Kenny Shoemaker Double K Farm 304-538-2219 doublekfarm1@yahoo.com
Andi Manspile
S & J Whitetails 304-222-9914 amanspile@gmail.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
Vice President’s Message
Summer 2025
Hello Fellow Deer Farmers!
Ahhhhh yes, fawning season. The time of year deer farmers spend more time looking at deer butts then their heads. Hopefully everyone has been blessed with plenty of bucks and more hopeful is that you managed to add SS or GS genetics to your herd.
I know that everyone’s worry is sickness and disease currently. While no farms protocol is wrong or right, everyone has their own methods of managing these issues. My number one philosophy with my fawns is multiple checks each day. What am I looking for? Steady feet with good activity, clean butts with normal poop, healed belly buttons, smooth coats and perky ears. I’m watching for moms to remain healthy while nursing and doing their jobs properly. As soon as I notice any signs of a problem with a fawn, I quickly react to treat the issue. Don’t instantly get upset if a does ribs are showing while nursing, this can occur in some moms who nurse well.
Eliminating fly issues. There are so many issues with flies. My number one go to for reducing fly issues is fly predators. Remember, you can’t use pesticides with fly predators or you will kill them before they do their job. You can, however, use Cylence on your deer to reduce the number of flies on them. We sometimes resort to water guns to apply the Cylence. Baits tend to attract more flies, so I have learned to stay away from them. If EHD returns to the area, fogging is your best defense. Portable foggers can be bought and I strongly suggest PPE gear for fogging. Keep yourself safe! Get a necropsy if EHD is suspected! If you are a deer farmer only and not a preserve, you can qualify for the LIPP program. If you have never used it, reach out and I can walk you through it. There are time limitations, so you have to diagnose it quickly and start filing for compensation.
Finally, there are busted velvet and antler issues. Quickly notice any antler issues and provide treatment. Last year I was unable to see a small injury to a massive 2-year-olds antler and I lost him to an antler infection. Methods of treatment include spray bandages, sewing the busted velvet, bandaging it with sport tape, cauterizing the injury, tourniquets below the affected area and possible removal of the antler. All of that depends on the injury and location. Use of Cylence applied directly to the velvet after treatment will cut down on flies creating issues and antibiotics to ward off infection. Make sure that injury is sealed up when you finish so nothing can get in. Always keep the supplies you need on hand or you will be scrambling. Heavy duty hair ties the are cut open work great to create a localized tourniquet in a pinch.
Remember that running a deer farm is like gambling sometimes. We have to make decisions regarding health of our deer and sometimes we don’t know quite what to do. Reach out to one another and find treatments and methods that work for you. My phone is always on, feel free to call me for advice. I may not know the answer, but hopefully we can find a decent solution that works for you. Try not to beat yourself up if your guess doesn’t work. This isn’t an exact science and a lot of times we are guessing at the cause of the problem, so the treatment may not be right for what you are dealing with. If you have ongoing issues with fawn deaths, get a necropsy done. You can’t stop the problem if you don’t know what’s causing it.
I know this time of year is a lot. Take time to breath and manage it one problem at a time. Reach out to others for help. Deer farming is a community, not a competition! If we stick together, we can help each other to become successful!
Melinda (MJ) Christy WVDFA Vice President
Mountainside Whitetails Focused on Raising Typical, Well-Bred Deer
By: Gail Veley
When Dana Hoover, owner of Mountainside Whitetails, in Penn Yan, New York, recently asked NADR when his GEBV’s would be ready on 16 of his newly arrived fawns, five weeks was the answer. “Five weeks?” Dana responded. “I won’t have any hair or fingernails left waiting that long.” However, Dana, 37, has fully learned how valuable patience can be. After spending his first two years learning (mostly the hard way) how to raise deer, today things on the farm run much differently. His story as to how his eight-acre deer farm started might be more unique than others. “I didn’t come from a farming family,” he said. “Actually, before we started deer farming eight years ago, I owned a fencing company. I did a job for Dennis and Bobby North who raised deer, and I thought
they were the cutest things. I was intrigued and told him that instead of being paid money, I wanted to be paid in fawns. And I got three fawns, one buck and two does.”
“So just like that I owned three deer and had to build a fence and get a license,” he said. “The state vet came out and said to me ‘we don’t need more deer farms. I can tell you about a lot of people that quit deer farming. And I said to her, ‘well, I’m in the construction business and I know a lot of people who have quit that, too.” Because Dana already owned deer, he needed the license immediately. He overnighted his application, giving the state every available way to reach him – email, fax, address and phone number. A fellow deer farmer said all that wouldn’t matter. That a 45cent postage stamp would have achieved the same goal. However,
in his application, Dana apparently appealed to the sympathetic side of AG and Markets, telling them how much his wife and daughters wanted to care for the fawns. The very next day he had his license.
Shortly after arriving, one of his doe fawns became ill and literally did not get up for two weeks. He called Dennis as well as John Ervin Stoltzfus. “What do I do?” he asked. Multiple shots were the answer, along with “bedside” food and water, which ultimately did the trick for Frosty, still alive and well. Yet in his conversations with John Irvin, Dana began to realize how much he still needed to learn about the deer industry, as the phrase I don’t know was the answer to every question he was asked. What are your pedigrees? I don’t know. What are your goals and future plans? I don’t know. Would you consider an embryo program? I
don’t know. A short while later, Dana proceeded to make an appointment with Dr. Jason Coe for an embryo transfer procedure.
When Dr. Coe arrived, all five of Dana’s does were sedated. Dr. Coe then asked, “where’s the tank?”
To which Dana responded “tank? I didn’t have embryos and called John Ervin and told him the vet is asking for a tank. He overnighted embryos and we tried again the next day.” Fast forward, today the farm’s success is reflected in their well-diversified herd with highly favorable GEBV’s, genetics and in homegrown beautiful breeder bucks like Expedition, whose 2025 ‘mostly typical’ frame looks very impressive. Dana is very grateful to his wife Ella and children Barbara, Eugene, twins Katherine and Kathleen, Kevin, Rosella, Regina and Joanna, for all of their help and support. Things are really looking up. “Our entire family feels very blessed,” Dana said.
Upper Midwest Trophy Whitetails Dedicated to Raising Healthy, Typical Deer
By: Gail Veley
Anewly born and struggling doe fawn caught the attention of Shane Struckman, his father Ken and Kent Namken as they walked the pens in the spring of 2024 of their revered deer farm, Upper Midwest Trophy Whitetails in Hazel, South Dakota. Upon finding the altricial fawn, who was unable to eat, they all knew without intervention she was certainly not destined to survive.
“We started tubing her because she was so weak and raised her first inside a shoe box in my house,” Shane shared, reflecting on the day he brought the tiny fawn home to the house he shares with his wife, Terri. “After a while, she became almost too much of a pet. In a month she went outside to the chicken coop.”
While Shane, Ken and Kent partner together for the serious business of raising typical tall-racked deer, their deep love and passion for the whitetail itself is first and foremost. Nestled among 10 acres of breeding pens and scenic, grasslands
topography, Upper Midwest Trophy Whitetails is now in its sixth year. The northeastern South Dakota deer farm is home to close to 170 deer whose family tree most likely includes Big Hasse, a large “framey” breeder buck bought from Adam Helgeland of Trophy Whitetail Deer.
Breeding strategies at Upper Midwest revolve around moving toward the “SS” allele while creating a unique and mostly self-sustaining herd to cater to the stocking end of the industry. This spring between 70 and 90 fawns are expected, a dream that seemed out of the question as a kid to Ken, now 82, the father of Shane and the eldest partner. Having hunted whitetail, geese and gopher from age five, Ken remembers fondly the days he hunted in the Black Hills with both a gun and bow and arrow. In 1957 at age 14 he shot his first buck. “I had a bow and arrow and shot a doe from 40 yards away,” Ken shared. “I knew the buck would be coming and I was ready.”
Today, Ken, Kent and Shane are standing ready to persevere in the deer industry. Challenges and one tough fawning season aside, each new day brings an opportunity to look after each deer, get to know each one’s personality and to see to their health and longevity. “We got a lot of good advice from other deer farmers and enjoy events like NADeFA to learn as much as we can,” Kent said. “We are honest down to earth deer farmers and treat people the way we want to be treated. We are fair and honor the friendships and good relationships we have.” Ken is grateful for the love and support of his wife Jo in owning and running a deer farm, and likewise, Shane for Terri and Kent for Vanessa. “We feel very happy to be part of the deer industry,” Shane said. “We all feel truly blessed.”
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:_____________________________________________________________________________
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? ______
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! ~
BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING NYDEFA
Quarterly Newsletter
E-mail updates on timely issues
Northeast Cervid Marketing Cooperative Initiative
Numerous sales, marketing and networking opportunities
NY Farm bureau support, assistance and lobbying assistance
CAT’S CLAW FASTENERS
A FATHER’S INGENUITY, A DAUGHTERS VISION AND A MOTHER’S INSPIRATION
Ever built a fence to keep critters in, or critters out? Chances are, you’ve run into a dilemma that spans back to the dawn of fence building tradition The underappreciated artform of attaching wire or panel to a post. In a rocky, muddy, sloped field with only-kindacrooked-posts, it comes down to grit and sheer determination to beat a staple into submission, without pounding a finger too!
After 60 some odd years of ranching in Montana, and subsequently responsible for over 100 miles of fence, Curt Almy became increasingly disgusted with the “old fashioned” ever-rusty fence staple In 2016, Following a particularly rough day on a nasty section of fence, Curt received a bit of divine inspiration that prompted him to retreat back to the old workshop, to tinker with this new idea He declared the new product would be the antithesis of the old fashioned staples, the new claws would be simple to use, require only an impact driver instead of tangled air tools or hammers, be rust resistant, be reusable, and most importantly the new claws would be vastly stronger than the old fashioned staples
Gone would be the days of staples p out and getting stuck in a hoof or a t financial advisor by day since the 80 rancher by evening, it took Curt mon dedicated weekends to create the ul “redesigned mousetrap” of the fenci Who would know that such a simple could be so complicated?
Several iterations of what would b the “Cat’s Claw fence claw” were ma tested by local fencers. By 2018 a rus resistant, patented version of the Cat Fastener w d f k t and i 2019 the as released
Testin s and receiving th y the first steps among many, in order to successfully launch the business. Chiefly, and rather importantly, an official name was needed for the product! During deliberations with his wife Patricia, it was determined that t historic Crown W 1914 George Ranc be used as the official headquarters
Cur t Almy and Daughter
Toby-Jeanne shown at the historic 1914 Crown W Geor ge Ranch, home to the Cat’s Claw shop and many shop cats!
prototype claw
With the location d more amusing to the pa cats dominated the ran entertained the idea of area where the ranch w suggested that the prod they came up with “Ca
In 2018, the first $5 allowing the operation plague looming in the n play a major role in a d Canadian companies w bring attention to the fir posts made by Full Circ that Cat’s Claw could h gone through one of th
As video production time in 2020 approached, many warnings were issued, and borders closed a day after the Cat’s Claw crew made it home. The markets were turbulent, and the future of Cat’s Claw was also in question Would a small Mom & Pop operation make it through such a worldwide disruption?
1/4 magnetic hex driver is included in ever y bottle
Softwood claws 2” screw stays secure even in a rotten post
p j , g g j y to the Cat’s Claw crew If you have ever used a Cat’s Claw Fastener, the crew would love to hear from you! You can reach out at info .com, or write to:
Surprisingly, the answer was emphatically, “yes.” While many businesses saw stagnation, the topic of modern homesteading became increasingly popular. Seeing an opportunity, (Daughter) Toby-Jeanne began advertising to homesteaders and buffalo fencing operations, which in turn lead to connections within Zoos and even the Cervid community.
Cat’s Claw Fasteners 28 N. Montana Miles City, M T 59301
Who knows, your story could be featured next!
Curious to try them for yourself? Head on over to www.catsclawfasteners.com and enter code: CERVID2025 for free shipping until August 31st, or give them a call at 406 851 CLAW(2529)
Mountain lion testing out the fence claws:
Courtesy of Twin Pine farm & exotics in South Carolina
Mascot Ronnie the Tiger Cat assists in reading incoming fan mail!
HOW TO SAFELY HAUL WHITETAIL DEER
By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by The Indiana Deer and Elk Farmers Association
Aprofessional deer hauler hopes for a few very important scenarios when they pull their rig into a farm. This includes adequate room to get the truck and trailer turned around and aligned or situated safely in the loading area, along with dry ground conducive for the occasion. “Everyone gets a little nervous when you’re loading deer,” said Delvy Workman of Deer Works, a professional deer hauling company out of Ashland, Ohio. “A lot of people don’t think about loading or unloading deer when they set their place up. This is a really crucial thing to figure out.” Having hauled deer for 14 years, Workman hopes for the most efficient process possible.
Ensuring a safer loading experience begins first with allowing your deer to walk into and through your handling facility on a regular basis, said Dave Schwartz of Shallow Pond Whitetails in Shipshewana, Indiana. “Once we wean our fawns, we move them into a corral pen that’s attached to the handling facility and utilize that to get them used to it,” he said. “That way we can get them into there in a short amount of time when we need to.” By also working deer at random times and moving them into dark
‘pre-loading’ rooms, it can eliminate or greatly reduce the amount of stress put upon deer. “We can sell a doe and within five minutes live load her onto a trailer,” said Schwartz, who prefers to load deer into trailers specifically designed for deer (not a makeshift horse trailer) and to use a reputable, reliable hauler. “There are good deer haulers out there with specialized cargo trailers with great air flow and air conditioning and adequate room for bucks or does,” Schwartz emphasized. “Trailers set up for deer hauling are way better and are going to minimize the stress from the entire moving process. It’s important to keep the stress as low as possible. If you are sedating and loading bucks, make sure they are up and on their feet before moving the trailer.”
Verlin Yoder, a veteran of the deer industry since 1999 and owner of Clay Kuntry Whitetails in Millersburg, Indiana, remembers the days when deer farmers used 2 x 4-foot individualized wooden boxes for hauling deer. This often involved a ‘deer rodeo’ in an effort to get them sedated with telazol and/or rompun, and then inside the box. “It might take four guys. Sometimes you’d have to wrestle the deer down for
sedation,” Yoder recalled. “You’d reverse them inside the box and then they’d jump around inside of it. And we always seemed to have some sort of surprise.” A great sense of relief overcame Yoder when he was able to attain his own handling facility and loading chute in 2006. “It’s one of the best investments a deer farmer can make,” he said. “You need to haul deer for all sorts of reasons. Breeding season. Hunting season. Sales. Boarding.” Boarding does for the sake of breeding requires careful timing, as you don’t want to bring them back too soon or too late in their pregnancy, for fear or losing the offspring due to hauling stress.
Depending on the distance, longer hauling trips, such as up to eight to 10 hours, may require the hauler to put straw bedding down for comfort and to also include hay and water. And last but not least, the most important advice might be “give yourself plenty of time,” Yoder said. “Haul at night when it’s cool and the deer are naturally calmer. Keep the trailer dark and peaceful and wellventilated. You are hauling some very precious cargo and want everyone to arrive safely.”
“You need to haul deer for all sorts of reasons. Breeding season. Hunting season. Sales. Boarding.”
FREE business card ads for members of NYDEFA & WVDFA
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.
NY Email to: dana@abcmailbox.net or call Dana at: 315-595-2202
WV Email to: mark.cobb@gmail.com or call Mark at: 304-532-4514
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Disclaimer: The information contained in this advertisement is general in nature and is intended for use as an informational aid. It does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medications shown, nor is the information intended as medical advice or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of using a particular medication. You should consult with your veterinarian about diagnosis and treatment of any health problems. Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor has the FDA approved the medications to diagnose, cure or prevent disease. Medications compounded by Mixlab are prepared at the direction of a veterinarian. Mixlab compounded veterinary preparations are not intended for use in food and food-producing animals. Mixlab does not recommend, endorse or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness or suitability of any specific dosing, products, procedures, treatments, services, opinions, veterinary care providers, or other information that may be contained in this advertisement. Mixlab is not responsible nor liable for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or products that you obtain through this advertisement.
EMBRYO FLUSHING
A PROVEN BREEDING PRACTICE
By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Kentucky Alternative Livestock Association
When deer farmers tell Kevin Calmes “I know my deer,” he responds with “yes, but you don’t know the insides of your deer.” Calmes, who is a consultant and product shipper for Advanced Deer Genetics as well as the North American Small Ruminant Manager and Coordinator for Sexing Technologies, believes his specific recommendations for A.I. breeding and embryo flushing will provide a deer farmer with a safer and perhaps a more successful outcome.
Embryo flushing, often used to allow recipient does to carry the offspring of does with superior genetics, can be an efficient way to produce a uniformly high-quality herd. It all starts with placing CIDR’s in does with superior genetics, followed by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) shots 11 days later and subsequently inducing multiple ovulations. In his years of experience travelling all over the world to work with cervids, Calmes has found that does, when run through a chute for any type of breeding procedure, tend to fight ovulation. “The stress put upon the doe by running them in a chute causes them to shut down in a sense,” Calmes, 57, explained. The better solution? “I prefer to run the deer into a facility, separated by ages, and blow dart FSH to get them to super ovulate,” he said.
Calmes has found that does who are darted with a specially designed 2.5 cc syringe with an 18 or 19gauge one inch needle shot out of a small pistol, absorb all of the FSH hormone and don’t even know they’ve been hit, since the small size of the needle and force of the pistol is so minimal. “The first time I’m in
there they might be nervous, but by the second or third time they aren’t because they don’t know something hit them,” he said, referring to the dart which was designed years ago by Chinese scientists. And while the hormone can also be administered in a chute with a pole injection, very often you will have backflow and wasted product, decreasing your chances of fertilization success.
After two to eight FSH hormone shots have been administered, depending on protocols, CIDRS’s are pulled on day 14 and followed up with a hormone shot of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG.) The next step involves laparoscopic artificial insemination (A.I.) ideally performed 57-58 hours later. Approximately six to eight days after that, embryos are flushed (as though it were another laparoscopic surgery in terms of preparation) however they are under sedation longer. After flushing and retrieval, embryos are placed in a petri dish and graded on a scale of one to three by an embryo specialist. Grade one embryos, considered the better ones, are either placed immediately into recipient does or frozen for later use. Grade two and three embryos, considered not as hearty as grade one, need to be placed into recipient does immediately as they may not retain their viability should they be
frozen and used later. While a small percentage of does whose embryos are flushed may retain one or two and carry them to a full-term pregnancy “I suggest rebreeding her that same year naturally, to help break up the scar tissue from the previous procedures and not put any additional stress on her,” Calmes said. “We push these animals so much. And whether it’s the chemicals sprayed on what we feed them or a lack of chelated absorbable vitamins and minerals in their diets, I have also found in my work that our semen quality is driven down year after year. On average, ten years ago we had 4-6 billion cells per buck per collection, and today it’s 2 to 3 billion cells per collection. Given that deer genetics are held in such high regard, I believe the industry as a whole needs to sit down and look at this.”
MELANISTIC DEER
SHOWING A PRESENCE ON DEER FARMS
By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association
It was a beautiful cool May morning this past spring, when Adam Lindsey casually walked past the pen of a doe who had just given birth at his farm Size Matters Whitetail, in Bronson, Michigan. He glanced over and immediately stopped to refocus on the new fawns, still wet, pure black and glistening, curled up on the ground. Holding his breath, he couldn’t stop staring. Literally blown away that their breeding efforts had come to fruition, he then ran to his wife Ashley to announce the great news. They now had two melanistic fawns, one buck and one doe.
“We were proactively trying and that was our hope and dream to have melanistic fawns,” Lindsey said. “But we’d never had one born before then.” Melanistic deer, first discovered and recorded in 1929, are the rarest known form of whitetail deer. Their morphologically dark bodies contain a high deposition of the dark pigment known as melanin, caused by specialized cells called melanocytes responsible for producing the darker pigmentation. A rare genetic recessive gene mutation can produce a melanistic deer, with a believed average of
a one in every 10,000 chance. In addition to melanistic whitetails, melanistic fallow deer and mule deer have been spotted in the wild. And unlike albino deer, whose life spans tend to be shorter, melanism is not believed to hinder a deer’s lifespan, nor do melanistic deer appear to be more susceptible to typical whitetail ailments.
Melanistic whitetail deer have been found in states such as Mississippi, Michigan, Virginia, Texas, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. In a quest to add to their uniqueness, Mick
and Mike Goodman of Goodman’s Whitetail Haven in New Stanton, Pennsylvania, are creating their own melanistic piebald deer herd. “I always loved piebald,” Mick said. “About 10 to 12 years I really started pushing them and wanted to breed the melanistic deer into them. After a lot of effort, we now have melanistic piebalds.”
The Goodman’s and Lindsey credit Bob Rosebrock of Rosebrock Whitetails in Lott, Texas for allowing them to follow their dream.
Goodman subsequently produced his breeding buck “Black Velvet,”
their very first melanistic piebald. While melanistic deer can be every bit as hardy and substantial in terms of frame as their brown and white pelage counterparts, piebalds can be smaller bodied. Goodman’s future breeding plans include breeding “Outstanding,” one of the top piebalds in the country right now, whose 317” and 7 x 7 typical main frame includes a little extra, in order to continue producing piebalds who are every bit as large and hearty as brown whitetails.
“Looking ahead, I feel the market should be really good for melanistic deer,” Lindsey said. “I have had a lot of interest in people wanting to buy those babies. Both are “SS” with negative GEBV values. That will be a plus side for the industry. But you can’t necessarily get more melanistic deer just from breeding them to those that are melanistic. As we predictably breed, we can increase those chances over time. At our farm, the goal in to breed for 75 percent brown deer and 25 percent melanistic.”
Goodman feels that while the market for melanistic deer has yet to be officially established, it looks very promising. “Never give up on your dreams,” he said. “Although it may be more difficult to produce melanistic deer, we went after what we wanted and are very happy with the results. We look forward to more success.”
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DREAM GENOMICS
DEVELOPING CUTTING EDGE CWD DETECTION TEST
By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by the Kansas Alternative Livestock Association
Early, non-symptomatic detection of CWD in a whitetail herd could become as simple as drawing blood, thanks to a revolutionary diagnostic test currently being developed by Dream Genomics. Based out of Northbrook Illinois, Dream Genomics is a newly developed visionary biotech firm started in 2023, whose energy and efforts are fully invested in the “Discovery Phase” of developing a reliable, ultimately fool-proof and scientifically recognized CWD detection blood test. Leading the charge for Dream Genomics is Dr. Gary Pusateri, CEO and Founder, Michael Falduto, Chief Technology Officer and Founder as well as Dr. Scott Magnuson, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder.
Along with developing a reliable test, are the challenges of buying equipment to continue the research along with obtaining adequate
numbers of positive CWD samples. Dream Genomics is actively searching for sponsors and donors in the form of corporations, deer associations and private individuals to continue on this quest.
NADeFA and The Cervid Livestock Foundation (CLF) have donated substantial seed money to Dream Genomics, in an effort to keep the research ball rolling and to help purchase testing plates or “chips” as they are commonly called.
Chips, an array that looks at all the genes in a deer’s genome and measures the gene expression via profiling using RNA, fully measures a deer’s response which creates a “bio-profile” for early detection. This technology could perhaps also be used to “stage” the disease in the fact that it will be specifically used at the front end of detection, and not the back end.
Unlike old traditional testing methods which examine CWD prions in already infected organs, this new test is being designed to preemptively find CWD in a singularly fashion, before symptoms develop and before others in a herd are also affected. “Their progress is amazing,” said NADeFA President Shawn Schafer. “This could completely change everything in the industry as we know it right now. Gone may be the days of five-year quarantines or repeatedly extracted rectal samples.”
Resounding in the deer industry is the common goal to eradicate CWD and to develop a minimally invasive diagnostic test, explained Dr. Pusateri. “Once adequate project funding has been established and
enough positive samples have been acquired, Dream Genomics can move towards biological confirmation that our test is accurate,” he said. “We strongly believe that we can reach our goal of making this real and attainable.”
Anyone interested in donating towards Dream Genomics research, please contact Dr. Pusateri at his office at 847-291-9602 or his cell phone at 715-891-7878 or email him at gpusateri@dreamgx.com. You can also check out the website at www.dreamgx.com.
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Use PeaceMaker to “keep the peace” during pre-rut, rut, transportation, weaning and anytime destructive behavior may occur
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Helps maintain digestive health and productivity
Contains micro-encapsulated probiotics, targeted enzymes and a novel fiber complex
Use in does before fawning, during lactation and all cervids during times of environmental stress
FAWN ARRIVAL™ POWDER & PASTE
HELPS PRODUCE HEALTHY, FAST GROWING FAWNS
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
Breeder Buck 2024 Showcase Magazine is here!
Just in time for semen sales, getting ready for breeding season!
We created this magazine in order for 2024 Breeder and Hunting Preserve advertisers to showcase their most recent photos of their bucks close to the last days of antler growth. We realize establishing a collective deadline for all states Fall magazines to publish on the same date to obtain last-minute photos would be impossible to achieve. With this magazine, advertisers have one more chance to showcase their bucks.
~ Thank you to all that participated!
... if you would like to participate in our 2025 magazine, give us a call for more information. 320-905-2622 or 260-222-3478
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 or emailed to deerassociations@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in the next issue!
by Emma
by Madeleigh - Age 5
Thanks for submitting such beautiful colorings!
Colored
Colored
• Alabama Deer Association
• Illinois Deer Farmers
• Indiana Deer And Elk Farmers Association
• Iowa Whitetail Deer Association
• Kansas Elk and Deer Association
• Kentucky Alternative Livestock Association
Buckaneer Package:
44 ISSUES FOR 1 YR.
Reaching out to over 2500 members (11 Publications x 4 quarters)
17 State Associations - Approx. 2500 readers
$189 / Issue ($8316. / Yr) ~ Full Page
$107 / Issue ($4708. / Yr.) ~ Half Page
(55-59% Discount off single ad placement)
Yearling Package:
4 ISSUES FOR 1 YR.
(1 Publication x 4 quarters)
$252/ Issue ($1008. / Yr) ~ Full Page
• Minnesota Deer Association
• Missouri Deer Association
• New York Deer and Elk Farmers Association
• North Dakota Deer Ranchers
• Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association
• South Dakota Deer & Elk Breeders
• Southeast Trophy Deer Association
• Texas Deer Association
• United Deer Farmers of Michigan
• West Virginia Deer Farmers Association
• Whitetail Deer Farmers of Ohio
• Whitetails of Louisiana
• Whitetails of Oklahoma
Doe-Re-Mi Package:
16 ISSUES FOR 1 YR.
(4 Publications of your choice x 4 quarters)
$220 / Issue ($3520. / Yr) ~ Full Page
$121 / Issue ($1936. / Yr.) ~ Half Page (48-54% Discount off single ad placement)
$137 / Issue ($548. / Yr.) ~ Half Page (40-48% Discount off single ad placement)
Single Issue In Any Of Our Eleven State Publications: Full Page: $420.00 1/2 Page: $263.00
Exotic
Package Add On *
TEXAS DEER ASSOCIATION MAGAZINES
4 ISSUES FOR 1 YR. (Can be added to Buckaneer or Doe-Re-Mi package) Reaching out to over 800 TDA members
(3 Tracks Publications & 1 Auction Catalog)
$428 / Issue ($1712. / Yr) ~ Full Page
$267/ Issue ($1068. / Yr.) ~ Half Page (55-59% Discount off single ad placement)
Single Issue In TDA Publications:
Two Page: $1500. One Page: $950 1/2 Page: $650
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.
Thunderstorm
Sunscreen
Backpacking
Mountains Bonfire Muggy
Trophy Breeder Bucks Showcase Book 2025 Application
All advertisers that are published in our 2025 state associations magazines will have the opportunity to place a single Buck update photo in this September Showcase Book.
Reservation for space and buck info will be due no later than August 12th, 2025. If you have an existing picture ready to go, that will also be due at that time. If you would like to send in a last minute photo of your buck, the cutoff date is September 1st by 8am CST. Placement will be in order of first come first serve. Printing and mailing will start September 4th and be in hand between September 16th-20th. Just in time for semen sales getting ready for Breeding Season.
These will be mailed to Breeders and Ranch members of the 18 state associations we service.
(More information will be mailed out to all current advertisers closer to the date)
Cost: $180.00 each 1/4 page ad or 4 for $700.00 (Pre-register and we will contact you for further information)
PRIME SPOTS WILL BE AUCTIONED - LOOK FOR DATES TO BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE
Name: First Last
If you are not a current advertiser, sign up for a
