GonaCon article ===

BY Kip Adams with permisson to post here ===

Could GonaCon® Replace Deer Hunting?
Increasingly, state wildlife agencies are facing the dilemma of what to do about urban deer. As
cities expand and claim additional acreage for shopping malls, parking lots and suburban
dwellings, traditional deer habitat is replaced with urban and suburban landscapes. Whitetails
can still thrive in these landscapes, so “deer habitat” may not be lost. What is lost, or at least
severely hampered, is the ability to manage those deer. Gone are the hunting clubs and the
traditional hunting opportunities that are no longer appropriate in the suburbs. Yet, hunting
opportunities still exist in small pockets of suburban woodlands – especially for bowhunters.
The stage is set for a unique discussion of the role of hunters in deer management.
Hunters argue they can manage suburban deer herds if given access to a sufficient number of
properties. Anti-hunters claim you can manage the deer herds with “birth control” and traps
rather than bullets and arrows. Homeowners just want to be able to grow a vegetable or flower
garden and allow their children to play in the yard without the threat of Lyme disease. Given
these three views, it’s easy to see why state agencies devote a substantial amount of time to
the topic. They’re about to spend even more time and resources on it dealing with a newly
registered contraceptive called GonaCon®. GonaCon is the first contraceptive vaccine
registered for use in free-ranging white-tailed deer populations. This news may not directly
affect you, your QDM program or the community where you live and hunt, but it is news that
could affect the future of deer management and hunting.


Birth Control for Deer
Before we look closely at GonaCon, let’s review an abridged version of the birth control
strategy for managing deer populations. This management strategy uses birth control rather
than hunters to limit or prevent new animals from being born into the population. This
approach has received much publicity because it is nonlethal and has the potential to regulate
deer populations in urban and suburban areas closed to hunting. “Immunocontraception” is a
birth control method that uses the deer’s immune system to prevent pregnancy. This is the
most common method of inducing infertility in deer, and much research has been conducted
over the past four decades to develop an effective contraceptive that can be used on freeranging
deer herds.
Unfortunately much confusion surrounds the status of fertility control agents. The public has a
general misunderstanding regarding the availability and practicality of immunocontraceptive
vaccines.
Despite misperceptions, overabundant deer herds cannot be controlled solely with
immunocontraceptives.
Successful fertility control may limit population growth, but it does little to reduce the existing
population. There are also misconceptions about vaccine availability and effectiveness.
Scientists developed contraceptives that block or end pregnancy years ago but only recently
were able to develop one that is effective and practical for non-captive deer herds. Until late
2009, all research on vaccines was conducted under investigative permits, as there were no
vaccines authorized for use on free-ranging deer herds. That has now changed, as GonaCon was
recently registered for use on free-ranging deer herds by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Anti-hunters see GonaCon®, a birth-control drug for deer, as a non-lethal option for controlling
urban and suburban deer populations.


How Does GonaCon Work?
GonaCon is an immunocontraceptive vaccine for bucks and does developed by scientists at the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research Center.
It’s touted as a single-shot multiyear vaccine that’s effective for two to four years in deer. In
addition to whitetails, GonaCon has also successfully prevented pregnancy in California ground
squirrels, Norway rats, feral cats and dogs, domestic and feral swine, wild horses, bison and
elk.
Prior vaccines required additional treatments and/or were less effective. GonaCon’s label
states deer must be treated by hand injection only. This prohibits administering the vaccine via
darts and increases the cost and labor necessary to treat deer. It is a precautionary measure
because GonaCon will also cause infertility in human females (and possibly males). Not allowing
deer to be treated via darts ensures no one stumbles across a fully loaded dart that may have
missed an animal and not been recovered by the shooter. Current research is trying to develop
an oral contraceptive that could treat deer by placing the vaccine on corn or other food
sources, but this technology is likely a few years away.
Other than accidental injection, there supposedly aren’t any human health risks associated
with eating treated deer as our stomachs break the vaccine down to its basic proteins.
However, there may be a health risk for treated deer. One side effect of GonaCon is a peasized
granuloma at the injection site, and some research animals have developed small to
baseball-sized abscesses underneath these granulomas.

With earlier vaccines, treated does would enter estrous but not conceive. These does would
enter estrous approximately every 28 days for several months, and bucks would expend
precious energy breeding and re-breeding these does. QDMA’s Kip Adams was involved in some
early contraceptive research at the University of New Hampshire’s deer research facility, and
he watched some of their captive bucks waste a tremendous amount of energy chasing and
breeding does from November through February. By February, these bucks were so worn down
that, in a free-ranging situation, it’s unlikely they would have survived the winter. Unlike these
earlier vaccines, GonaCon works in the hypothalamus portion of the brain to cut off the body’s
reproductive processes. This means does do not come into estrous and thus won’t be bred.
In bucks treated with GonaCon, suppressed testosterone production results in a lack of rutting
behavior and the associated neck swelling and muscular growth. Treated bucks resemble does
with antlers. The vaccine also alters antler development. In a study by Dr. Gary Killian and his
colleagues at Penn State’s deer research facility, bucks either remained in velvet or shed their
hardened antlers four to six weeks earlier than non-treated bucks. These body and antler
characteristics don’t match our experiences or expectations for the noble white-tailed buck.


Is GonaCon a Practical Solution?
Fertility control in deer is a rapidly advancing technology. However, even with current
advancements the immunocontraceptive approach is expensive, with estimated costs ranging
from $500 to $1,000 per deer (due mainly to deer capture and handling costs). Because annual
mortality rates for suburban deer populations are low, an estimated 70 to 90 percent of the
does in a population need to be treated to limit or stop herd growth. According to Dr. Tony
DeNicola of White Buffalo Incorporated in Connecticut, who has been involved with many
GonaCon studies, approximately 10 percent of deer don’t respond to the vaccine. So, if 70 to
90 percent need to be effectively treated, GonaCon will have to be administered to 80 to 100
percent of the does in a population – a very difficult task. This only freezes population growth.
It does not reduce a population, so it must be combined with a removal technique. This
approach’s effectiveness and practicality are limited to enclosed or very localized herds rather
than truly free-ranging populations. It’s clear we still have much to learn about antifertility
drugs and their effects on deer behavior and management programs.


Will GonaCon Replace Hunting?
So, what does GonaCon mean to the average deer hunter? It means your state wildlife agency
will be dealing with the reality that GonaCon is now registered with the EPA as a usable
product to prevent pregnancy in free-ranging white-tailed deer populations. Fortunately, it will
be up to each state on how they’ll regulate its use as it will be registered as a “Restricted Use”
product for use by state or federal wildlife or natural resource management personnel or
persons working under their authority. Unfortunately, it will relegate whitetails to “pest”
status as the vaccine is listed as a pesticide.
Will GonaCon replace hunting? Even Wildlife Services (developers of GonaCon) does not view
the product as a replacement for hunting but a tool that could potentially be used after a
population has already been reduced. This is sure to become a hot topic in 2010, and antihunters
will be singing GonaCon’s praises. As hunters, GonaCon won’t replace us, but our value
will be increasingly questioned by non- and anti-hunters in suburban landscapes – which are
only going to continue expanding across the whitetail’s range. Therefore, it is paramount that
we continue educating ourselves on deer biology and management and demonstrate that we
are ethical and responsible deer stewards. Our actions, rather than GonaCon, will dictate how
and where we hunt in urban and suburban environments.

post edited by Dr. Trout - 2010/09/22 09:05:03

"Anti-hunters claim you can manage the deer herds
with “birth control” and traps rather than bullets and arrows."

Basically what it boils down to, and where the support lies. Interesting, it seems our fine gameless commission agrees, at least to some degree.


" but it is news that could affect the future of deer management
and hunting"

Naaa. We have nothing at all to be concerned with with our fine game commision in charge of this "tool" lmao. (note sarcasm)




"Scientists developed contraceptives that block or end pregnancy
years ago but only recently were able to develop one
that is effective and practical for noncaptive deer herds."

Hmmm. Interesting.

"It is a precautionary measure
because GonaCon will also cause infertility
in human females (and possibly
males). Not allowing deer to be treated via darts ensures no one stumbles
across a fully loaded dart that may have missed an animal and not been recovered
by the shooter."

Gee that sounds like good stuff there.

"Current research is trying to develop an oral contraceptive
that could treat deer by placing the
vaccine on corn or other food sources,
but this technology is likely a few years away."

Oh, see there, we can all rest easy. When it comes to them nearly perfecting it, making it simple and cheap to use.... Its "likely a FEW years away". Thats really swell..


"Other than accidental injection,there supposedly aren’t any human
health risks associated "

lol. Yeah. there were supposedly no risks for some of the HUMAN contraceptives, and look how well some of them have turned out.

"In bucks treated with GonaCon,
suppressed testosterone production
results in a lack of rutting behavior and
the associated neck swelling and muscular
growth. Treated bucks resemble does with antlers. The vaccine
also alters antler development. In a study by Dr. Gary Killian
and his colleagues at Penn State’s deer research facility, buck
either remained in velvet or shed their hardened antlers four to
six weeks earlier than non-treated bucks. These body and antler
characteristics don’t match our experiences or expectations for
the noble white-tailed buck"

LOL. Maybe that what the problem is with some of the limp wristed enviro-wieneys that had supported and been trying to perfect this stuff. Maybe theyve accidentally injected themselves or breathed the vapors or something. lol.






"Fortunately, it will be up to each state on how they’ll
regulate its use as it will be registered as a “Restricted Use” product for use by state
or federal wildlife or natural resource management personnel or persons working
under their authority."

UNFORTUNATELY for us that here in Pa would be the environmentalist ridden Pa Gameless commission.

"Unfortunately, it will relegate whitetails to “pest” status as
the vaccine is listed as a pesticide."

Thats nothing new here in Pa. The game commission has given deer that "pest" status before contraception became an option. I dont see much changing there.

Gonacon in one form or another can be used for all forms of wildlife. It is currently being used on some smaller wildlife.

What the PGC commisioners told me was that they approved the "possibie use" because there were so many hoops to jump through and it was so expensive (thier quote was $1500 an animal 6 months ago) that it would be a last resort measure that would probably not be feasable as an option for most groups.

The bottom line, he went on to say, was that they had to make it an available option once the EPA approved it or "the PGC would be opening itself up to possible lawsuits from persons or groups that wanted to use it."

My thoughts are ..

GROW A SET, TELL THOSE PEOPLE THAT THE PGC MANAGES DEER AND THAT THEY CAN STICK IT YOU KNOW WHERE IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT

It is in my opinion one of the poorest decisions I have seen the PGC make in some time. I think that they have set a precident that allows for the piece by piece removal of hunting as a tool. It may not be feasable now, but neither was using a robot to do a mans job on an assembly line 50 years ago.

The shot or pill itself is less than $10 and studies have shown an 80% 5 year effective rate with one shot and 100% lifetime with two shots. Once the expensive handling issue is solved it will be commonplace nationwide for urban areas. The key is to reduce the population first then administer the gonacon which will keep the herd numbers low or nonexistant in the urban areas. The same approach is currently being used in rural areas except predators(rather than gonacon) are being used to keep the deer herd down once their numbers are reduced. Remember that our leaders changed hunting from a recoginized legitimate sporting activity to a necessary activity to keep the deer herd in check. Now that deer are considered pests and their is a pesticide to control their numbers guess what will no longer be necessary. Not much reason for long guns when that happens.

"What the PGC commisioners told me was that they approved the "possibie use" because there were so many hoops to jump through and it was so expensive (thier quote was $1500 an animal 6 months ago) that it would be a last resort measure that would probably not be feasable as an option for most groups."

As has been pointed out over and over, that is being addressed.

"The bottom line, he went on to say, was that they had to make it an available option once the EPA approved it or "the PGC would be opening itself up to possible lawsuits from persons or groups that wanted to use it."


Thats his damage control bs and nothing more. They were at risk for lawsuit by putting such a controversial deer plan into place, yet that didnt stop them from doing so. With all that is known about contraception...the unknowns, the risks, the unproven nature, and the fact other states arent embracing it, there is absolutely NO WAY that any court case could ever be won against a "NO USE" policy. No way,no how. Seeing as i dont believe pgcs legal team are complete morons, im guessing its only a pgc excuse because they want this tool at their disposal.


"My thoughts are ..

GROW A SET, TELL THOSE PEOPLE THAT THE PGC MANAGES DEER AND THAT THEY CAN STICK IT YOU KNOW WHERE IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT"

AMEN!

"It is in my opinion one of the poorest decisions I have seen the PGC make in some time. I think that they have set a precident that allows for the piece by piece removal of hunting as a tool. It may not be feasable now, but neither was using a robot to do a mans job on an assembly line 50 years ago."

Yep. And this is also a route that most hunter friendly states are NOT taking. If i remember correctly the audit stated that NO state had a pro use policy at the time of the audit. Guess Pa is leading the way again.

Continuing my search I found this ...This from a report dated November 2009... looks like at least one state is on board for its use...

The Department will develop policy and guidelines for the usage of GonaConâ„¢. In addition, the Department is willing to develop application standards and a certified program for using GonaConâ„¢. Deer Control Cooperators will be able to use GonaConâ„¢ on deer once they have become an applicator with Maryland Department of Agriculture and certified with Maryland Department Natural Resources

This too from a New Jersy 2009 article on Gonacon == state #2 with a pro stance ==

New Jersey plans to allow the vaccine to be used beginning in January. Permits will be available through the state Division of Fish and Wildlife

so it looks like the audit remark means nothing now.. looks like Maryland and New Jersey are going for a pro use policy too for its use.... so Wayne needs to do a little more research !!!

Doc- both Maryland and New Jersey are liberal, urban, big city states with an anti hunting bias so it's easy to see why they might be looking for an alternative to hunting. What's Pa's excuse?

"This too from a New Jersy 2009 article on Gonacon == state #2 with a pro stance == "

Wow, thats great company to keep. Yeah....we wanna be like New Jersey. Real pro-hunting state there! lol I think you have unintentionally made a good point though doc. All youve done is reinforced MY position that pgc is currently a very nonhunter friendly entity..

"so it looks like the audit remark means nothing now.. looks like Maryland and New Jersey are going for a pro use policy too for its use.... so Wayne needs to do a little more research !!!"

Umm, no doc, i didnt do the research for the audit. But im sure WMI will be interested to know that you have critiqued THEIR work and found it lacking. lol.

From animal rights foundation website. Shows what Ohio dcnr thinks about gonacon. Animal rights idiots are mad, that ohio dnr doesnt support them...

Also, as for the testing done in a few states as doc mentioned....towards the end of this post shows us why:

---------------


"Below is information about the revoloutionary immunocontraceptive, Gona-Con being developed by the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) that is part of the USDA. The ODOW and ODNR have blocked speakers from the NWRC from appearing at our seminar in Ohio. Below is a limited information from the NWRC about Gona-Con. We will discuss more at our conference on Thursday, October 20th (see more). The ODOW or ODNR who have been invited will not be present to defend their position as they have declined to appear."


NEW GOVERNOR NEW LEADERS AT THE ODNR & ODOW- CALL Governor Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher- tell them the long ARROGANCY OF THE
ODNR & ODOW under Voinovich & Taft MUST BE CHANGED!
There was a discussion about the need to initiate changes in the ODNR and ODOW in Ohio who are UNRESPONSIVE TO THE CITIZENS THEY SHOULD BE SERVING. The ODNR and ODOW REFUSED to attend and answer questions from concerned citizens. Their ARROGANCY of these state agencies should disturb all citizens of Ohio. Our seminar had a non-confrontational exchange of ideas.
FUTURE PLANS:
ARF hopes to promote a non-lethal plan to control the deer population and STOP the killing of the deer in urban/suburban areas that have no-hunting laws.
DVD or VHS of Conference will be available.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPEAKERS AND OUR GUESTS
ARF would like to offer its sincere gratitude to our distinguished speakers:
Dr. Allen T. Rutbeg: Dr. Rutberg is the director of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts Uninversity is Massachusetts and a Wildlife consultant with HSUS. Dr. Rutberg is the editor of Humane Wildlife Solutions: The Role of Immunocontraception. Dr. Rutberg is a one of the leading experts in the use of wildlife immunocontraception.

Dr. Anthony DeNicola is the Director of White Buffalo based in Connecticut. Dr. DeNicola is one of the leading experts and practioneer in the use of deer immunocontraception. He is certified as a wildlife biologist by the Wildlife Society and holds research affiliate positions with Yale University among several others. Dr. DeNicola has published 24 reports and has worked worldwide.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CHANGE THE ODNR & ODOW
Although the ODNR and ODOW was invited to this event, they refused to attend and declined our invitations and did everything to stop the event from occuring. The ODNR and ODOW have also blocked the appearances of biologists from the NWRC (National Wildlife Research Center) of the USDA who have created Gona Con a revoloutionary immunocontraceptive. The work NWRC is something that the ODOW does not want Ohio citizens to hear.

Please contact Governor Strickland (614-466-3555), your local State Represenative, State Senator, local Mayors and ask for changes at the ODNR and ODOW! They should be working for the citizens of Ohio and not ignoring us.

Call Govenor Strickland (614-466-3555) tell him we need our state agencies to be responsive. Please call The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR)
We need progressive leadership!
Call the ODNR at 614-265-6565 and the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW District 3 Director Dan Kramer (330-644-2293) or the ODOW state office at 614-265-6300) and ask them if Ohio will change to new technology and change our reputation as a state of barbarians. Let them become aware that the technology is available."


AND MORE,:::



"The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) along with many scientists - have established seven deer immunocontraception field sites including locations in Connecticut, Maryland , New Jersey, New York , Ohio, Virginia, and Washington. ."