It's interesting to see how different news sources reported on the intent of HF219, that was up in the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee Tuesday.
At the International Falls Journal, editor Laurel Beager reported in CWD bill aims to reduce risk to wild deer:
A bill co-authored by Rep. Rob Ecklund is aimed at reducing the risk that chronic wasting disease will be spread in Minnesota through carcass transport or escaped farmed deer.
Ecklund, along with Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul; Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, DFL-Roseville; and Rep. Mike Sundin, DFL -Esko, - all deer hunters - met online with reporters representing an equally diverse geography Monday to talk about the bill.
House File 219 was heard Tuesday by the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Rep. Hansen, Tuesday, after which it is expected to move forward.
As we note in the headline, the bill passed on a 14-5 vote. Beager continues:
"Overall, it's a good bill for the integrity and health of the wild deer herd," Ecklund said.
The lawmakers noted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has in the past been supportive of the provisions that would:
- Allow a licensed deer hunter to kill and possess escaped farmed deer, and other cervidae species, and is not liable to the owner for the loss of the animal. The deer must be tested for CWD at the owner's expense. Owners will be required to provide contact information that enables the deer to be identified as an escaped deer.
- Defines an unloaded muzzle loader.
- Prohibits transport into Minnesota of carcasses obtained by any means.
Opposition to the bill could come from people who farm deer. . . .
Becker-Finn said she was proud to stand with Ecklund for the deer hunters in the state, adding hunting likely draws a more diverse group than people realize.
She also said it's important to protect Minnesota's Constitutional right to protect its hunting heritage and produce a healthy deer herd.
If the spread of CWD is not dealt with, it could be devastating to the hunting industry, Sundin described. . . .
At Session Daily, Nate Gotlieb's Escaped deer provision reinserted into floor-bound natural resources bill skewed toward remarks favoring the farmed cervidae industry, as the title suggests. A taste:
To protect Minnesota's deer herd from a fatal brain disease, a House committee for a second straight year has approved a provision that would allow licensed hunters to shoot and keep escaped farm-raised deer.
HF219, a six-part natural resources bill that includes the provision, was approved 14-5 by the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee Tuesday and now heads to the House floor. There is no Senate companion.
Bill sponsor Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL-International Falls) said the aim is to protect Minnesota's wild deer from chronic wasting disease, which is always fatal, has no cure and can survive for years in the environment. . .
Under the bill, hunters who do so would not be required to pay the deer farmer for the animal. The bill also would require the deer farmers to pay to test the animal for CWD.
Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa), voted to approve the bill, but took issue with the escaped deer provision. He said a lot of the escapes are no fault of deer farmers.
Advocates said it would alleviate worries hunters could have over potentially killing a farm-raised animal by accident. They said the provision would only apply to licensed hunters who kill deer during hunting seasons, meaning that it wouldn't apply to hunters who violated property rights to take a farmed animal.
Representing the Minnesota Deer Farmers Association, Tim Spreck said he worries about such situations.
Animals raised by deer farmers can be worth thousands of dollars, given preferred characteristics such as large antlers.
The bill would also require the tags on farm-raised whitetail deer include contact information for the owner, and it would bar the importation of all deer and elk carcasses, not just ones killed by hunters. Other provisions address muzzleloaders and the use of deer stands in certain wildlife management areas.
Rep. Dale Lueck (R-Aitkin) said he thinks that existing tagging provisions are sufficient for connecting the owners of escaped animals with people who encounter them. His motion to refer the bill to the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee was defeated 11-8 on a party-line vote.
Here's the video of the committee's consideration of the bill. The YouTube will scroll, then start at the beginning of the discussion of the bill:
Related Posts:
- Press release: DNR continues CWD response with southeast MN, south metro special hunts
- Hunted and roadkill wild deer in Dakota and Olmsted Counties test positive for CWD
- Some of the science at the center of Update on Chronic Wasting Disease Efforts hearing
- Board of Animal Health: Chronic wasting disease confirmed in Houston County farmed deer herd
- MN DNR: Deer hunters urged to submit samples in chronic wasting disease sampling areas
- Capital Report & Session Daily updates on MN Chronic Wasting Disease research and policy
- MN DNR reminds deer hunters of significant changes to regulations related to CWD
- Session Daily: Experts want to study how CWD flows in state's waterways
- CWD news digest: #Mnleg agenda; Wisconsin confirms 105 recent CWD cases in captive deer
- Douglas County deer farm investigation leads to discovery of Pine County captive doe CWD case
- MNDNR: extensive sampling of wild deer in 2019 shows CWD remains biggest concern in SEMN
- News item: Fillmore County Board gets CWD update; approves refugee resettlement
- Meanwhile in South Dakota: Game, Fish & Parks (GFP) Commission modifies rules related to CWD
- Just in from the MN DNR: Wild deer in Dakota County confirmed positive for CWD
- Meanwhile in MN: four more Chronic Wasting Disease positive deer on Pine County farm
- Capital Report & Session Daily updates on MN Chronic Wasting Disease research and policy
Photo: White-tailed deer in the woods.
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