Roadkillwarrior

Found three antler sheds today and a dead buck that has been dead for awhile because it still has a little bit of velvet on its antlers. Wehave had a big case of blue tongue here for the last couple years so I think that is how the buck died. Found three others durring August near water where they died of thirst because there tongue swell up. Anyone else have any deer dieing from this or other diseases where you hunt?

DougMD

About 4 and 5 years ago, in Southern Maryland, blue tongue took probably 80% of the herd or so over the two year period. They bounced back since though.

djschuett

What is Blue tongue? I've never heard of it.

Sounds like it's some sort of virus that causes tongue edema, is that accurate?

JimPic

There were a few counties in western Pa. a couple of years ago that they found dead deer with this.I haven't heard of any recurrances lately,though

bfulton77

It was really bad in Illinois this year. At least where Im at. Basically,..Blue tongue is carried by a gnat that lays it eggs in stag net water. The larva hatch into the infested flys, fly up the deers nose and bite it. The deer becomes feverish and heads to water where some eventually die. Its hemorrhagic disease that cause the deers organs to more or less deteriorate. Those who survive it will be immune to it. Times of drought are when its worst. It has been around since the 70's but not this bad.