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CONTENTS:

I sit in the peaceful lack of quietness of my home and ponder the world of deer farming. I reflect on the range of challenges encountered by so many and struggle to concentrate on these aspects of the industry so as to better relate to some readers and friends. I remember the struggles that never seem to diminish, I begin to focus on a cloud of inconvenience, I start to relive disappointments, and alas, I feel so tired. I am ready to write, but a ray of light arrests my attention. My little boy has been playing with his box of toy animals, methodically sorting out the “farm animals” from the rest and placing them in the corral he’s so carefully constructed. He holds up a strange looking pig and queries, “Farm aminal, Daddy?” I nod, smiling my admiration of his intellect, and watch him place the pig inside the fence. My smile grows as I spy two whitetail bucks standing inconspicuously amongst the cows and horses, goats and geese. Oh yeah, now I’m really ready to write!

Are there positives and progress within this world of deer farming? Undoubtedly! There is a new generation that, while not ignorant of the wild existence of deer, sees deer farming as a very normal and acceptable activity. We need to persevere in educating the adult masses, but be encouraged by the normalcy of deer farming that lies ahead. If that seems like too distant a hope, think about the trade possibilities that are within the grasp of so many. Protocols are in place and the trade tunnel exit is brightly shining. Peruse the set of state trade protocols included in this issue and get your game plan figured out. Don't leave out meat and hunt markets even if they still appear as "goals to strive toward". While the industry never did stop move’n and shake’n in many locales, opportunities will now be opening up most everywhere! Besides markets, good things are happening elsewhere, too. I just had tea with a friend, an influential member of the the Wildlife Federation, and discovered an unfamiliar lack of both panic and antagonism toward game farmers. He spoke highly of the efforts and measures taken by most game farmers and mentioned an increasing realization among the general public that CWD could not have originated on farms and that it has probably played no part in occurrences of CWD in the wild. Now we’re getting somewhere! I voiced my disgust with the recent editorial in a popular Canadian hunting magazine. My friend suggested the editorial may simply be a backlash against the few who forsake laws for one more dollar or those who effectively rob a neighbour of a positive experience through threats and intimidation. Hmmm, I’m glad I listened first and phoned the editor second.

As I swapped sad stories with another guy last week, I was about to conclude, “In the middle of tough times and real heart wrenching disappointments, it’s pretty hard to look around and…” He nodded knowingly, “…and not be pessimistic,” he finished. “Uhh, no,” I replied. “I was going to say… and not notice the incredibly good things we’ve been blessed with.”

Speaking of blessings and heart-wrenching, our Calibre died just before Christmas. Actually, I put him down after much expert effort and advice as well as prayer by my family. My buddy was unable to thrive and surgery seemed simply an unfair experiment. Tests later showed that the cold he suffered from through the summer had probably caused a slight infection. Calibre had not only securely walled off the infection, but actually removed the corner of tissue completely from the lung. This “piece” would eventually end up against the esophagus and increasing in size until swallowing became nearly impossible. I still find this tough to write about and only those who honestly love their critters can truly glimpse my heart. It was terrible, but I remain amazed. I am amazed with the way Calibre’s body secured and removed the infected part. If not for the blocked esophagus, it was a wonderful work of survival. I am also amazed with the antlers he grew through it all. Mostly, however, I’m awed by the very nature and “personality” of Calibre. In the end, it wasn’t the monetary value of the animal that mattered at all, but rather the value of the animal itself. Thank you to all of you who so thoughtfully offered condolences. My dream buck, Calibre died…yes…but through a tear and a smile I say, “My dream buck lived…and so will many more!"

I look forward to fantastic things in this new year ahead on your farms and mine. Dare to dream, hold onto hope, and maximize each day’s blessings.

-Randy Barks

Our Farm is located in prime natural whitetail habitat with a large wild deer population. The farm is in Ontario on the edge of the rough Canadian shield with it’s marginal farm land and sandy soils. The pens have a variety of feeds including trees, shrubs, several clovers and trefoil, but the deer still eat large amounts of grain and second cut alfalfa daily. This past year I decided to experiment with planting plots of supplemental feed to see how they would be accepted by the deer.

In late May I planted a small area of about 1/10 acre each of Bishop’s Seed Wildlife Forage Mix in two of the pens.

The full article is available in the print version of Deer Tracking magazine.

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The Festive Season is behind us, we're all on diets, and ready or not, Convention is right around the corner. We will be looking for people to help again this year. I can assure you that these functions don't just happen. Ron is in charge of convention and is putting an excellent package together. So please call Ron and volunteer your services.

The special guest speaker this year is Gene Flees from Wisconsin. Gene has been game farming for 25 years and has some of the best whitetails in North America. He will be bringing a replica set of Bucky's 313" antlers and yes Bucky is a Whitetail!

The S.A.R.M. convention Trade Show is March 10-12 in Saskatoon at the Centennial Auditorium, we will have a booth and need people to man it. Please call Lisa and make arrangements.
It was brought to my attention this winter that whitetail, elk & bison are not under the Canada Feeds Act. This act
is used to verify that livestock feeds manufactured and sold in Canada or imported into Canada are safe, effective and labelled appropriately. The fact that foxes & mink, plus all other domestic animals and poultry are covered makes me think that it's time we were recognized on this list. We are talking to the C.C.C.and I have contacted the Federal Agricultural Critics. What we really need is for everyone to phone their Federal M.P.

We have been struggling to put together a list of Trophy Ranch Operators as the C.C.C. is picking up the tab to send reps to Chicago and Springfield Sport Shows to advertise our industry. By time you read this it may be to late for this year but we do need this list for future advertising. If you know a Trophy Ranch Operator please get them to call Lisa.

SWAMDPA convention needs:
* 5 donated deer for banquet meal
*Semen straw donations
*Buck fawns (60:40 donation)

Thanks for now,
Stan Hall

Speaker Spotlight:

Bucky 313 @ age 6, Heavy 304 @ age 7, Poncho 230 @ age 7,
Lucky 239 @ age 5, Harry 238 @ age 3, Butkus 252 @ age 3,
Bart 221 @ age 3, Buckshot 239 at age 3, Bo 201 at age 2,
Red 43 225 @ 3…

…are only some of the current big names, and scores, (all gross B & C) to be found on Wilderness Whitetails Game Farm and Hunting Preserve in central Wisconsin. Eugene and Carol Flees, along with sons Greg and Shorty have been farming deer since 1977. Ten years later, their first buck scoring over 200” was born. But they don’t leave such genetic leaps to chance. Deer on this farm are bred intensively, with a plan and a purpose, for 200”+ genetics. With over 25 years of experience in this industry, they have had a lot of trial and error and successes to bring them to their spotlight on the whitetail world stage. Having raised over 50 bucks that scored over 200”, they certainly have gained a considerable understanding of whitetail genetics in the past 2 and a half decades. This year alone, they had 24 bucks on farm scoring over 200”. Bucky, Flees’ main breeding buck scores 313” this year at 6 yrs old, with an amazing 34 3/8” inside spread (see front cover). At the Antlers International sale last year in Missouri, Bucky semen straws were a record setting $6000 US per straw.

In 1999 the Flees family expanded their game farm to include a hunting preserve as well. From Sept-Dec. personally guided hunters have access to approximately 300 acres of fenced farmland and cedar swamps. Their very first hunter shot a 207” B & C buck. Now that is good for marketing! In the past, yearly hunts have averaged from 160-185”. Their goal in 2002 was to harvest bucks from 170-200”. Definitely a hunter’s dream come true!

Gene is very active in the Wisconsin association, Whitetails of Wisconsin (WOW), as a WOW board member and acting as Vice President for the last 2 years. According to many in the industry, he is one of the most well respected world-class deer farmers in North America, as honesty and integrity are important in this family business. Wilderness Whitetails is a family run operation and everyone has a role to play. Carol, according to Greg, may be the key to the operation. She does a good part of the feeding and watering, as well as most of the bottle-feeding of fawns. She oversees the entire fawning aspect and is responsible for marking and tagging of all fawns along with identifying their parents. Carol also has a very good eye for spotting a sick animal and does a lot of the treating of the animals. Eugene does most of the tranquilizing of deer, as well as planting of the crops and making of the feed as well as being active in the treatment of deer. Gene, Greg, and Shorty together, take care of all the building and repairing of fences, corals, hunting stands, and handling facilities. Brothers, Greg and Shorty, run the hunting preserve, and are responsible for marketing and selling of the animals and semen. Although each role is important on its own, the strength comes with a melding of these roles into one successful operation.
Between genetics, hunting and deer industry politics, the Flees family has made a name for themselves in the whitetail world. What can Saskatchewan learn from this enterprising family? From trophy ranchers to veteran deer breeders, to new producers and hunters, we are all deer enthusiasts and we all have something to learn. Join us at the Saskatchewan Deer Dynamics Convention, March 28-30th , in Saskatoon. Meet Gene and take home some Flees strategies. For more information about the Flees farm and hunting preserve, check out www.wildernesswhitetails.com

-Tara-Lynn Barks

For the deer industry in Alberta, last year could be labled as the toughest one in it's history. Not only did we face a negative vote on CHPs (despite over 6 years of hard work with government and other stakeholders), but we were then confronted with the harsh realities of CWD. These issues have sent deer producers reeling - questioning the future of farming, demanding answers from government and from ourselves, and strategizing next steps to overcome these barriers. For some this meant leaving the industry, for others it prompted serious changes to the number of animals and how they were being farmed, and for an Association it challenged our entire reason for being. In difficult times like these, relationships and commitments come into question. As an Association of deer producers we are now more committed than ever to band together to re-create a "new reality" for deer farming in Alberta. What will 2003 hold?

° active involvement in LIDA revisions - with legal council
° CHP's by another route
° arms-length from Sustainable Resources
° aggressive media/PR campaign
° extensive management of CWD
° additional grant monies - for research and market development
° full time paid staff to accomplish the priorities of the Association
° exploration of a commission structure and/or self regulation
° orchestrated political lobbying campaign
° and much more!!!

All this and more is what is in store for the deer industry in Alberta. With the help of our member-producers we look forward to a renewed energy in facing these challenges head-on! As a fresh start to this New Year we're pleased to welcome Murray Greer as the new Executive Director for the AWMDA. Murray comes to us with a strong background in agriculture and finance. He has been working closely with various government representatives, financial institutions and producer-based businesses for a number of years. It looks to be an action-packed year!

Stay Tuned!

Sincerely,

Jason Marsland

To some the New Year brings resolutions for things that they would like to change in their life. I do not have a New Year’s resolution to share, but I do have hope, hope for things I would like to see changed that would allow this industry of ours to expand further and bring greater prosperity.

1) That Chronic Wasting Disease “News Makers” would stick to the facts. This is a long shot since facts do not keep people watching or buying “news” and therefore money would not be made through newspaper, radio and television advertisements.
2) For boarders to be “open” between provinces, states and countries. Yes, restrictions are necessary for periods of time. But once boarder restrictions are in place they are often left there to allow one group to benefit at the expense of another group. One of my philosophies is, in all your decisions make sure you allow the door to swing both ways.
3) For all farmers to have the appropriate amount of rain, sun and reward for their efforts in 2003. I especially remember our western farmers who have had some very difficult years.


As this year begins please plan to participate in areas that will help you in your business. As an Ontario White Tail Deer producer I would like to highlight two events that are important. On March 7, 8 & 9 the Ontario Deer and Elk Farmers Association will be holding their conference at the Regal Constellation in Mississauga. Friday evening will be registration and hospitality, a great time to socialize and gain insight from other producers. Saturday will be a full day with speakers addressing the industry and an evening banquet. Sunday morning will provide opportunity to participate in the ODEFA annual meeting. Come to learn, meet old friends, make new ones and build relationships. Another event to plan for is the Medication course, funding has been received and details should be available by the next issue.

To each one of you, may the New Year bring you peace, joy and fruitfulness.

Stephen Yantzi

The following data table shows various US CWD import requirements as of September 2002. Some states had moratoriums in place for 90-150 days before they would institute a CWD import protocol. So, some of the data in this table may have changed slightly, but the individual states can be contacted for more details. The most current, official compilation on individual state protocols can be obtained from
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/cwd/cwd62602.html.
This website lists the agency with jurisdiction in each of these states as well.

Take special note that "endemic" simply means where the disease is found in the wild. However many states use the term non-endemic "county" so therefore may allow movement from our Saskatchewan "counties" or RMs that have not been affected by wild findings of CWD. It is up for debate anyway... In this, Alberta and Ontario have an advantage, as CWD has not yet been diagnosed in their wild populations.
Through these stats we can see that we are nearing the point of trade once more with some states. We just completed our third CWD surveillance physical inventory, signifying the start of 3 years on surveillance. It felt good! Hang in there, an end IS in sight.

-Tara-Lynn Barks

Editor's Note: (Thank you to Ray Nixdorf, SAFRR for compiling this listing and for giving us permission to reprint the information).

The CCC will be attending two separate sportsman shows in the New Year where we will have a booth promoting Canadian Harvest Preserves. These two shows are the Chicagoland Fishing, Hunting & Travel Outdoors Show in January and the Springfield Sportsman Show in February. The booth will include an Elk and Whitetail mount as well as sheds from Mule Deer and Red Deer. As part of the display, representatives from the CCC will be handing out a list of the Harvest Preserves in Canada (Saskatchewan and Ontario). We require the authorization of the owner of the Harvest Preserve in order to have them included in the list.

We are asking all our SWAMDPA members for your assistance in contacting current Harvest Preserve owner/operators. If the Harvest Preserve operator would like to forward their name and information to be part of the list, would like to attend one of the shows, or require additional information, they may contact any of the following people:

Harvey Granatier
Vice President – SWAMDPA
Phone: 306-526-9320
e-mail: harvey.granatier@sherwoodcu.com

Al Morhart
CCC Representative – SWAMDPA
Phone: 306-799-4305
e-mail: aj@hartlanddeer.com

Serge Buy
Executive Director – Canadian Cervid Council
Phone: 613-874-9994
e-mail: buy@glen-net.ca

Lisa Schill
Secretary – SWAMDPA
Phone: 306-783-5257
e-mail: dschill.deerfrm@sk.sympatico.ca

Electronic Animal Identification: The nature of things to come.

By Elsie McCoy and Randy McSwain
EZ·ID Animal Identification

Electronic identification devices (EIDs), often used interchangeably with radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs), are fast becoming the method of choice for animal identification. Tattoos often fade and become hard to read and ear tags tear the ears and become lost as well as detract from the natural beauty of the animal. Many animal owners and show judges alike are claiming success with the ease of identifying (“microchipped”) animals. Furthermore, “scanning” animals with a convenient handheld reader is easy.

The full article is available in the print version of Deer Tracking magazine.

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Many ranchers are seeing their herds reach a point where they need to cull some animals, they are looking for ways to make acceptable products rather than grind the entire animal into hamburger. Many specialty livestock producers have an aversion to incorporating marinades and non-meat ingredients into their products. They say that it removes the “natural” image that their products have. However, one of the limiting factors in the acceptance of the specialty products is that they tend to be very lean, are often over cooked. Resultants products are dry giving the consumer an unpleasant experience. This can be easily overcome through the inclusion of marinades or non-meat ingredients at levels sufficient to compensate for most of the cooking losses. The resultant product is more succulent and offers the consumer a satisfying eating experience without loosing the characteristic flavour of meat.

The full article is available in the print version of Deer Tracking magazine.

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