Video Paints Grim Picture of Deer Farms

Legislation to put the regulation of deer farms in West Virginia under the authority of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture instead of the West Virginia DNR passed the state Senate this week.   Senators voted  28-6 to approve the bill which now goes to the House of Delegates.

The legislation has drawn fire from sportsman’s groups for the potential dangers the operations pose to the wild deer herd in West Virginia.   The concerns prompted the National Wildlife Federation to produce a video, posted to YouTube, documenting the problems found nationwide with captive cervid facilities.   You can watch the video here.

There are presently 37 facilities in West Virginia which harbor captive animals.   Proprietors of the industry believe they have a better chance of advancing the industry into a much more lucrative business by following guidelines of Agriculture rather than DNR.   

DNR Director Frank Jezioro tells lawmakers, in opposition to the idea, "A whitetail deer is a whitetail deer no matter which side of the fence it is on.  The West Virginia Constitution considers the whitetail deer wildlife and puts the DNR in charge of regulating and protecting the natural resources of the state."

Deer farmers counter their deer are treated as livestock and must undergo the same rigid standards imposed by the USDA on cattle, hogs, and poultry.

The issue is raising not only the issue of potential risk to the wild cervid population, but also brings to the forefront the ethical dilemma of "canned hunts."    As I’ve previously written in this segment, canned hunts in other states are huge business.   Just across the border in Ohio, one can spend big money to shoot a buck which will easily crack the Boone and Crockett or Pope and Young record books if you have the money to spend.   It’s hard to defend high fence hunting, particularly when you see the extreme cases presented in the Wildlife Federation video. 

The practice of high fence hunting puts all hunters in a negative light.  Surveys nationally overwhelmingly show the general public is supportive of fair chase hunting, particularly when it’s done as a source of food.  However, when the hunt is for antlers only and the deer is killed in an artificial circumstance such as a fenced enclosure support drops dramatically.   It’s questionable whether it can accurately be considered "hunting."   Nevertheless, it’s legal.  It serves to drive a deeper wedge between not only hunters and the general public, but also different segments of sportsmen and women.

The object of any business is to make money.  Deer farming is a business and the money making opportunities for a deer farmer are bucks with mega-antlers.  West Virginia‘s deer farming industry counters in their lobbying activity for the Senate legislation, their only desire is to allow for the sale of whitetail venison to restaurants and grocery stores.   The venison market may or may not turn out to be a money maker for the 37-farmers and a handful more who are considering investing in a deer farm.   But under the Department of Agriculture guidance, rules will likely be relaxed on transporting live deer within the state’s borders and across state lines.   The change would create a chance for West Virginia deer farmers to sell their uber-bucks to in-state or out-of-state hunting preserves.  

Regardless of the reasons, the bill offers a change wildlife biologists and conservation groups fear is a Pandora’s Box of opportunity for disease spread and unscrupulous hunting activity.