Trouble for ohio deer farmers ?

I don't know if it's true or not but in my opinion that would be the best thing for your industry. We all belong under alternative livestock and should have no licenses just because we raise deer or elk. Cattle people don't have a licenses, really why should we? It's just the DNR way to keep us under their control.



As most of you know we in Montana were the first to lose most rights for game ranching by an public initiative.

The first thing we in Montana learned was under a license from the DNR we had no rights as a license is a privilege and not a right and can be changed at will. This was the main focus in all legal opinions from the judges that heard all the cases brought against the loss of the Montana elk and deer industry.



All board member deer and elk people in charge should look at these decisions from Montana judges to see if your State is trying to place themselves in this same place so they can follow in Montana's footsteps.



My advice is if you ever get a chance to remove yourself from under the DNR go for it as our industry is in competition for the same customers on our shooting ranches. DNR has no love for this industry and most will say they want this industry gone.

Please find attached background information on Senate bill 225 and Housebill 410.



This legislation threatens to transfer jurisdictional

authority for deer propagators and hunting preserves from the Division

of Wildlife to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. It is scheduled for

sponsor testimony in the Senate on Weds. Jan.27th. Please have

interested members contact their senators in opposition to the bill,

particularly contacts to Senators on the Senate Agriculture Committee (

see link below )



Thank you,



Jim Marshall

Asst. Chief







HB 410 SB 225: Talking Points

January 21, 2010





Legislation at issue: HB 410 and SB 225 which propose to transfer regulatory authority over cervid propagation and hunting preserve facilities from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife to the Department of Agriculture.



Background: The Division of Wildlife holds in trust the ownership of all wild animals in the state for the benefit of all the people. ORC requires the Division to enforce the laws and rules providing for the protection, preservation, propagation and management of wild animals. The Division of Wildlife has in place an effective law enforcement unit that consists of 137 officers located throughout the state in all 88 counties that inspect propagation and hunting preserve facilities and enforce rules associated with captive deer. There are currently more than 700 propagators in Ohio and between 25 and 30 deer hunting preserves. There are documented cases of CWD-infected captive deer which raises fear that it could be transmitted to wild deer.



CWD, which causes a fatal degeneration of the brain in white-tailed deer and other cervids, poses a severe biological threat to Ohio’s deer population. There are also grave sociological and economic threats to the state’s citizens should the disease come to Ohio. Without the ability to enforce rules pertaining to captive white-tailed deer, the Division’s ability to protect wild populations of these animals from disease is severely impacted. Maintaining healthy wildlife populations is the most basic function of the Division of Wildlife. The Division’s business-friendly regulations and consistent enforcement of regulations protects both the wild herd and the state’s captive deer industry.



Enforcement and Surveillance



Numerous cases of non-CWD certified deer being moved to and from Ohio have been documented, as have cases of propagators taking or obtaining deer from the wild. Since July 1, 2007 wildlife officers have conducted 395 inspections of deer holding facilities. Forty-one issues or problems were documented and 16 charges were filed. Current cases involve cooperation with other states and with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Charges include conspiracy, violations of the Lacey Act and interstate transportation of non-CWD certified deer. In a Highland County case, our officers discovered illegal importation of deer from a CWD infected area resulting in a joint-agency decision to eradicate the herd. In another current case a propagator was convicted of 14 felony counts. The Division of Wildlife, with its significant numbers of well-trained law enforcement officers is uniquely suited to dealing with laws and rules dealing with captive cervids.



The Division of Wildlife, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Agriculture's (ODA) Division of Animal Industry and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services and Wildlife Services, has been conducting surveillance throughout the state for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), as well as epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bovine tuberculosis since 2002 (TB testing was initiated in 1996). The Division’s surveillance effort is based upon potential disease exposure risk. This effort is intended to aggressively monitor the wild herd for CWD with a focus on those animals that are most likely to contract the disease.



Economic Issues



• Ohio’s deer management program is one of the most envied in the country. The state ranks 8th nationally for the number of resident hunters. It also ranks 8th nationally in annual hunting-related sales and 10th in the number of jobs associated with the hunting-related industry. Each year, hunting has an $859 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging, etc. (USFWS 2006 National Survey of Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation and Southwick Associates and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Hunting in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse)



• The Division of Wildlife was honored with the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) 2009 Agency of the Year Award. QDMA annually recognizes a state wildlife agency for its dedication to the quality deer management philosophy and the positive results it has yielded.



• Nationally, Ohio has become known as a major deer hunting state with several world record animals having been taken in recent years. Non-resident hunting license sales have increased by 55% over the last five years.



• CWD was detected in the state of Wisconsin in 2002; resident hunter numbers dropped by 10% and non-resident numbers dropped by 19%. Financial loss associated with losing those hunters was estimated at about $20 million. In addition, WI spent $12.6 million combating CWD in 2003 and has spent $5 million annually since.



Potentially Impacted Interests



• Disease in Ohio’s wild deer population would negatively impact participation by the state’s 415,736 licensed resident hunters and the 35,115 licensed non-resident hunters who travel here.



• A thriving venison donation program that provided about 400,000 meals to needy families throughout the state in 2009



• The 3,357,000 Ohioans who list wildlife watching as their outdoor-related activity



Small Businesses that would be negatively impacted

• The 338+ taxidermists who support Ohio’s deer hunting industry



• The state’s 250 - 350 deer processors.

• Hotels/motels

• Campgrounds

• Restaurants

• Sporting goods stores

• Gas stations/fuel retailers

• Hunting license agents





Conclusion



The Division of Wildlife has successfully regulated the hunting preserves and propagators since 1953 and deer propagators since 1994. It is in the process of implementing additional rules that reinforce the protection of the state’s wild deer herd. While the Division cannot prevent diseases introduced through natural movement or migration of deer, it can implement and enforce regulations as a preventative measure to minimize the risk from the spread of disease through the intrastate movement of live captive wildlife or hunter-harvested wildlife.



The ability of escaped or released captive deer to bring disease to the wild herd is a major concern on many levels, including economic. There is no method to distinguish an escaped captive deer from a free-ranging wild deer. CWD has been detected in nearby states of Michigan, Illinois, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and New York as well as 8 other states. Under the Division of Wildlife’s regulatory diligence Ohio stands out for the disease not having being been detected here.













Bullet Points for HB 410 & SB 225





1. A bill has been introduced that would transfer regulatory authority of captive cervids (white-tailed and other deer) from the ODNR Division of Wildlife (DOW) to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. (House Bill 410 and Senate Bill 225)



2. Hunting contributes $859 million to Ohio’s economy each year. A diseased wild deer herd would drastically reduce this major revenue generator.



3. There are documented cases of CWD-infected captive deer that raise fear that it could be transmitted to wild deer.



4. One major disease, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been detected and has negatively impacted the deer herds in five nearby states and eight other states throughout the country. CWD has NOT been detected in Ohio.



5. DOW has 137 Wildlife Officers across the state that inspect propagation and hunting preserve facilities.



6. DOW has an extensive, well-trained staff of biologists who are devoted to the health and management of Ohio’s wild deer herd.



7. The Division of Wildlife has successfully regulated hunting preserves and game propagators since 1953.



8. Many small businesses in Ohio, including hundreds of taxidermists, meat processors, sporting goods retailers, restaurants and motels directly benefit from the Division’s successful management of a healthy, abundant and well-distributed wild deer herd.



9. Ohio is nationally recognized for its successful deer management program.



10. The Division of Wildlife has drafted additional rules for protecting Ohio’s wild deer herd and their implementation will include common sense monitoring of diseases within captive deer facilities in Ohio.



It is critical for the Division of Wildlife to maintain its regulation and authority over captive cervids as a tool to protect Ohio’s wild deer herd.

Got it off of another sight

In WI we have been under Dept. of Agr for quite a while. While it isn't a picnic, they are better qualified to deal with farmed livestock than DNR. Agr. has vets - DNR has wildlife biologists. It is universal that DNR in any state does not like deer farms while at least Agr. looks at it as another animal industry. We supported the change here.

You can correct me if i am wrong but i believe our Ohio Deer Farmers Association has been working toward our Ohio industry to be moved from the DNR to the division of Ag.... so i believe if this is successful it would be a win for deer farmers in Ohio

HB 410 and SB 225 have been submitted by State Representative Mark Okey and State Senator Bob Gibbs at the request of the Whitetail Deer Farmers of Ohio. After years of trying to work with and being lied to by the ODNR, it became necessary to try to preserve our industry by shifting regulation from a very unfriendly ODNR to the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture (ODA). Many of us deer farmers feel that continued regulation by ODNR will result in the industry being regulated completely out of business. In the summer of 2008, we were promised by the ODNR that they would not submit any rule changes that we did not agree with. Then in October of that same year, we learned of rule changes for our industry by reading about them in the newspaper. ODNR not only made changes that we did not agree to, they wouldn't even give us the courtesy of telling us ahead of time. Even to this day, their promise to work with our industry continues to be ignored.



I would add that the Bills will be tweaked along the way and changes will be made. What you see on paper today will not be the finished product. Rep. Okey and Sen. Gibbs have indicated a willingness to work with our industry to get good workable legislation for our industry. These regulatory changes will in no way hinder the ability of ODNR to protect the wild deer population in Ohio. ODNR would continue to have the ability to investigate illegal activities just as they do right now. I urge all Ohio deer farmers to contact their representatives and voice their support for these Bills.

Big thanks to Steve and Carolyn for being the voice of what is best for our Ohio Deer Farmers. The DNR has no business regulating the farming of an agriculture animal. Wonder what office I would call for information on meds, disease prevention etc. Not sure my friendly CO would have an idea.

Thanks Steve and Carolyn

Steve, couldn't have said it better. We have the same issue here in Michigan. We neeed to get out and under their iron hands. MDA is the proper agency. Under DNR we have gone from over 700 in 2008 to under 400 this year. Hope to have our own bill in to transfer.

Here in N.Y. we are under both the DEC and Ag and Mkting. The DEC makes sure our pens and fences are up to code and issues our annual license. That we must apply for each year. We need to show how many deer we have, bought, sold, died and how many were born. Not expensive, $25 if you just want to own deer and $50 if you want to buy and sell them. And Ag and Mkting tracks our deer. Annual inventory, move permits, TB testing, and Cwd testing. All free for the time being which is nice. They don't like us much but with their tight budgets and cut backs they have more important things to ocupy their minds right now.