SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The battle over captive cervid legislation has sportsman’s organizations in West Virginia worried. The West Virginia Bowhunters Association and the West Virginia Wildlife Federation were two of the groups who spoke against Senate Bill 237 during Sunday’s Natural Resources Commission meeting.
“We’re hoping for a veto from the governor on the captive cervid bill, ” said Wildlife Federation President Jerod Harman. “Sportsman’s groups should come together on this because of the long term ramifications. It’s scary the future of deer hunting in this state is to the point where we are right now.”
The legislation would transfer control of captive cervids from the Division of Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture. The legislation won overwhelming support in the House and Senate. Several lawmakers stood to laud the bill as an opportunity for another industry in West Virginia. Supporters of the move accused the DNR of being obstructionist to advancing farm raised whitetail deer as livestock.
Opponents of the legislation have two key fears. One is the potential for wildlife disease outbreak originating within the pen raised animals. Supporters counter the claim with the vast veterinary staff of the Department of Agriculture and their ability to handle and prevent wide scale disease outbreaks. However, the one disease most feared is chronic wasting disease. The fatal and slow moving illness is already present in the wild deer herd of Hampshire and Hardy Counties. It’s never been diagnosed in a West Virginia deer farm, but captive cervid facilities in other parts of the United States have been incubators for CWD. There is no way to test a live animal for CWD. As a concession, the House of Delegates added an amendment which was accepted in the state Senate to disallow the import of any animals into West Virginia from farms where CWD had been previously detected.
The second fear sportsmen express about the change is the threat to the North American Wildlife Model. The model allows that wild game belongs to everybody. It also forbids the sale of wild game meat. However, one of the main thrusts of SB 237 is to create a market for farm raised whitetail venison for commercial sale to restaurants and retail stores.
“Places like the Bavarian Inn, or the Greenbrier, or the Blennerhassett Hotel might be interested in serving venison on their menu,” said Delegate Bill Anderson (R-Wood) speaking in favor of the bill during the House debate. “Right now they have to import it from other states or even New Zealand.”
Sportsmen have expressed fear there’s no way to detect if those deer which wind up on the tables of four-star dining establishments were from inside or outside the fence.
Although supporters indicated during floor debate the deer would be slaughtered in USDA approved facilities before commercial sale, under pending legislation that may or may not be the case.
“The facilities can also have exotics or once native species. We’re told slaughter of these animals will happen in USDA certified facilities,” said Brian Elkins, President of the West Virginia Bowhunters Association during Sunday’s commission meeting. “However, we find out House Bill 2658 would exempt non-traditional slaughter houses. This means captive cervids could be taken to any facility even if it’s not certified.”
The bill is on Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s desk awaiting signature. There is no indication from the Tomblin Administration on what he intends to do with the legislation. Sportsman’s groups are rallying in hopes of a veto, but the overwhelming approval of the legislation in the House and Senate might be enough to override.