After extensive public testimony, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recently approved an amended set of regulations for artificial movement of deer by permit as part of the state’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) management plan, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
Adopted provisions are the result of collaboration between TPWD, the Texas Animal Health Commission, the deer breeding community and landowners to address concerns over the future of permitted unnatural deer movement qualifications following the discovery of CWD in Texas in 2015. The management plan also provides continued protection against the fatal neurological disease for Texas’ 4 million free-ranging and captive deer, TPWD said.
“This is bigger than the interests of one group, and it’s not about choosing winners or losers,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman T. Dan Friedkin. “The fundamental issue is how best to protect our state’s deer herds from a deadly disease. The overwhelming amount of interest this issue has generated illustrates just how passionate Texans are about deer and our deer hunting heritage.”
“The actions taken by the commission today are the result of extensive deliberation with input from all stakeholders, and I applaud the many individuals and groups from all over the state who took the time and effort to remain engaged in the process until the end.”
To review the CWD rule changes affecting specific artificial deer movement permits, visit tpwd.texas.gov/cwd.
The rules take effect upon completion of programming modifications to the Texas Wildlife Information Management System, but no later than Aug. 15, 2016, and apply to the movement of deer under TPWD permits, including Triple T, DMP (deer management permit), TTP (trap, transport and process) and deer breeder.
Read the full TPWD news release for more information.