| Whitetail deer hunting participation continues to | | | | With more open discussions brings controversial |
| decline. One fact that clearly reflects that decline | | | | topics to the forefront that even us hunters |
| is the permits being issued in West Virginia. Over | | | | grapple in our hearts with. On one side we have |
| the last decade there has been a 20% decline in | | | | hunters that feel it is fine to hunt fenced in deer |
| hunting permits purchased. West Virginia released | | | | and on the other side we have ethical hunters |
| an initiative to promote hunting in the classroom. | | | | that feel a free roaming deer is the only ethical |
| Although I do not know the results of that | | | | way to hunt. The fenced in hunters have big |
| proposal it is a step in the right direction to renew | | | | company money that back them with a whole |
| a long standing tradition that has been a part of | | | | entourage of Hollywood celebrities promoting this |
| the American heritage since its first inception. | | | | type of hunting. My assumption is this debate is |
| Robert Wegner widely known as a historian of | | | | the main catalyst that is tearing our tradition apart |
| the whitetail deer has also took a personal | | | | from within. |
| initiative to enter two books into a national | | | | With the advent of CWD Chronic Wasting Disease |
| museum those are Legendary Deer Camps and | | | | that affects the brain and nervous system leading |
| Legendary Deer Slayers. These books exquisitely | | | | to death of the cervids across our States that |
| document our hunting heritage in out of deer | | | | threatens even the free roaming population of |
| camp since we first arrived on this continent. I | | | | deer. The first case of CWD was seen in a group |
| highly recommend them for the hunter and | | | | of cervids that were in a high fenced in enclosure. |
| non-hunters alike. | | | | As many states rush to stop the transportation |
| I would like to talk about why we are seeing a | | | | of cervids and exotic species across state lines to |
| decline in hunting. Although I do believe it is very | | | | control the outbreak we as hunters need to step |
| important to introduce the younger generation | | | | back and reevaluate these high fenced game |
| into our long stand tradition I believe there is | | | | farms and any enclosed deer population. Not just |
| more at play here. That being hunters leaving our | | | | on a ethical standpoint but that these game farms |
| sport in record numbers. Although I do not like | | | | and enclosures are widely known and directly tied |
| calling hunting a sport I truly believe it has become | | | | into the CWD outbreak. |
| one. While it may not have been intentional we | | | | The exploitation of cervids is real and it is |
| have truly lost our way. What it means to hunt | | | | extremely popular among some entrepreneur |
| and why we hunt. | | | | hunters but the fact of the matter is we need to |
| With the advent of the internet our views and | | | | step in as a whole, both hunters and non-hunters |
| ideas of what whitetail deer hunting means can be | | | | alike to deem what is ethical and what is morally |
| openly discussed on public forums. We get to pick | | | | right based on scientific evidence presented to us. |
| at each other brains and ask questions we | | | | I truly believe this will save our loved tradition that |
| normally do not get to discuss but with a close | | | | being whitetail deer hunting. |
| hunting friend. | | | | |