Blue Tounge

[buffhntr]

I was watching several mature bucks this summer and in late august they vanished. Since then three of them have been found dead and their antlers were still light with velvet. I know that they died around late august. Since then I have been hunting and only seen nine buks all of them were 1 and a half year old. I managed to kill a 4 year old ten point. I am seeing 15 to 20 does a night and no bucks. I decidedto for go an evening of hunting and drive the roads. The rut is going strong in the area and I saw over 60 does and 1 small 6pt. Last year I was seeing 1 to 9 mature bucks a hunt and passed on several 140s. I have no experience with blue tongue but this is what it is looking like to me. Any of you that have experienced this what portion of the buck population will be hit with this and how long will it take to run the course? What are your thoughts on what I have described?

[wallhangr]

Where were these bucksfound? Last year when we got hit most of them were found near water.

[buffhntr]

within 10 feet of water 2 were actually in the pond

[wallhangr]

I would say that's probably what you're dealing with. Suprised though with the wet year we've had.

[buffhntr]

how bad will this effect the bucks in the area and how long will this go on

[wallhangr]

If there was any fresh water in the area, it might not be that bad. But if the only water available was stagnant you could be hit pretty hard. Now that the weather has turned cold the parasites should be eliminated.

[buffhntr]

there are alot of creeks in the area

[buffhntr]

ttt