Why inst there a focus on EHD?

[gjs4]

So my epic azzkicking in seOH continues. At least three counties have been hammered with EHD. Athens, where I am at, is on week three with it starting at the beginning of August. At the end of week two, the game agency had received over 500 REPORTS of dead deer found. The valleys smell like death and bridge crossings usually have at least one in sight.

Fall 2022- Purchased- EHD
2023- 100yr drought all summer and half of fall
2024- 150+yr drought summer and fall
2025- record rain all spring and it goes drought mid August. Record EHD kills.

In 23 & 24 I ran RWS Maximizer and Anilogics products. Laugh if you want, it was a desperate mans measures. Not much ehd reported in this area because it was bone dry. Also did some insect spraying near water, a few fly strips and some some probiotic additive. In late 23 I tried some equine anti fly feed but the deer didnt want anything to do with it. I ran a Buck Muffin (which is also supposed to create some repellency) and despite so many big fans out there- my deer hated it. My macro area is reported to be on the higher side of average for deer density with the micro (neighborhood) view being on the lower side of average and balanced for buck:does.

So in case you hadnt heard- my portion of OH seems to be the epicenter of ehd deer casulty at a record setting proceeding. Have to cry at the ole "they bounce back in 2-3-5 years" expression. Not if they all die every few years.

Anyway...... heres the big question and one that needs more attention:

Why is EHD not being studied from a herd impacts stand point?

I know there are feed companies, and even moreso HSUS-PETA-etc trying to prove it is communicable to humans to tank hunting......but i mean game agencies, the worthless NDA, etc....

 

[BenA]

It's because it's a known disease that we already know what to expect in the long run. We dealt with it a lot in the south in the 70s-80s. You don't hear a great deal about it anymore down here because of the immunity. It's migrating north due to some factor like global warming or some other natural change. It sucks, but it has a known cycle and outcome.

 

[Double Creek]

I think BenA is correct. I was born in the late 70's and always heard stories of "blue tongue" and how many deer it killed. The only time I saw it was in the late 80's I found 5 mature bucks in velvet dead around a water hole. I couldn't understand how they all died. Looking back, it was obviously EHD. That was in Mississippi. I have not seen it since.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

There are wildlife biologists doing research on it. There was a study published just last year on modeling it's spread based on environmental conditions. And the NDA has a summary of this model and what it is on their website.

 

[goatman]

EHD or blue tongue has been around forever. Mark Drury said while back they are hearing of 4 new strains of it. Mother nature will always maintain numbers some how. Your ground can only support so many of anything. There will be good years.

 

[hillrunner]

EHD or blue tongue has been around forever. Mark Drury said while back they are hearing of 4 new strains of it. Mother nature will always maintain numbers some how. Your ground can only support so many of anything. There will be good years.

Are you suggesting ehd is driven by over population?

 

[Catscratch]

Are you suggesting ehd is driven by over population?

Absolutely can be. The virus is transferred from midge to deer, but also deer to midge. When deer get bit and infected at one water hole, then move to another they can infect the midges at the new water hole. The higher the population the more likely the virus gets moved to more water holes.

 

[SD51555]

Why?

Because EHD is doing what CWD failed to do.




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[hillrunner]

Absolutely can be. The virus is transferred from midge to deer, but also deer to midge. When deer get bit and infected at one water hole, then move to another they can infect the midges at the new water hole. The higher the population the more likely the virus gets moved to more water holes.

I didn't realize that. I hate EHD. We've been decimated more than once.
I wonder if more water holes is better as to not congregate deer during those late summer droughts?

 

[SD51555]

I would not wait for anyone to solve this. The answer is pretty straight forward. The midge is the problem. The midge loves exposed mud. I'd be studying or trying things to change conditions to not favor the midge. I'd be spreading sand, limestone, diatomaceous earth, salt, wood chips, cedar chips, something to change conditions so that mud is not a suitable host for the midge. Bring the water up, get rid of the water altogether, etc.

Maybe a small water hole needs to be filled in and a solar powered well water tank installed instead.

I'm certain this can't be done on a large scale like a river, but if you've got water holes, midge-proof your mud and make some safe spaces. Then figure out how to make the water more appealing to deer to keep them there and away from poor water sites.

 

[Catscratch]

Personally, I filled in the shallow sides of my water holes with gravel and left them with straight sides. Researched insecticides but chose not to. And completely filled in several low spots near food plots (presumably the deer would frequent them).

 

[SD51555]

It would be really interesting if a group of landowners could put together a large area where it is feasible to mid proof every water hole and see if that zone could be a bright spot in a hot EHD zone.

 

[Mortenson]

Combating this issue is impossible in my mind. I'll be real, I'm reprioritizing things. 2012 & 2013 crushed us. Was a long haul to get a touch of age structure back. 2024 was awful. I didn't bowhunt in 24, nor shoot a deer. I won't buck hunt at all in 25. I'll take a doe if my sons can't get 3 in the freezer on their tags. We want the venison and will gamble that uncle sugar daddy and nature will allow for some replenish of the herd.

Won't be any cooperation among neighbors as far as midge control. Rugged creek bottom. Junk ponds and mud holes everywhere. Will re-assess every year. Deer are resilient. I think they're tougher than a midge.

Plan is to help son #2 Henry get his 1st deer and have a memorable season. That's my only goal as far as deer hunting goes. The days of numerous mature bucks are gone and just like our malls, they're not coming back.

 

[Telemark]

Would a copper solution in the water hole prevent the larva from surviving?

 

[cbw]

Our area of SW Iowa has been hammered by EHD the past few years. One farm 4 miles from us found 40+ dead deer last summer/fall.

Gratefully, I have not found a single dead deer that looked like it was from EHD (in water, etc). Our farm has 8 ponds, several creeks and a river that run through the property, so no way we can get rid of the mud without blowing out our dams.

The one thing that we do is put out a self-mixed mineral that I pulled from Skip Sligh (IowaWhitetail). It includes a liberal amount of garlic powder that he swears helps keep the midges off the deer. Was that the reason our farm seems to be an island without EHD deaths? I dunno, but I’ll keep using it.

That said, because deer disperse, our population numbers on our farm are still down.


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[Buckhunter10]

I will add that for SE Ohio, they are saying this year was the perfect storm. We had TONS of rain in June/July - things were looking great for water flow and reducing stagnant pools of water, albeit never 100%. However, in August, the spicot turned off. We have not had rain in 15+ days in much of southeast Ohio. I think at my farm, we have had around 0.50 inches since August started (most of that was front-loaded).

They are calling this the perfect storm, as everything dried up after major rainfall - small mud holes in the woods and dried-up creek banks created a perfect midge habitat. Additionally, we have a high deer population, and the number of infected deer is also increasing.

All that to say, I'd be lying if I were not sick to my stomach about all the work we've put in on the farm to watch it vanish before our eyes, but at the end of the day, my babies and family are healthy, and that puts things into perspective. The deer will be back.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I will add that for SE Ohio, they are saying this year was the perfect storm. We had TONS of rain in June/July - things were looking great for water flow and reducing stagnant pools of water, albeit never 100%. However, in August, the spicot turned off. We have not had rain in 15+ days in much of southeast Ohio. I think at my farm, we have had around 0.50 inches since August started (most of that was front-loaded).

They are calling this the perfect storm, as everything dried up after major rainfall - small mud holes in the woods and dried-up creek banks created a perfect midge habitat. Additionally, we have a high deer population, and the number of infected deer is also increasing.

All that to say, I'd be lying if I were not sick to my stomach about all the work we've put in on the farm to watch it vanish before our eyes, but at the end of the day, my babies and family are healthy, and that puts things into perspective. The deer will be back.

Same in ky. Absolutely crusty. May and June were flooded. I’m getting nervous

 

[KY wild]

Same in ky. Absolutely crusty. May and June were flooded. I’m getting nervous

I found this deer in Ky last week, near a creek. I would assume EHD. Rained every week April through July, now I have not had a drop in August.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Man it’s gonna be an issue I just know it. I hate that you found one. I ran a flock of buzzards out of some trees yesterday but didn’t see or smell anything.

 

[Mortenson]

Would a copper solution in the water hole prevent the larva from surviving?

Can't supplement anything to the deer in IL.