Enough to make a man cry!
 

EHD( epizootic hemmoragic disease) has hit our local area very hard. In Jefferson county, Ohio, it is estimated that up to 80% of the deer have died. I was hunting pheasant today at our club in that county and we found all three of these deer , plus many dead does, and smaller bucks. what a tragedy!!
Luckily, the disease did not hit at my farm 40 miles south of the club, as we have been seeing deer bigger than these 3 there.
I was at least carrying a Parker when we found these 3, 2 were within 100yds of each other in the switchgrass fields

I am sure that I will find many more as hunting season progrsses. We have always had big deer in Ohio, and we can only hope that these big boys passed on there genes last year

Man, that's terrible Harold!!

Where in Ohio is Jefferson County? My cousin's farm is in the town of Jefferson in NE Ohio.
Of course it's just a matter of time and it will probably affect the entire state and adjoining states as well, like PA.

Pretty sad! Judging by the antler development and the velvet I'd say they died about two months ago.






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I read where it is carried by a biting midge hatched from isolated water sources and is not transmitted from deer to deer.






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Just makes me sick to see this. There have been a few reports of EHD here in MI but so far isolated to a few southern counties but I know how quickly it will spread.

That’s how it is transmitted. It’s also called “Blue Tongue” because the tongue swells preventing the host from being able to swallow (and drink).

Dean,, Jefferson county is on the Ohio River--the largest city is Steubenville. Jefferson , Ohio is probably 2hrs north of here, and yes it is carried by a biting midge.
Jay, the first frost kills the midges and essentially ends the epidemic--but there is always next year.
We were also hit hard around my house where the stench of dead deer was prevalent for weeks, but at least one survived as a big 10 pt was tending a doe by my mailbox when I came home from pheasant hunting today.

Yes, we found all these along the creek bottom

Awful, what a waste. hope the deer rebound. Thank God it has not hit Mississippi.

Terrible disease. I know that EHD and Blue Tongue are similar viruses...I think that EHD & Blue Tongue are insect borne by those nasty little biting flies. Terrible to see that.

Several years ago it hit east central Indiana and all but wiped out the entire herd. I know guys who hunted all fall without seeing a single deer and it can take a very long time for populations to rebound.

It is my understanding that EHD/Blue Tongue appears after weeks without. Standing water is a incubator to the parasite that causes the disease. I have seen video of deer that have been infected. They wander and stumble around, tongue hanging out, due to dehydration. Best thing you can do is put it out of their misery.

Several years ago it hit east central Indiana and all but wiped out the entire herd. I know guys who hunted all fall without seeing a single deer and it can take a very long time for populations to rebound.

It is my understanding that EHD/Blue Tongue appears after weeks without. Standing water is a incubator to the parasite that causes the disease. I have seen video of deer that have been infected. They wander and stumble around, tongue hanging out, due to dehydration. Best thing you can do is put it out of their misery.

We lived in Minford, Ohio for 7 years while I was on a project with our Company at the time (Stone & Webster Engrg Co). MInford is in southern Ohio about fifteen miles north of Portsmouth, Oh. Great grouse, woodcock and deer country. My best hunting years were out there. Terrible to hear about this disease

It gets worse I am afraid for the deer population. I think there are too many in certain areas and they can tend to get wiped out from a disease that could impact all of them. I think there another disease that is even worse called Chronic Wasting Disease that is spreading as well. It is said if it shows up it can pass from deer to deer from urine and feces and it can last in the soil for up to 10 years. If that were to happen that could wipe out deer populations in areas for decades.

They also warn people not to handle certain parts of dear showing signs of the disease since they are not certain it cannot be transmitted to humans.

I think there needs to be more proactive herd management strategies enacted in densely populated deer herds.

Another big 8 pt I found today while pheasant hunting. Gun is my GH 16 O frame

Harold, If you were to take those remains home, would there be any risk to the herd that is around you? Maybe an idea would be drop them in a tub of mild bleach water?

should not be any risk. disease is spread by biting midges, which have now been killed by the cold.
The deer in my area were also hit hard by EHD anyways.