Wildlife Management and Chronic Wasting Disease Update

On August 25, 2022, Hickman, Fulton, and Carlisle Counties came together to host a Wildlife Management and Chronic Wasting Disease Update at the Hickman County Extension office in Clinton, KY.  Hickman and Fulton Counties are currently 2 of 5 Kentucky counties in Western Kentucky in a surveillance zone for (CWD) because of 2 confirmed cases across the state border in Tennessee.   

The average total farmland used for production in each county is around 85% of the land. In 2021, the number of acres of land used for hunting was 225,343 acres.  That same year 19,093 deer were harvested in the Purchase area region.  One main goal of this meeting was to offer landowners and farmers a better way to manage their land for wildlife with minimum impact to their farm.  Dr. Matt Springer presented topics on food plot selection and placement, along with deer management and weed control in food plots.  

The second half of the meeting was to inform hunters and landowners about Chronic Wasting Disease and deer checking procedures for each county. Noelle Thompson who is the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Deer and Chronic Wasting Disease Coordinator presented on the almost certainty of a Chronic Wasting Disease outbreak in Kentucky stemming from 2 confirmed cases in TN as close as 8 miles from the Kentucky boarder.   After the presentation she was able to answer many questions participants had concerning Chronic Wasting Disease and what the future will hold.  Eighty-six percent of those in attendance expressed that they gained information they could use to improve both wildlife habitats and their deer check-in methods.  Ninety-nine percent said the meeting was relevant and useful.  All in attendance were served supper sponsored by a local bank from each of the 3 counties.  At the conclusion of the meeting, there was a drawing for door prizes presented by local hunting and agriculture businesses.  Cook Wild recipes cards were handed out and on display to take home for quick/healthy wildlife cooking ideas.