CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Legislation to transfer regulatory control of West Virginia’s captive cervid industry from the Division of Natural Resources to the state Department of Agriculture cleared the House of Delegates on Thursday.
Owners of the facilities believe the change gives them a better opportunity to grow the industry in West Virginia.
“The Department of Natural Resources with all due respect to their diligence has not tried to nurture and foster this industry, they have tried to suppress it,” said Delegate Bill Anderson (R-Wood). “They have tried through regulation to hinder them and to insure they do not prosper.”
Anderson and many of his House colleagues viewed the bill as an opportunity to for economic development. Several lawmakers criticized the DNR regulatory approach as heavy handed. Delegate Randy Smith (R-Preston) is a licensed trout farmer in the state and believed the Department of Agriculture offered better resources for those in the deer farming industry.
“If I call the DNR they say, ‘Sorry about their luck, we don’t deal with your trout diseases.’ But if I called the Department of Agriculture, who has an aquiculture division, they’ll have somebody out there that day to help me with that problem,” Smith explained. “The Department of Agriculture is not going to take this over and do what the DNR has, trying to harass you.”
The measure was not without its critics. Several sportsman’s groups have raised objections to the idea in recent days and have battle the idea for nearly a decade.
“Deer farms provide some great opportunities, but there are some risks,” said Delegate Brent Boggs (D-Braxton). “One of the things that is a risk is the disease aspect.”
To allay concerns over chronic wasting disease, the House approved an amendment which would block West Virginia deer farms from importing animals from an out-of-state facility where CWD had been previously detected.
“No matter how rigorous your fencing requirements are, whether it’s by vandalism or trees falling or natural circumstances, deer can and will and do get out,” Boggs said. “A deer can blend in with the wild population instantly.”
Delegate Larry Williams (D-Preston) who supported the measure said captive deer would be easily identified by ear tags or other exterior markings. Williams also indicated during floor debate on the measure the deer farming industry would also benefit from selling of live animals to fenced hunting preserves and would create spinoff businesses in the area of taxidermy and meat processing.
Anderson added the bill was not about chronic wasting disease.
“It is about people’s freedom to operate a business, grow a business, and take care of their family,” Anderson said. “To the bottom of the soles of my feet I believe the Department of Agriculture philosophically and quite frankly with their people is more qualified to do this than the Department of Natural Resources.”
The bill passed on a vote of 88-12 and is sent back to the Senate.