Fall has arrived, bringing with it white-tail deer hunting season. Archery season began Saturday, and the general season will begin November second.
Biologists of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department anticipate an exceptional white-tailed deer season this fall. White-Tailed Deer Program Leader Blaise Korzekwa says that more than half of the state experienced excellent habitat conditions this spring, “Specifically looking at the months of April, May, and June. Any rainfall received during those months is at the best time for the growing season as far as antler development, as well as fawn recruitment.”
And habitats are especially favorable in West Texas where property sizes tend to be larger, giving deer lots of room to roam for food.
But Chronic Wasting Disease is a concern. The disease causes a deer's prions to misfold, and it’s fatal. CWD hasn’t been shown to spread to humans, but is very contagious amongst deer.
This season, Korzekwa says TPWD issued new carcass disposal regulations to help prevent the unintentional spread of the disease, “After they debone the meat at the residence, as they put those parts that they don’t plan to eat, just put that in the trash or they can take it back to the property where it was harvested. Or if none of those is an option, then we ask them to bury those parts at least three feet below the ground.”
For hunters who take their deer to a processor, nothing will change.
The closest case confirmed in the last 12 months was in Coleman County. The mandatory check station in Coleman accepts samples for testing daily through January 19th.
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