North Dakota: Deer Samples Negative for CWD

 (Photo credit: pennstatenews)

Samples taken from North Dakota deer during the 2012 hunting season have all tested negative for chronic wasting disease, according to Dr. Dan Grove, wildlife veterinarian for the State Game and Fish Department.

Last fall, samples for CWD testing were taken from more than 1,300 deer harvested by hunters in the western third of the state.

“As always, the success of our surveillance program could not be accomplished without the cooperative efforts of hunters, meat processors and taxidermists,” Grove said.

Since the Game and Fish Department’s sampling efforts began in 2002, more than 23,000 deer, elk and moose have tested negative for CWD. Three mule deer, one each in 2009, 2010 and 2011, taken from unit 3F2 in southwestern North Dakota tested positive. All three were within 15 miles of each other.

The hunter-harvested surveillance program annually collects samples taken from hunter-harvested deer in specific regions of the state. The Game and Fish Department also has a targeted surveillance program that is an ongoing, year-round effort to test animals found dead or sick.

CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer family and is always fatal. Scientists have found no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans or livestock.

Related articles

• Latest CWD testing shows one deer positive for disease (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• iNDIANA Hunters set record deer harvest in 2012 seasons (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Nonresident Landowners Now Required to Purchase Nonresident Ohio Licenses and Permits

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Changes will also impact Ohio residents that own land in Indiana

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife reminds nonresident landowners that they are legally required to purchase nonresident licenses to hunt, trap or fish in Ohio.

The new law went into effect on July 1, 2011 and requires a nonresident owner of land in Ohio and the owner’s children and grandchildren, if applicable, to purchase a nonresident hunting license, deer or wild turkey permit, fur taker permit, or nonresident fishing license.

Prior to July 1, Ohio landowners with residency status somewhere other than Ohio did not have to purchase licenses or permits to hunt, trap or fish on land they own. Landowner license exemptions will only apply to Ohio residents.

This change in Ohio law nullifies a reciprocal agreement with Indiana, which means that Ohio residents with land holdings in Indiana are required to purchase a nonresident hunting license, deer or wild turkey permit, fur taker permit, or nonresident fishing license. Similarly, children and grandchildren of a nonresident landowner must purchase hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and permits.

In Ohio, a resident is considered, by law, a person who has resided in the state of Ohio for the past six consecutive months.  In Indiana, a resident is considered, by law, a person whose true fixed and permanent home and principal residence has been in Indiana for 60 consecutive days prior to purchasing a license or permit and who does not claim residency for hunting, trapping or fishing in another state or country other than the U.S. All others are nonresidents.