUES WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Missouri Deer Association (MDA)

Antler replication has joined the digital world and may offer conveniences not available through traditional antler replication techniques. However, both traditional and digital techniques offer their own unique advantages. Making an informed decision about which one is right for you comes with weighing the pros and cons.

In creating an antler replica “you want someone to think that set is the real one,” said Jon Dittmer of Spring Creek Taxidermy in Coder, Missouri. “If you are also taking these antlers to shows they need to be strong and hold up. Compared to what I do to make a realistic and durable set of antlers, 3D scanning would be easy,” he added.

Traditional replication methods:

• Require the customer to ship or drop off the antlers and leave them with the replicator for an agreed period of time.

• Provide the finer details of each set of antlers including veins, hair line fractures and even gnarly bumps.

• Are generally as heavy and as durable as the original set.

• Come complete with a lifelike coat of paint producing the most natural look possible (as a result of working directly with the original set.)

Yet 3D scanning, through creating a digital copy of the antlers using handheld scanners, can provide the opportunity to produce a replica the exact same size or smaller or larger than the original set of antlers. “Scanning also creates a permanent digital copy stored in the computer to have on file for fabricating another copy,” offers Dan Perreault, President of Neometrix, a 3D scanning company. Most companies who offer 3D scanning services, for a fee, may be able to bring their scanning machinery to you, allowing you to maintain possession of your antlers. In addition, 3D scanning companies:

• Use laser lines and positioning targets approximately ¼ in diameter to measure antlers, generally taking about one hour to scan a 200-inch set of antlers. Scans can typically cost between $200 and $500.

• Offer same-size resin machine printing (stereolithography) as well as “CNC” computer numerically controlled printing, allowing the antlers to be reproduced on a smaller or larger scale.

• Typically use resin materials lighter than those used in traditional replication methods, potentially making them more fragile or prone to break if mishandled.

• May or may not offer painting services once the antlers are done being processed by the machine.

Costs for traditional antler replication as well as 3D scanning are determined by the size of the rack and the amount of inches involved, usually not making cost an overly significant consideration factor when deciding which route to take. Customers should also make sure their timeline to receive a completed replica coincides with their needs, no matter which method they choose.

“Our customers have been happy with the results,” Perreault said. And while Dittmer is familiar with the 3D scanning process “there’s nothing as good or looks as real as traditional replication methods,” he said.

PENNSYLVANIA DEER FARMERS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

(Please check one) ❑ New ❑ Renewal - Member #____________ (if known) Membership Name:___________________________________________Date________________

#1 (will appear in directory)________________________

I am joining as (please check one)

❑ Active PA Propagator* (voting privileges) - $100.00

❑ Associate Member (non-voting) - $75.00

❑ Life Member* (voting privileges) - $1,000.00

*Must be a Pennsylvania resident

Please check all that apply:

I hereby make application to the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association, Inc. and certify that the information I have provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Please mail application with payment to: PA Deer Farmers Association PO Box 394 Harrisburg, PA 17108

Straw of

(Donated by Prime Acres Whitetails. Drawing will be April 23, 2023)

Total: ________________ ($685. to support all 15 states as an associate member) Check: #___________ Credit Card ____ Cash ____

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a resident of any of these states and required to be an active member, please select the correct level above.

If you are not sure of your membership status with a state and you sign up, your payment will cover you for the next year.

*** These states allow anyone that lives in their state and not raising deer but have interest to supporting the industry to be at the Associate Membership Level. This level is a non-voting level.

Name: Spouse or Partner:

Farm Name/Company:

Membership Address: City: State: Zip:____________County

Main preferred listing phone: Alternate listing phone:

Fax: Email: WebSite:

Check which apply ___:Own Hunting Preserve ___Own Breeding Operation ___Industry Supplier Species Raised: ___ Whitetail Deer ___Elk ___Mule Deer

Other Species Raised:

Products I Offer: __ Meat __Velvet Antler __ Industry Supplies __ Feed __ Nutritional Supplements ___Vaccine ___Graphic Design & or Web Design

Other Products or Services:

I hereby make application for membership to these associations, agreeing to conform to the Code of Ethics and Bylaws governing the associations.

Signature: Date:

I give permission to have my contact information published in the annual directory and on the website Yes No

DEER FARMERS NEED TO KNOW TAX DEDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES AND TAX LAWS

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by NYDEFA

In an effort to be more successful and therefore profitable, deer farmers should be well-versed and intimately familiar with tax laws that affect them. Deer farmers will do themselves an enormous favor by reading IRS Publication 225, The Farmer’s Tax Guide, and closely following the generally accepted IRS accounting procedures for profitable businesses, said New York Deer and Elk Farmers Association President Dave Vanderzee. Although raising deer for profit is the central focus of any deer farming operation, being well-versed in how to handle livestock mortality (casualty losses), theft, negative profit years, use of farmland for agricultural or conservation purposes as well as accountability for farm-related vehicles, among other issues, could mean the difference between staying in a profitable business venture or losing your farm, explained Vanderzee, owner of Vanderzee Financial & Insurance in Clifton Park, New York.

Superseding any ability for a deer farmer (as a non-corporate

taxpayer) to benefit from tax deductions, is the requirement to operate under the auspices of what the IRS defines and determines as farming.

These items include:

Number 1 – Operating in a business-like manner.

Number 2 – The time and effort spent on farming indicates that you intend to make it profitable.

Number 3 – You depend on your income from farming for your livelihood.

Number 4 – You experience losses due to circumstances beyond your control that are normal costs for the start-up phase of farming such as forestation and structures.

Number 5 – You change standard farm operation protocols in an effort to increase profitability.

Number 6 – You (through the help of advisors, mentors or consultants) improve the ease of running your business and increase the profitability.

Number 7 – You were successful at making a profit with similar activities in the past and expanded your productivity base by introducing new crops or agricultural endeavors (example: 4th generation family farming.)

Number 8 – You make a specified, quantifiable profit margin some years indicating success.

Number 9 – You expect to make a profit from appreciation of assets used to run your business and could sell your farmland for more than it’s original purchase price.

Number 10 – Presumption of profit – You have made a profit for three of the last five years including the current tax year and are prepared for and intending to do the same in the future.

Operating a deer farm includes dealing with apprehension over possible unwanted scenarios. Among one of the most prevalent issues facing deer farmers are casualty losses which could include losing deer from disease, feral or domestic dog attacks or disturbances, unusual or catastrophic weather events and theft. Should these situations occur, a deer farmer would want to document these losses on IRS Form 4684 and attach it to their tax return. “What’s important to know is that certain states do a great job of including or recognizing farmer’s rights in their license and may spell out what a farmer can or can’t do to protect his or her livestock,” Vanderzee explained. “For example, predator control devices such as firearms can be utilized as an ordinary and reasonable tax deduction item.

Read IRS Publication 547, which spells out what constitutes casualty losses, disasters and theft.”

Providing additional protection for business losses for noncorporate taxpayers is what the IRS recognizes as Excess Business Loss Limitation, whereby a noncorporate Schedule F taxpayer could potentially benefit after the “at risk and the passive activity limits” are applied before excess business losses during a negative profit year. This is the amount by which the total deductions exceed your total gross income and gains attributable to the business, plus $270,000 if you are single or $540,000 with a joint return. Deer farmers wishing to utilize this option must follow instructions found on IRS Form 1045 and document their net operating loss on IRS Form 1138. Should losses not exceed this “rescue fund” limit, a deer farmer can apply to reclaim the unused portion of funds (using IRS Form 461) for up to two more congruent years immediately following the first-year loss (if more losses should occur) until the fund is exhausted.

Deductions can also be applied for farm vehicles used more than 50% of the time for business that also exceed 6,000 pounds of gross vehicle weight such as heavy SUV’s, large pickup trucks and vans. Deer farmers possessing such a vehicle should include IRS Section 179 with their tax return. However, hunting ranches, who regularly utilize large vehicles are not considered farming, but rather “entertainment.” If you operate a farm and a preserve congruently “you are farming up until the point you release them into your preserve. If there is a hunting element other than for trophy purposes and you instead bring them to a slaughterhouse, that acreage could still be considered farming,” Vanderzee emphasized. “Where preserves get ‘sideways’

with taxes is comingling the hunting experience within their ranch. There is a notable differential between trophy meat value and slaughtered meat value.”

Often times, hunting ranches need to adjust their male to female herd size by culling the excess does or inferior males, Vanderzee said. “However, if you take carcasses to a slaughter facility and sell the meat and thereby fulfill the requirements of farming, then clearly the support land for that purpose would be proportionately deductible for farming,” Vanderzee said. “Deer farmers would need to fulfill USDA inspection and license requirements to do this.”

Another valued venue for making the most of potential deer farm tax deductions is through the active practice of water and soil conservation. IRS Section 1252 Property Guide explains tax benefits for farmland held less than ten years on which soil and water conservation along with land clearing expenses are deductible.

“Interested deer farmers should contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District to get an assessment of risk and see if their property is in a conservation district,” Vanderzee said. “You could then extend that privilege if the land is used for farming, or if you have woodlands where

deer live.” Conservation practices include establishing water wells, prevention of soil erosion and endangered species recovery. Capitalized expenses to partake in these practices include materials to buy, build or install depreciation structures such as drainage tile and pipes and pumps and supplies, wages, fuel or creation of reservoirs, canals, dams and other drainage systems. There are annual allowances for depreciation over the useful life for what was done. “Here’s the hook, Vanderzee added. “The deduction for conservation expenses can’t be more than 25% of your gross income from farming.”

Knowing every protocol included with a Section 1252 Property will be of great benefit should the farm ever be sold, and conservation deductions be taken into consideration. “This is the big one,” Vanderzee said. “The gain on the sale. If you bought and sold the farm after five years or less of occupancy, the gain is only considered ordinary income up to the amount you directed for soil and water conservation.”

“The more knowledge a deer farmer has about tax laws and how beneficial these deductions can be, the more they can remain assured of future success,” Vanderzee said. “I’m always open and willing to help any deer farmer who wants to call and discuss their options.”