Disease tough on deer in Grayson County

BILL: Good column on EHD. Grayson County's deer kill last year fell by 600 animals. Our Conservation Police Officer reported 30 carcasses found in September on one farm. The total reported to him was over 200 dead deer, mostly in the central part of the county.

Western North Carolina had a bad outbreak, just across the river, where the deer population has been artificially supported by feeding/baiting.

Reproductive success is also impacted in chronically-infected deer, those that contract the disease but survive. The outbreak was so bad in South Dakota last year that their DNR issued refunds on deer licenses.

WALT HAMPTON

BILL: Should you know of anyone interested in a Boykin Spaniel puppy, please let me know. I know of someone here in Amherst who has some for sale. They will be ready to pick up at the end of August. They are asking $600 for a puppy, male or female. They make excellent turkey dogs.

JOHN WRIGHT
Turkeychaser100@aol.com

JOHN: I have owned a Boykin Spaniel, and, yes, they make a great turkey dog as well as a pet. I used mine to retrieve doves and ducks and even did some flushing-type grouse hunting with him.

BILL

BILL: I was contacted by a Department of Game and Inland Fisheries telephone survey that asked me what I hunted, and whether or not I permitted hunting on my property. I wonder what the purpose of the survey is, and how they got my name since I don't buy a hunting license? I do give people permission to hunt on my property. Will the results of the survey be made public?

RG

RG: This is a survey of landowners being conducted by the DGIF and Responsive Management, a research firm in Harrisonburg. Landowners from across the state who own 100 or more acres are being randomly selected to participate. They are being asked about their involvement in hunting and their willingness to allow hunting on their property.

This is part of the DGIF Hunter Recruitment and Retention marketing effort to recruit and maintain hunters and fishermen by providing additional public access to private property. It is paid for by a grant.

Lee Walker, DGIF director of outreach, tells me the survey information will be made public around Oct. 1.

BILL

BILL: A follow-up to your response to my questions as to what kind of fish are found in Little River near Galax. There definitely are bass. Here is a picture of my 11-year old granddaughter Kennedi Andrews who caught a bass on a beetle-spin.

KEITH ANDREWS

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