Interesting Point on CWD

At a gathering of hunting folks yesterday, ironically a bird dog day, not anything to do with deer at all, someone made the point that they had, through discussions with wildlife biologists who should be close to the CWD situation in PA and a animal disease research biologist from Purdue (the university, not the chicken) who is studying CWD, learned that all cases of CDW were discovered in shot or road killed deer and none were found among any dead deer that died of natural causes.  This leads to the question, does CWD actually kill deer?
 
I came in in the middle of the conversation, so I don't know what was discussed previous to that point.  But I thought I would throw it up here and see if anyone else has heard a similar view or if there is any debate to the opposite.

 
DPM- does that mean that younger likely healthier Deer actually get better when they catch it ?? or do they just have the  means to not catch it at all ??

That was the point that was made during the conversation -- no wild deer were documented of having died from the disease, just that ones that were killed had the disease.
 
From a skeptical point of view, this almost sounds like " I have 10 more years to go until retirement as a research scientist, so I need another grant, because this thing needs more study because of what it "might" do."

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It will be interesting to see how the PaGC handles the check stations and how , if you cannot take the head or spine from the area, what the hunter will have to do to take the rest home? Maybe they hired the Predator, who can rip the spine right out of the deer. I have done that to a few of my agressors, in my life, but am getting too old to do that on a regular basis....WF

 
WF,
Didn't that get a little messy?????
 
RG,
CWD is similar to Alzheimers or CJD in humans.  They can be carrying it but it may take several years for the deer to manifest symptoms of it and ultimately, die from it.  Others, who knows, they may be carriers yet never exhibit symptoms of it and others may never, ever get it even when exposed.  I don't think there have been nearly enough research put into it to make definitive statements either way.
 
I'm wondering if male deer are more susceptible to getting it due to all the scent marking/licking they do, esp. in the fall.  I know doe do it too but bucks do it way more.  Glandular secretions and saliva are said to have the prions in it and that may be a vector.  
 
I am just concerned about the possible transmission from infected deer to humans by way of consumption.
They say it isn't transmissible yet, they have confirmed that similar diseases in other livestock (sheep, cattle) have jumped species and infected humans by way of consumption.  Remember, cows originally got it from being fed bone meal, etc. that was rendered from sheep that were infected with scrapie (their form of it).  Humans then got it from Mad Cow (BSE) infected cattle, mainly in the UK.
 
I won't knowingly eat a CWD infected deer;  that is one definitive statement I can make.
 

Great reason, though , for the powers that be, to use this as an excuse when the "estimated" antlered harvest is down next year or the following few years.....WF... How soon we forget everything....messy, yes, but nothing handi wipes won't take care of !!

After a little more thought,I'm kinda likin the idea of rippin out their spines.....WF...Army Ranger motto...killum all and let God sortum out.

It is safe to say that across this country, many cwd infected cervids have been consumed. It is widespread in other areas.