Know The Truths
Protecting Texas Whitetail Hunting, Ranchers & Deer Breeding
The Truth About CWD in Texas
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Impact on Texas Economy
Texas Parks and TAHC are driving people out of the deer breeding business, dramatically increasing hunting costs and forcing hunters to leave Texas
$9.6 Billion Industry
Texas deer hunting generates massive economic impact annually
Rising Costs
Regulations driving up hunting prices, forcing hunters out of state
Job Losses
Deer breeders being driven out of business across Texas
0.18% Rate
Only 558 positive tests out of 337,770 cervids tested
The Real Question:
Does Texas really want to control or eradicate CWD, or eradicate deer breeders? If Texas wants to control CWD, what is their scientific plan to do so?
What Research Actually Shows
Real data about CWD that agencies don't want you to know
300 Years of History
Scrapie/CWD has existed for almost 300 years with no evidence of human transmission
Journal Research
The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2023) states CWD is Scrapie - sheep can pass to deer, but deer cannot pass to sheep/goats
No Pen-to-Wild Transmission
No proof that any pen deer has ever spread CWD to deer outside of a pen
Wildlife Carriers
Proven that raccoons, pigs, and birds can transmit CWD prions
CWD Positive Rate in Texas
According to Parks' own data through December 31st, 2023: 337,770 cervids tested, only 558 whitetails tested positive
With a 0.18% positive rate - IS CWD REALLY A BIG DEAL???
The Facts About CWD in Texas
Comprehensive analysis of the real impact and scientific evidence
Impact on Texas Economy
Texas Parks and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) are driving people out of the deer breeding business. Supply & demand has driven the price of live Whitetail deer up dramatically in Texas. This has driven up the price of deer hunting in Texas to the point that Texas hunters are now going out of state and out of state hunters are going to other states, lowering gross income from hunting to Texas.
Deer hunting in Texas is a $9.6 billion business. Without deer breeders in Texas, the amount of money generated in Texas by Whitetail hunting will continue to decline.
The real question is: does Texas really want to control or eradicate CWD or eradicate deer breeders? If Texas wants to really control or eradicate CWD, what is their scientific plan to do so?
Historical Context
Scrapie/CWD has been around for almost 300 years and there is no evidence that it has ever been or can be transmitted to humans.
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 227 Issue 12, June 15th 2023
Transmission Reality
- No proof that any pen deer has ever spread CWD to another deer outside of a pen
- Proven that raccoons, pigs and birds can transmit CWD prions
- CWD first found in Texas in wild mule deer in 2012, miles from any breeder pens
Research Evidence
University Research:
Both Mississippi State University and University of North Carolina research proved that CWD material was in approximately 50% of the scrapes made by wild deer, proving that CWD is in wild deer.
Testing Methods:
There are at least 4 methods to live test deer that can be used to test deer for CWD prior to releasing a pen deer. All deer released from breeder pens must go to either another breeder or to a high fence release site - they are contained, not running loose across Texas.
Lack of Transparency
Parks and TAHC will not allow a deer breeder to be on his ranch when they come to slaughter pen deer. No counting deer, no evidence, no samples for ranch owner and no videoing of the slaughter. If Parks is doing such a great service and proud of themselves, why not video it?
Parks and TAHC have no science to back up their actions of killing people's pen deer. They even killed their own deer (approx. 90) at the Kerr Wildlife Facility because of a supposed false positive.
If Parks and TAHC really wanted to control and/or eradicate CWD, they should have been begging Robert Williams to do research at his ranch instead of slaughtering his 249 deer with rifles instead of humanely euthanizing his deer in his barn with a simple needle.
Legal Analysis & USDA Documentation
The USDA is the entity that provides money for the slaughtering of people's deer. USDA rules (page 34) state that USDA will only pay deer breeders for the deer they "own." Parks signed that agreement with USDA. Parks has helped some Texas deer breeders to receive USDA funds, so does this mean Parks agrees that deer breeders own their deer?
Texas Tech Law School
Wrote a 33-page report that Texas should be paying deer breeders the fair market value for the breeder's private property rights.
Drake Law Journal
Also authored an article expressing the same opinion as the Texas Tech article regarding private property rights.
Official TPWD Documentation
Below is the official letter from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to Rick Young, detailing their plan to euthanize and destroy his entire deer herd based on limited CWD findings.
This letter demonstrates the government's approach to deer breeding operations and the lack of scientific justification for wholesale herd destruction.
Triple AAA&J Ranch Case
Rick Young's fight against government overreach
Rick Young's Battle
The Situation:
- Two breeding facilities over 1 mile apart
- Facility #2 had one positive test (August 2022)
- Facility #1: 21 bucks tested negative (March 2022)
- $152,000 contract sale blocked by Parks
- 9 bucks killed fighting - all tested negative for CWD
Current Herd Value: $705,000
Legal Battle: Rick has 6 attorneys fighting Parks and TAHC. Obtained temporary restraining order to prevent slaughter.
How Other States Handle CWD
Science-based approaches vs. Texas overreach
Pennsylvania
Policy:
Stopped slaughtering pen deer 4 years ago
Result:
No ill effects on wild deer populations
Michigan
Policy:
Allows CWD-positive breeders to continue with hunting ranch releases
Result:
No ill effects reported
Wisconsin
Policy:
Does not kill deer in breeder pens, allows hunting ranch releases
Result:
No ill effects, successful breeding programs
Oklahoma
Policy:
Passed law in May 2024 allowing breeder deer release to wild
Result:
Science-based approach to breed out CWD
Texas
Policy:
Mandatory slaughter of entire herds for single positive
Result:
Destroying $9.6B industry, no scientific basis
Science-Driven Solutions
Real research being ignored by Texas agencies
Dr. Daniel M. Hardy - Texas Tech
- Developed blood test for live deer CWD detection
- Parks and TAHC showed no interest until USDA insisted
- Requested inclusion in deer slaughters for research
- Hunter Reed failed to inform Dr. Hardy about April 2024 slaughter
"This proves Parks and TAHC have no real interest in eradicating CWD, rather just eradicating deer breeders."
Dr. Chris Seabury - Genetic Research
- CWD is a "gene" issue that can be bred out
- Only deer breeders can selectively breed out CWD susceptible genes
- Without deer breeders, eliminating CWD is impossible
- Wilderness Whitetail in Wisconsin successfully breeding out CWD
"Scientists believe the only way to rid Texas whitetail from CWD is through breeding CWD resistant deer - which requires deer pens."
What Petition Signers Are Saying
Public comments from supporters across Texas
The Need for Action
The vast majority of Texas citizens, deer breeders, realtors, and the hunting industry have done absolutely NOTHING to stop the great overreach from Parks and TAHC.
Folks, if you remain silent and do nothing, TAHC, Parks & Wildlife and USDA may soon tell you what you can and cannot do with your exotic species and/or even your sheep, goats & cattle.