July • Volume 9 • Issue 1
BW Tall One & His 2019 Yearling Sons and Other Yearlings are looking Awesome! Selling 2 Yearling Does Lots: W354 & W613
BW Tall One Doe
BW Tino Doe
At the MDA Benefit Auction!
Jason Blosser C: 417-327-9590
Advertisers Index: C&E Wildlife Products..........................................................................................18 Conquest Deer Farm............................................................................................30 Cross Canyon Whitetails.............................................................Inside Back Cover Dan Inject Dart Gun..............................................................................................21 Deerstore.com......................................................................................................33 Fox Valley.............................................................................................................31 Head Gear LLC....................................................................................................23 Hilty Whitetails...................................................................................................... 11 Limetless Genetics..........................................................................................28-29 Microchip ID..........................................................................................................19 Midwood creek Whitetails.....................................................................................26 Missouri Whitetails..................................................................................................8 Nature Calls.....................................................................................................34-35 Nutra-Glo..............................................................................................................20 Pine Creek Chain Link..........................................................................................20 Pneu-Dart.............................................................................................................36 Prime Acres..........................................................................................................27 Purina...................................................................................................................12 Schock Effect..........................................................................................................2 STGenetics...........................................................................................................25 Trophy Whitetail Deer, Inc....................................................................................33 Whitetail Syndication............................................................................................15
Feature Story: Antlers4you.................. 16 In this issue: Bottle Feeding................................................................................ 24
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Advertising: 4 Newsletters are sent out Annually. Spring • Summer • Fall • Winter
If you would like to be published in our next issue please contact: Kathy Giesen, D & K DESIGN advertising4@mac.com or 435-817-0150 (submit ads to this address as well)
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING RATES : FULL PAGE: (8” x 10”· PDF or JPEG) 4 issues (discount price per issue) $187 Total: $748 2 issues (discount price per issue) $209 Total: $418 1 issues $325 HALF PAGE: (8” x 4.75”· PDF) 4 issues (discount price per issue) $103 Total: $412 2 issues (discount price per issue) $121 Total: $242 1 issues $193
“If you sign up for multiple quarter issues or purchase at the auction, please refer to the deadline dates on this page to supply ads. If we do not receive new art by that deadline, we will know to run your existing ad.” (share this info with your designer)
Deerwire................................................................ 22, 32 Feeding Deer in the Late Spring and Summer............ 14 Legal Brief / Presidents Message............................................4 MDA .................................................................... 5, 7, 17 NADeFA News Update.................................... 6, 9,19,30
July
30 th
IS OUR AD DE NEXT ADLIN E!
NADeFA 2019 Convention Overview.......................... 10 Membership Form....................................................... 14
NEWSLETTER GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PUBLISHING BY: D & K DESIGN
advertising4@mac.com • 435-817-0150 • Editorial Provided by Contributing Writers. Kathy Giesen • D & K Design • 1812 W. Sunset Blvd. Ste 1-355, St. George, UT 84770
missourideerassociation.com Like us on Facebook! Missouri Deer Association
Visit: deersites.com! UPDATES ON DEADLINES INDUSTRY CALENDAR
Shock Effect Products For All Your Herd Needs
Antler Maximizer
Sea-Cal Calcium
Equalizer
•
Promotes increased antler growth, food utilization and body condition
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Pharmaceutical grade coral calcium for high absorption
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All the benefits of Antler Maximizer without the antler growth ingredients
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Microencapsulated probiotic for more efficient absorption
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Increases antler density & reduces breakage
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Allows you to focus on deer health without promoting additional antler growth
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Contains beneficial bacteria, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and trace elements
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Helps fortify and replace lost skeletal minerals and calcium during antler growth
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Microencapsulated probiotic formula
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Can be fed year round to entire herd
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Designed to promote body condition, immune system support and food utilization
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Available in both powder and pellet
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Can be fed year-round to bucks, does and fawns of all ages
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Promotes better health and disease resistance
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Effective in deer, sheep, goats, and exotics (both cervid and non-cervid)
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Available in both powder & pellet
Buck Chill •
Natural supplement that addresses problematic behavior to help avoid antler damage, injuries and/or mortalities associated with breeding, handling and movement
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Provides key nutrients that promote a positive mental and physical response
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Use during transport, herd testing, AI or any other times of stress, anxiety and or risk of injury
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Can be fed to both bucks and does
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Tested and proven effective
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Effective on Whitetail, Red Deer, Elk and other exotics
Fawn Gel
Colostrum Gel
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Helps support the immune system to provide healthy start to young fawns
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Promotes a healthy digestive system and maintains a balanced ph level by supporting beneficial bacteria levels in the gut
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Each tube contains (3), five gram applications
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Available in individual tubes and 25 tube cases
Fawn Stabilizer Electrolyte Gel
•
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Provides newborn fawns essential colostrum to get their bodies digestive and immune systems up and running Especially formulated for cervids and most effective when administered within the first 1224 hours after birth
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Each tube contains (3), five gram applications
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Available in individual tubes and 25 tube cases
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Formulated to promote an energy boost during times of weakness, stress, nutrient depletion and fluid loss due to diarrhea or extreme weather conditions
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This product can be used on deer of all ages.
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Each tube contains 30mg (5 grams per fawn, full tube for adults)
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Microencapsulated probiotic formula designed for use in milk replacer and/or waterer system
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Designed to help maintain beneficial bacteria levels and fawn’s overall body condition and immune system
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Supports rumen health by promoting a diverse microbial population capable of more efficiently utilizing carbohydrates, proteins and fatty acids
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One pound container contains approximately 454 servings
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Feed fawns 1 scoop mixed in bottle twice daily
Shock Effect, LLC | 6780 State Rd H, Fletcher , MO 63030 Jacques deMoss 337-322-2569 | Faye Thayer 314-359-1742 jdemoss@shockeffectwhitetail.com | sbullpuppy@aol.com
www.shockeffectwhitetail.com 2
Board of Directors: PRESIDENT Jacques E. deMoss (‘20) Winter Quarters Wildlife Ranch 10113 W. Farm Road 124 Bois D’Arc, MO. 65612 337-322-2569 jacques.demoss@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT Donald Hill (‘21) Oak Creek Whitetail Ranch 178 Oak Creek Ln Bland, MO 65014 573-943-6644 oakcreekranch@earthlink.net
TREASURER Matt Kirchner (‘19) Missouri Whitetails 29158 Hwy. C Alexandria, MO 63430 660-341-0554 mkirchner32@gmail.com
SECRETARY Bradley Puff (‘20) High Adventure Ranch 308 Mikel Ave St. Louis, MO 63043 1-877-858-3481 bpuff@highadventureranch.com
DIRECTOR Jerry Campbell (‘21) Missouri Whitetails RR 11 Box 121A Alexandria, MO 63430 847-778-8327 jcdeerfarm@gmail.com
DIRECTOR Sam James (‘19) Whitetail Dreams 6504 Rippling Water Way Columbia, MO 65201 573-590-1459 sam@whitetailsdreams.net
DIRECTOR Bryan White (‘20) Xtreme Whitetails of Missouri 5207 North Oak Creek Lane Strafford, MO 65757 417-343-1360 bryanxtremewhitetails@gmail.com
DIRECTOR Brett Niles (‘21) The Oaks 725 N. 2nd St. Ste. M Lawrence, KS 66044 785-856-3333 bniles@bearcommunications.net
DIRECTOR Marc Hightower (‘21) The Hunting Grounds 899 County Road 1590 Willowsprings, MO 65793 817-718-0944 marc@thehuntinggrounds.com
DIRECTOR Garrett Westfall (‘21) Double G Ranch Whitetails 12602 Summersette Liberty, MO 64068 816-806-9905 doublegwestfall@gmail.com
ADMINISTRATOR Kathy Giesen D&K Design 1812 W. Sunset Blvd. Ste 1-515 St. George, UT 84770 435-817-0150 admin@missourideerassociation.com
ACCOUNTING Amanda Peckinpaugh MDA Accounting Department PO Box 1141, Marion IL 62959 618-993-3618 fax: 855-222-6027 accounting@missourideerassociation.com
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*PRESIDENTS MESSAGE *LEGAL BRIEF surveillance and monitoring. For too long state agencies have been killing deer to tell us something we already knew, that By the time you read this most of you will be well into fawn CWD exists in the wild herd. What this program provides for season and caring for the future of your herds. The Board and is research on live testing, genetic resistance, vaccines etc.., I wish you the very best luck and hope that you bring forward with the goal to provide an end game and/or management a bountiful group of healthy fawns that will populate the future program for the disease. We anxiously watch to see if these of our industry here in Missouri. bills are supported in the coming months. Dear Members of the Missouri Deer Association,
Soon our Missouri Deer Association Annual Convention and Benefit Auction will be upon us. This year the event is scheduled for July 19-20, 2019 in Boonville, MO at the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel. For the past few years many members have expressed interest in moving the event to a location more central to the state and to pick a weekend that was earlier (before kids went back to school) to allow more families to attend. Hopefully this date and venue will work to everyone’s satisfaction. We look forward to seeing all our members at this event. Please come out and support the association so that we can continue our work to promote and protect the industry in Missouri. Even though last year ended on a sour note with the loss of our lawsuit, the board and I have not stopped working to ease the burden of regulations imposed on our members by having to be regulated by both Department of Agriculture and Missouri Department of Conservation. There are several initiatives and rule changes that are being negotiated between these agencies and our industry that I hope we will be able to reveal to our membership soon. While nothing will make up for the economic impact of the closing of the borders to the importation of live cervids, hopefully, the measures we are working toward will help ease the restrictions and make it easier and ultimately more profitable to do business inside the state. Not all news in the industry is negative. Recently, I represented Missouri as part of a delegation of NADEFA representatives in Washington D.C. lobbying for increases in federal funding for the USDA herd monitoring program and for publication of the new program standards, making way for the use of the “live test” for CWD at the state level. I’m happy to say that we were successful in both our endeavors. We secured a $3 Million dollar increase in the USDA Cervid Health Program and shortly after our visit, received confirmation that the new program standards were approved and published into effect. We also partnered with federal senators and members of congress to have companion bills filed in both houses providing for the development of a program funded at a level of $15 Million dollars and administered through the USDA with those funds strictly dedicated to CWD research, not 4
Subsequently, I attended an event for the US Animal Health Association in Ames, Iowa at the USDA disease research facility to discuss genetic resistance and live testing research. I was able to meet at length with Missouri’s new State Veterinarian, Dr. Steve Strubberg and the new State Assistant State Veterinarian, Dr. Jean Schmidt. While new to their respective positions, both are working diligently to get up to speed on our industry specific issues and have pledged to do all they can to assure we remain a viable industry moving forward. More on that hopefully soon…… As of the writing of this update we were also made aware of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s plan to reduce the size of the CWD Management Zone starting in July 2019. We are not yet quite sure of the impact this will have on our industry directly, but we will continue to monitor this for developments. What we do know is that MDC has reduced the number of counties in the management zone for CWD from 48 to 29, impacting restrictions on feeding deer, antlerpoint restrictions, antlerless permits and mandatory CWD sampling of wild deer. While these rules primarily effect the wild deer population, we all know that CWD positives in the wild directly impact issuance of permits for preserves and deer farms and on interstate and intrastate movement of cervids. We will continue to monitor this and will update you as we learn more. I hope everyone has a great summer and I hope to see each of you at the MDA Annual Convention and Benefit Auction on July 19-20 in Boonville, MO. As always, I am available to for any questions or input from our membership. I can be reached at 337-322-2569 or by email at: Jacques.demoss@gmail.com.
Regards, Jacques E. deMoss, President
®
News Release
UCalgary study finds vaccine protects against chronic wasting disease Results are timely as the deadly disease rapidly spreads in Alberta deer By Collene Ferguson, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine | University of Calgary | April 18, 2019
Cases of an infectious disease that kills deer, elk, and moose are on the rise in Alberta. Similar to mad cow disease (BSE) in cattle, chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease of members of the deer family. Infected animals lose weight drastically (wasting), and suffer other symptoms like stumbling, lack of co-ordination, and drooling. CWD is fatal in all cases. There is no cure, treatment, or way to prevent it. But the study of a vaccine against CWD has made researchers in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) hopeful. The study was published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. It found the vaccine, tested in a mouse model, prolonged the time before infected animals developed symptoms by up to 60 per cent. “The vaccine doesn’t prevent the disease, but it delays its onset,” says Dr. Dalia Abdelaziz, PhD, a researcher in Hermann Schaetzl’s lab. “And that’s what we want. In mice, if we are extending it for around 70 days that’s significant, because their life span is much shorter than deer or elk. That’s why we are excited about the results. We couldn’t induce full protection, but the survival time was greatly increased.”
Triggering an animals’ immune system to fight its own mutant proteins CWD isn’t caused by a virus or bacteria. The infective agent is a prion - an abnormal form of a harmless protein found in the brain. Once prions are present in the brain, they multiply by causing normal proteins to refold into an abnormal shape. “The immune system of the animal doesn’t detect prions as an enemy, so there’s no immune response against the disease,” says
Simrika Thapa, an Eyes High and Killam doctoral student and co-author of the study. “We are trying to create an immunogen that induces an immune response in the animal. It’s like a flu shot producing a response so your body recognizes and defends itself against the disease.”
CWD ‘spreading like crazy’ in North America “There’s no treatment, and the other huge problem with this disease is it’s very contagious, so its spreading like crazy in North America,” says Abdelaziz. “Animals spread the infection, shedding it in their urine, saliva and feces, and the result is the infection is almost everywhere in the environment.” “It’s not just in the animals’ brains, it’s in their muscles as well,” adds Thapa. “It’s not only in the central nervous system, it’s throughout the body. When an animal dies and decomposes in the environment, they are contaminating all the plants and the soil. So, when deer eat plants or get in contact with soil, the infectious protein gets inside the body. And the infectious protein can stay in the soil for many years.”
Does CWD pose a risk to people? There are questions about whether CWD can jump the species barrier and infect people. That’s what happened in another prion disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, the human form of mad cow disease.
“The potential of cross-species transmission into humans is an alarming issue and is still an open question,” says Abdelaziz. “There haven’t been any reported cases of CWD in people, but studies of squirrel monkeys have shown its transmissibility into nonhuman primates.” The Schaetzl lab is part of a multinational consortium studying whether CWD can infect also macaques, using transgenic mouse models as an additional read-out. The question now is whether the vaccine is as effective in deer. As a first step, Dr. Rob McCorkell, DVM, with the help of three vet med students, did immunization studies in reindeer at UCVM’s Spy Hill campus. “Our next step is to work on an oral vaccine that can be used in wildlife. You can’t vaccinate free-ranging deer by injection, so we are considering plant-based vaccines that can be eaten directly by deer and elk,” says Abdelaziz. “We are working on arranging collaborations with other facilities where it is possible to immunize and then infect with CWD, to test in the real host.” “We have lots of future directions in this project, and we are so excited.”
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The NADeFA Convention – Was once again a huge success! Even before Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, I’m planning for the spring NADeFA Convention. I see the convention not only as a way for us to come together and garner more support for the deer industry, but as a big family reunion. Journalist Gail Veley and I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones as we encourage deer farmers and advocates to become a part of each state association magazine, whether it be for their very own state association or for another one they do business with. This is a great way to share their farm, passion or products with others. This past convention was one of the best ever as Oklahoma is a great state to visit, and one of the very best for deer farming. A lot of detail went into planning the Multi State Association Booth. Not only did we assemble a large foldable velcro booth with each state associations quarterly magazine cover represented on it, we also had to decide where to put the hunting blind, Gail’s interview “office” during the convention. Interview subjects become magazine stories after the convention is over. As a result, we have several interesting articles to look forward to this year such as one about The Cervid Livestock Foundation, insights on whether or not to bottle feed, new feature farm stories as well as other interesting topics. The blind not only provided interviewees with a private space for interviews, it became a raffle prize through a drawing for those who signed up for three or more memberships. This year, we broke the record on new and renewed memberships sold with 87 total! The blind was definitely an eye-catcher and conversation starter as people walked by and visited us. We were proud to showcase the multi association booth which also included a table filled with complimentary magazines for all to take and enjoy reading. This provided a great way for them to learn about other state associations and served as additional inspiration to become involved with more than just their own. I feel a great deal of satisfaction in representing 14 state associations through quarterly magazines mailed to each state association member.
Gail interviewing inside the hunting blind
Rockin-R Whitetails interview on bottle feeding
Each year at the NADeFA Auction, D&K Design donates a ½ page ad for all 40 annual magazines. This year the bidding went as high as $2,750. We are very proud of this and for our ability to donate to and support NADeFA. The time and effort into preparing for each convention is well worth it and I wouldn’t want to miss NADeFA for the world. From the accommodating hotel with it’s amenities, the spacious convention hall, hearty well-prepared meals and much anticipated socializing, NADeFA seems to always live up to everyone’s expectations, just as it did this year. The deer industry is filled with some of the most down to earth, friendly helpful people you could ever meet, and I am proud to be a part of it. Gail and I can’t wait for next year!! Kathy Giesen, D&K Design
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FEEDING DEER IN LATE SPRING & SUMMER Michael L. Schlegel, PhD, PAS, Dipl. ACAS-Nutrition Sr. Nutritionist, Wildlife and Small Ruminant Technical Innovation Purina Animal Nutrition LLC The deer herd has survived the winter and early spring and is entering the most energy and nutrient demanding period of the year. Bucks have antlers developing, does are finishing gestation and starting to lactate, and fawns are growing at their peak rate. By late spring, most bucks are already growing antlers. Not only is antler growth energy demanding, but nutrient intake is critical as well. The growing antler is 80% protein and 20% ash (mineral) (Demarais and Strickland, 2011) and the bucks require high-quality dietary protein to be able to reach their genetic potential for antler growth. This increased energy and nutrient demand will continue until the antlers harden in the fall. During late spring, the doe hopefully is pregnant with at least twin fawns. During the last third of gestation (pregnancy), approximately the last 67 days of a 200-day gestation period (Ditchkoff, 2011), the fawns grow the most and the does’ energy and nutrient requirements increase as well. (NRC, 2007). When fawns are born, the does energy and nutrient requirements further increase to support milk production. Milk production peaks 10-37 days after fawning (Sadleir, 1980). During lactation, a doe with twin fawns will have a 54% and 36% increase in energy and protein requirements, respectively, compared to late gestation (NRC, 2007). During early lactation, the fawns’ demand for milk puts a significant demand on the doe’s resources that often causes the doe to lose body condition, especially if the doe is already in poor condition (Bahnak et al., 1979). To help maintain the doe’s body condition during lactation, supplemental feeding will offset changes in native forage availability. Fawn survival
and growth is dependent on milk consumption. If the doe does not receive sufficient nutrition, the amount of milk produced may be inadequate for the fawns, resulting in reduced growth rates and reduced survival (Ditchkoff, 2011; Verme and Ullrey, 1984; Youatt et al., 1965). Towards the end of summer, milk production begins to decrease with an associated decrease in energy and nutrient needs and the fawns are weaned and eating dry feed. Fawns grow at the most rapid rate early in life. Fawns begin foraging when they are a few weeks old and become functional ruminants at about two months of age (Short, 1964) and therefore high-quality nutrition in the form of native forage or supplemental feed will help the fawns reach their full growth potential. If areas are over-populated or if the summer is hot and dry, available native forage could become limiting. As discussed, the summer is a nutritional demanding period for bucks, does, and fawns. Ensuring adequate nutrition is critical to support antler development, lactation and growth. Supplemental feeding will help the animals meet their energy and nutrient requirements. Literature Cited Bahnak, B.R., J.C. Holland, L.J. Verme, J.J. Ozoga. 1979. Seasonal and nutritional effects on serum nitrogen constituents in white-tailed deer. Journal of Wildlife Management. 43:454-460. Demarais, S. and B.K. Strickland. 2011. Antlers. In: D.G. Hewitt, ed., Biology and Management of White-tailed deer, CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL. Pp. 107-145. Ditchkoff, S.S. 2011. Anatomy and physiology. In: D.G. Hewitt, ed., Biology and Management of White-tailed deer, CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL. Pp. 43-73. [NRC] National Research Council. 2007. Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. Sadleir, R.M.F.S. 1980. Milk yield of black-tailed deer. Journal of Wildlife Management. 44:472-478. Short, H.L. 1964. Postnatal stomach development of white-tailed deer. Journal of Wildlife Management. 28:445-458. Verme, L.J. and D.E. Ullrey. 1984. Physiology and Nutrition. In: White-tailed Deer Ecology and Management, L.K Halls, ed. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA. Youatt, W.G., L.J. Verme, and D.E. Ullrey. 1965. Composition of milk and blood in nursing whitetailed does and blood composition of their fawns. 13
You can also renew or sign up and make payment on our website:
missourideerassociation.com (if you still owe for 2018 membership, please include payment with your 2019 dues)
MDA - Membership Form Name: ____________________________________________________Spouse:______________________________________________ Farm Name/Company:___________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________ City:_____________________ State:______________ Zip:____________ Main Phone: __________________________ Alternate Phone:___________________________ Fax:___________________________ Email:___________________________________________________ Web Site:______________________________________________
I give permission to have my contact information published in the annual directory and on the website SINGLE Year Memberships: (Starts now and goes to end of 2019) ____
Yes
No
THREE Year Memberships: (Starts now and goes to end of 2021)
Large Breeder 2019 - $100
____ Large Breeder 2019-2021 - $300 (Voting Rights)
Small Breeder 2019 - $50
____ Small Breeder 2019-2021 - $150 (Less then 10 Deer, Non-Voter)
Hunting Ranch 2019 - $100
____ Hunting Ranch 2019-2021 - $300 (Voting Rights)
Affiliate Member 2019 - $50
____ Affiliate Member 2019-2021 - $150 (Supporter or Out of State Producer)
(Voting Rights) ____
(Less then 10 Deer, Non-Voter) ____ (Voting Rights) ____
(Supporter or Out of State Producer)
PAYMENT METHOD- Check: (Make checks or money orders payable to:)
Missouri Deer Association
Credit Card: Card #:
Ck #
Visa
MasterCard
American Express
Zip Code of CC Billing:
_____________________________________________________ Expiration Date: _____________________________________
Name on Card:___________________________________________________________________ CVV Code: _________________________________
Mail To: Missouri Deer Association (C/O Amanda Peckinpaugh) 1905 West Main Street, Marion, IL 62959 Fax To: 435-574-1937 • Membership Info: 435-817-0150
Thank You for Supporting MDA! 14
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Antlers4Me – Collecting and Creating Antler Keepsakes By: Gail Veley
Heath Merry is so well-known in the deer industry that if you simply refer to him as “Heath” at any deer convention, everyone knows exactly who you are talking about. Merry, owner of Antlers4Me, makes a living collecting antlers. He either preserves and “enhances” them in their natural state or creates other memorable sought-after keepsakes from them. An antler collector for the past 20 years or so, Merry, an avid outdoorsman, has been working for the last six years exclusively in his passion. He’s thoroughly enjoying every moment of it. In an effort to better keep up with demand, he recently brought on a new business partner, Chris Fruits, in July 2018. Together, Heath and Fruits gather antlers on public lands or buy them from deer farmers. Although they don’t mind driving long distances to states such as Pennsylvania and all the way to Texas from their home base in Delphos, Kansas to buy antlers, it needs to be worth their while to do so. “(The seller) would need to have between 400 to 500 pounds of antlers,” Heath said. “That’s about a hundred sets.” Some antler sets become sentimental wall mounts while other lesser-grade antlers turn into attractive ball-point pens, smart phone stands, key chains with hidden toothpick compartments, lighting fixtures, crosses, knives, dog chews and many other useful things. Although Merry is glad to purchase antlers from deer farmers, finding them in the wild is a bigger thrill. “Wild antlers have a whole different look to them,” he said. “They are the most beautiful colors.” Not only does Merry covet unique looking antlers, he himself is unique in that not many people do what he does and make an honest living at it. In fact, an internet search revealed only a handle of companies doing similar things as Merry with antlers. Yet, for Merry, it was only a matter of time before his long treks through the woods or strolls along river banks finding treasured antlers, would enable him to turn a profit. Although he obtained a degree in 2008 from the North Central Kansas Technical College and worked in the heating, plumbing and air-conditioning industry and later as an electrician, he made more money collecting antlers and had a lot more fun. After working nights as an electrician and collecting antlers during the day, he realized the ultimate direction he needed to head. When out in the field, he is careful to follow regulations from each state regarding antler collection. In his own home state of Kansas, for example, he must acquire a salvage tag from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism to legally keep wild deer antlers. In Kentucky, he cannot collect wild antlers and can only buy them from deer farmers. In Virginia, he cannot acquire antlers whatsoever. While he primarily collects whitetail antlers, he has also collected elk, caribou and moose antlers. After 20 years in the business, knows all the “ins-and-outs” of antler collection, and has a long list of loyal customers that just keeps getting longer. “I sort antlers and go through them and see what someone would want for a mount,” Merry explained. “Then I get on the phone and let them know what I have.” The finished product is an attractive, highly sought-after wall mount that’s admired by anyone who sees it. As Merry and Fruits look toward the future, Fruits plans to have his own deer farm on a recently-bought 10-acre parcel in Delphos, Kansas. Merry looks to continue his passion while planning more adventures to find the hidden treasures he, Fruits and so many others behold, as well as attending deer conventions. Merry is a member of many deer-related organizations. As such, he is a lifetime member of NADeFA, The Missouri Deer Association and the Texas Deer Association, to name a few.
Heath Merry / Chris Fruits • www.antlercreationz.com
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•
785-569-1734
• Antlers4me@yahoo.com
WOMENS BENEFIT AUCTION SOCIAL ​SPONSORED BY ANTLERS & ACORNS DEER FARM
All women from the convention are invited to join us for a social gathering on Friday, July 19, from 3:00 - 4:30 PM in the Pre-Function Area at Isle of Capri, Boonville. We ask that you bring as an entry, a basket of some sort to put in our mini auction during this event. Suggested baskets: something yummy, something women might like, doesnt matter what size. This will be a fun fund raiser. We will have an auction during the social and proceeds will go to help the MDA. So come have some fun socializing with the group, meet new friends, enjoy the auction! There will be light appetizers and beverages served. ​We hope to see all of the MDA women attend!!
Thank You Julie Young of Antlers & Acorns Deer Farm for sponsoring this event! Very important to go on line or call me to register at this point, only 2 weeks away from the event! missourideerassociation.com Call: 435-817-0150
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®
News Release
As we prepare for the upcoming fawning season, NADR wants to make you aware of some exciting technology improvements to assist in your breeding efforts.
Tissue Sample Collection Method We all know that most of the industry utilizes hair samples. This is an extremely laborious way of collecting samples and not to mention increases contamination between collection of different animals due to the hair blowing and sticking to everything it comes in contact with. The solution is a tissue sample method known as TSU Tubes utilizing the All-Flex Tissue Punch. This method has been used by our laboratory, GeneSeek for many years in other animal genetic testing.
NADR Registry Update This method will be more efficient as well as eliminate the mess associated with hair samples. The tubes have a unique number and barcode so they will eliminate confusion with any other animal. With a minimal invest of $50 for the applicator, you can be utilizing the new sample method in a few days upon placing your order. These tubes can be purchased in boxes of 10 from GeneSeek for $2.10 plus a small handling charge. The applicator and the tubes can be purchased at https://order.igenity. com/ NADR will reduce your parentage costs by $3 per tube submitted to the registry for testing. This will ensure you are not out of pocket any monies when utilizing this technology. For further information on how this sampling method works, take a look @ this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTVLR-nMr00
NADR Interactive Site As requested from our breeders, many have wanted to ability to make changes to their inventory
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without having to call the office. This feature is currently in testing and should be released by the end of April. Breeders will have the ability to: • • • •
Transfer animals between ranches Mark animal in your inventory “Deceased or Released” Update and Edit pictures of animals in your inventory Make name changes on those animals that do not have any offspring
For a sneak peak at how it will work, take a look @ this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6sPL3Yq07w We are excited about this new feature and will keep you updated as to its release. North American Deer Registry Office 1601 Medical Center Drive, Suite 1 Edmond, Oklahoma 73034\ Phone Number:405-513-7228 df
NUTRA-GLO
TM
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Details Emerge After Feds Wipe Out Deer Farm Herd When federal sharpshooters arrived in Crow Wing County last week to euthanize a herd of captive deer first infected with chronic wasting disease in 2016, they found more than one animal already dead, a state veterinarian with the Board of Animal Health said. Dr. Linda Glaser, an assistant director with the agency overseeing deer farms, also confirmed that the “depopulation’’ action killed a monstrous mule deer buck named Mass XL, a famous sire in deer farming circles. Glaser said the elimination of all 102 mule deer and whitetail deer at Trophy Woods Ranch in Merrifield sets up an important second phase of government oversight. For the next five years, state and federal officials will watch to ensure the owner complies with mandates to make the site less contagious. Healthy deer could become infected from environmental contact with soil and other surfaces contaminated by prions that cause chronic wasting disease (CWD). Infected deer shed the non-living protein particles in saliva, urine, blood, feces and antler velvet. They can persist for many years. “We will monitor,’’ Glaser said. Five years from now, the deer farm can be restocked, she said. But in the meantime the owner must gather, burn and bury all organic matter that could be contaminated with prions. That includes manure, feed, bedding and wooden feeders. Equipment must be cleaned, and the owner must keep the site enclosed by an 8-foot-high fence. He must notify authorities of any intrusion by wild deer, kill any such animal and have it tested for CWD. Glaser said the management plan doesn’t include mandates for soil scraping or other ground treatments because there are no viable methods proven as beneficial to fighting CWD. Nor does the plan address water runoff, she said. Lou Cornicelli, wildlife research supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources, said he had no comment on the site controls because he hasn’t seen the agreement. He previously said the depopulation action was overdue. Glaser said three other deer farms are located within a 15-mile radius of known CWD cases and those farms now face deer movement restrictions. Trophy Woods Ranch owner Kevin Schmidt could not be reached for comment. He agreed to surrender his deer for an undisclosed amount of taxpayer money controlled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Public pressure to put the pay-to-hunt ranch out of business mounted in February after the DNR announced that an emaciated, CWD-infected wild deer was found dead a half-mile away from Schmidt’s property. DNR wildlife officials had been fearful of an outbreak and the finding marked Minnesota’s first case of CWD in wild deer outside of the state’s southeast blufflands. 22
Glaser said the USDA will dispose of carcasses removed from the ranch, regardless of CWD test results. The highly anticipated CWD prevalence report is due in a matter of weeks. Asked how many deer were found dead at the ranch, Glaser said, “I’ll need to wait until I hear from the sampling group on the final numbers.’’ She did note that the combination of live deer and carcasses found at the ranch matched the state-monitored livestock inventory for the farm. Cornicelli said any dead deer found at the ranch would be considered high risk for having been infected by CWD. According to a recent document written by Glaser to summarize a 2017 USDA investigation of the Merrifield deer herd, five other deer were reported to have died in the herd with no samples submitted for CWD testing. The tests are mandatory but are impossible when the carcasses are not recovered in a timely manner or when predators have destroyed needed tissues. Since the deer farm was established in late 2012, nine deer have tested positive for CWD, Glaser said. The tests are only conducted on dead deer because there’s no reliable live test. Glaser said there were no deer escapes from Trophy Woods Ranch. Her report said there were shortcomings with the herd owner’s records regarding animal identification. Schmidt did not respond to the Star Tribune’s attempts to reach him by phone and Facebook Messenger. Torey Glenny of Tyrone, Pa., had been involved with Schmidt in marketing Mass XL, the star attraction at Trophy Woods Ranch. At age 2, the deer was described as the largest 2-year-old mule deer buck ever recorded. “They are killing the best mule deer that ever walked and all his sons and daughters,’’ Glenny said. “That deer was one in a billion.’’ Source: http://www.startribune.com/feds-wipe-out-infected-captive-deerherd-near-merrifield-minn/508852072/
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Bottle Feeding vs. Not – Comparing Benefits of Both It never fails. Every spring Nathan and Christy Ross need to bottle feed a few of their newborn fawns. Although the plan is always not too, if a fawn appears as though it may not make it without intervention, both feel obligated to step in and help. It may not be nature’s way, but it does help save newborn fawn lives at Rockin R’ Whitetails in Mountain Home, Texas. Yet still, Nathan and Christy, who are in their eighth year of deer farming, believe the heartiest youngsters are those raised as naturally as possible. “We love for the mama to be able to take care of them,” Christy said. “But we also want what’s best for that individual fawn. “ “We always try to do it naturally, but it always seems that out of 100 fawns or so, about ten percent of them need intervention for various reasons,” Nathan explained. “Some does have babies and just walk away from them while others are great at raising them. Or sometimes a doe has triplets and one fawn is too small to nurse or receive adequate attention from Mom. Bad, wet weather can also be an issue with umbilical cord infections or can cause bacteria in the soil. Life or death is the determining factor for us (for intervention.)” Other deer farmers, who feel intervention may not be the best course of action, agree that heartier deer are ones raised next to their mother. However, “if they were born weak and sickly, perhaps it wasn’t meant to be that they survive,” offered Chuck Blain of Twin Creek Farm in Fedora, South Dakota. “It’s nature’s way of promoting a stronger herd.” Echoing similar sentiments is Brad Heath of Orion Whitetails in Plainfield, Wisconsin. “There can be many more overall health issues such as scours when you intervene and bottle feed,” Heath said. “I’ve never seen scours in natural settings.” Heath, who has been through 22 successful fawning seasons, also believes naturally raised fawns have stronger survival instincts, and he sincerely appreciates the money, labor and time saved by not bottle feeding. However, given the high-quality of milk replacers available on the market, many
farmers such as Lester Eicher of Springfield Whitetails in Grabill, Indiana, feel bottle-raising their prize inventory and remaining more up-close and personal with their deer is a better way to go. Milk replacers can mimic the same ingredients found in natural milk and may even contain additional vitamins and probiotics. Many milk replacement companies go to great lengths to ensure their products are safe, thoughtfully manufactured and have long shelf lives. Bottle feeding with milk replacers also gives a deer farmer the control over the regularity and amount each fawn receives, ensuring all grow up with the best possible chance to thrive. Many deer farmers also feel that bottle-raised fawns are calmer and much easier to handle as they grow older, but will usually only bottle feed doe fawns, not bucks. However, both Heath and the Ross’s feel that every deer raised naturally will be just as calm as a bottle-fed one, given that you are always around them and caring for them. “Fawns see the interaction and they think it’s normal,” Nathan emphasized. Heath agreed while acknowledging “I’ve sold deer that were not bottle fed and you could feed them treats out of your hands. Put a bottle-fed deer and a non-bottle-fed deer side-by-side, and you can’t tell the difference.” In addition, “bottle feeding has been a trend to increase marketability,” Kristy said. After it’s said and done, whether you bottle feed or not, every successful deer farmer will agree about this: vaccinating does before they deliver fawns. Handsdown this is one the best pieces of advice any deer farmer can give or receive as it gives every fawn a head-start in life, regardless of what lies ahead. Because at the end of the day, every deer farmer wants the same thing. A hearty, healthy producing buck or doe that perpetuates quality genetics and longevity.
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Limitless Genetics
Showcasing the Best Does, Best Sires Limitless Genetics began in 2016 with one goal in mind – to stay on top of the latest, most sought after breeding bucks, breeding does and stocker bucks in the deer industry. “Actually, we try to stay ahead of what everyone wants,” said Owner and Ranch Manager Jesse Boger. “We offer some of the best pedigrees you can find anywhere.” Big-framed whitetail deer are the goal of this 20-acre breeding facility, home to close to 200 deer and nestled between San Antonio and Houston in the city of Schulenberg, Texas. In addition to having, as well as going after, the most impressive genetics available, the farm aims to acquire sisters, mothers and grand-dams of substantial breeding bucks that have proven to make a statement in the deer industry. “In an age where trends tend to swing from nontypical back to typical and vice-versa, we strive to always be ready to meet the demand,” Boger, 27, said. Bucks responsible for the foundation genetics on the farm today include Dreambuck, Gladiator, Maxbo, Super Moose and Yardstick to name just a few.
Currently close to 70 does are expecting fawns this spring, an exciting time of year for Boger and his wife Mia, both natives of Katy, Texas. Together they are both full-time deer farmers and the backbone of the entire operation. Mia, 29, a former veterinary technician for ten years, is top-notch when it comes to addressing medical issues and overall herd health, Boger said. And although they both run a ranch whose end goal is to cater to the hunting industry, neither one of them are particularly big hunters. “We get too attached to them,” Boger
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said. “Since I’ve been 14, I have been in love with whitetails.”
Today, Elsa and Forrest, two bottlefed does, are in love with him and Mia. “When they see us, they come running and pace the fence back and forth until we get in contact with them.”
A permanent attachment has also been formed with Orange 0118, the dam of Brain Freeze, bought as a bred doe from Madera Bonita Ranch at a DBC auction. Turns out, she was about to deliver the now “famous” breeding buck, one of the most popular bucks in contention now. Together with four other partners, Lone Hollow Whitetails, Gist Kinsman Ranch, High Point Whitetails and Pinnacle Whitetails, Limitless Genetics is working to spread the genetics of Brain Freeze to any interested deer farmers. Buying Orange 0118 “was something special that does not happen very often,” Boger said. “She now has a permanent home with us.”
However, what is a common occurrence at Limitless Genetics are partnerships between them and other farms. Some of these partnerships include Shockwave with Cross Canyon Whitetails, 3S Whitetails and Double B Whitetails, Nightfall with Pinnacle Whitetails as well as War Admiral with Cross Canyon Whitetails. Before Boger ever began his farm or got where he is today, he spent quite a bit of time studying the best ways to design and build a facility, manage deer and breed the best genetics. He credits his past business partner, Mike Woods of WB Whitetails, for mentoring him along the way and providing him with insight. Those experiences, along with Boger’s determination, are enabling him to see a strong future with deer always in it. “I’m always thinking of the future and how to continue to improve the herd,” Boger said. “I’m always striving and planning for a better future.”
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USDA APHIS Announces Finalized Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Standards ®
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 05/20/2019 02:00 PM EDT The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has finalized the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program Standards that were originally published on March 29, 2018 for stakeholder feedback. APHIS made revisions to the standards based on input from internal and external stakeholders, including U.S. and Canadian scientific experts on CWD and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, a working group of State and Federal animal health and wildlife officials, and representatives from the farmed cervid industry.
Federal Regulations’ requirement for mortality testing; simplifying fencing requirements; adding biosecurity recommendations; and describing the Agency’s intended approach to update the CWDsusceptible species list. APHIS also outlines factors for determining indemnity and includes a table with possible reductions in herd certification status that States may consider for herd owners that do not submit required mortality surveillance samples or consistently submit unusable testing samples. When APHIS published the revised CWD Herd Certification program standards in 2018, it received 334 comments from state animal health
agencies, wildlife agencies and organizations, cervid producers, and other industry stakeholders. After reviewing the comments, APHIS made considerable effort-within the bounds of our authority-to address all concerns while maintaining program integrity. The final revised Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Standards are in effect and can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/ cervid/cervids-cwd/cervids-voluntary-hcp. These final standards will also be published in a notice in the Federal Register in the coming weeks.
The revisions cover a variety of topics including: adding guidelines for live animal testing in specific situations; clarifying how disease investigations should be handled; aligning with the Code of
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Animal Rights Groups Sue Over Iowa’s Ag-Gag Law farm where PETA would conduct an undercover investigation in response to a 2017 whistleblower complaint. “It’s important for Iowans because these are core and fundamental free speech rights,” said ACLU Iowa attorney Rita Bettis Austen. “It’s also important for Iowans because the actual violations that are documented through these undercover efforts, whether conditions inside puppy mills or abusive violations of labor rights for the least powerful Iowa workers who are in these Iowa ag facilities, simply wouldn’t get covered. They wouldn’t even be known except for these undercover investigative methods.”
Animal rights groups filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging a new Iowa law that makes it a trespass crime to conduct undercover investigations at livestock farms, a measure the Legislature approved just weeks after a federal judge struck down a similar law. The latest bill was approved by the Senate and House on March 12 and signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds two days later. It creates a trespass charge for those who use deception to gain access to a farm to cause physical or economic harm, with a penalty of up to a year in jail. It also allows for a conspiracy charge that carries a similar penalty.Iowa lawmakers passed the new law just two months after a federal judge struck down a law they passed in 2012 that the court concluded violated free-speech rights. That law made it a fraud crime to lie to get a job at a farm to do undercover investigations. The ruling is on appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.The latest lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Des Moines claims the new law, which became effective the day Reynolds signed it, violates constitutional free speech and due process rights and is unconstitutionally vague and overly broad. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement, Bailing Out Benji, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Center for Food Safety ask a judge to prevent the state from enforcing the law and to strike it down as unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa is providing legal assistance in the case.
Sen. Ken Rozenboom, the Republican who managed the new law on the Senate floor, has said it is more narrowly focused than the 2012 law. Rozenboom, a hog farmer, argued during Senate debate that “agriculture in Iowa deserves protection from those who would intentionally use deceptive practices to distort public perception of best practices to safely and responsibly produce food.” “I wish they’d find something better to do than defend liars and people that misrepresent the truth,” he said Monday. He said the bill also serves as an important safeguard against spreading foreign animal diseases that would bring Iowa agriculture to its knees. Reynolds said in a statement that she’s committed to protecting Iowa farmers. “We are working with the attorney general’s office to ensure this legislation that supports farmers is upheld,” she said. The groups say their inability to conduct undercover investigations in Iowa allows agricultural enterprises in Iowa to keep hidden from public scrutiny food safety, labor, and animal welfare issues. The animal rights groups also say the new law applies to the states estimated 250 puppy mills, facilities that breed large numbers of dogs for the pet trade, some of which have been found to allow dogs to suffer in abusive conditions. Source: https://wqad.com/2019/04/24/animal-rights-groups-sueiowa-over-its-latest-ag-gag-law/
The lawsuit names Reynolds, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and the county prosecutor in Montgomery County, the site of an egg 32
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THE HISTORY OF WILDERNESS CALLS – Home of the Double D Gravity Deer Feeder
By: Gail Veley
Florida native and deer enthusiast Sam Kight kept getting calls from salesmen, close to a decade ago, promoting their deer feeders. Trouble was he wasn’t interested. He already had his own selfinvented deer feeder. Today, hundreds of deer enthusiasts, deer farmers, hunters, ranchers, land managers and outfitters have one, too. Since 2011 Wilderness Calls, founded by Sam, has offered the most innovative and fool-proof wildlife feeders available anywhere. When it comes to deer feeders, bears can’t destroy them. Raccoons can’t raid them. They hold substantial amounts of feed, and nothing goes to waste. “I made them at first to help deer on my own property,” Sam, 62, said. “I then realized how much they would help everyone else. I really care about my feeder because I want them to work. I’m in competition with myself and no one else.” In the beginning, Sam created feeders capable of holding 150 to 500 pounds of feed for both deer lovers or for those who wanted to “bait” deer. He experienced a few growing pains in creating his galvanized American-made steel feeders that last between 25 and 30 years. Later, he would realize the need to create larger feeders for deer farmers who needed them to help feed and manage their herds. He also created a lasting impression with the name for his most popular deer feeder: The Double D (Deer
Diner) Gravity Deer Feeder. His feeders have been a popular feature at NADeFA for the last five years.
perhaps become permanent residents there. He’s even witnessed fawns get their first-taste of “real food.”
“When I realized the large demand in the deer farming industry for wider feeders like the Double D, I created it,” Sam said. Available feeders from Wilderness Calls also include a smaller combination feeder for both mature and younger deer, as well as larger, expanded feeders that allow up to eight does or three to four bucks to feed at once. Depending on which size you need, feeders can hold from 150 pounds of feed up to a ton of feed. Perhaps just as important as the feeder size, the grain or pellets placed inside each feeder cannot get wet because of the thoughtfully created roof and sides. “My customers have already seen the efficiency of the Double D deer feeder,” Sam said. “It caters specifically to deer farmers and they love it.”
Sam, a former Florida highway patrol officer, truly appreciates knowing his feeder works effectively, and he appreciates his loyal customers as well. In an effort to be accessible to them, Sam tries to answer his phone each and every time it rings. He and his associate “Ms. Marlene” travel to numerous annual trade shows and deer breeder conventions to promote Wilderness Calls, where Sam takes the necessary time to carefully assemble one of his feeders. Both are members of several associations such as the Texas Deer Association, the Deer Breeders Cooperative and NADeFA. When you meet Sam, his heart and soul show through as someone who knows they are making a difference in the deer industry. He even sends Christmas cards each year to all of his customers, many of whom bring repeat business.
Because of the no-waste mechanism built into every feeder, it prevents wild hogs from eating spilled grain, or attracting them in the first place. In addition, Sam has also invented feeders specifically designed for squirrels, bull elk as well as fawns. Although raccoons can raid a fawn feeder, it is just as durable and long-lasting as larger feeders. Since Sam placed these feeders on his open-land properties in Florida and Georgia, wild deer have begun to stick around and
“I’ve met so many great people,” Sam said. “I’m happy every day I’ve done what I did. We are enjoying what we are doing. So many guys see me at (the deer shows) and thank me. Some of my customers see me somewhere and say ‘hey that feeder is the best the best damn thing I ever bought.’” Sam hopes anyone who hasn’t bought a feeder yet, will feel the same way they do soon.
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