Looks like the CWD Alarmists are succeeding unfortunately as there is a WHOLE lot of misinformation on this thread, i.e. CWD lowers deer populations, is transmitted via eating brain or spinal cord, vCJD is caused by eating infected animals (theorized but not proven), etc.
Ive hunted for 2 decades in the WI CWD zone. It was discovered in 2002 and since the Whitetail population has gone from 990,000 deer to the current estimates of 1.4 million. These numbers are directly form the WI DNR website. CWD clearly hasn't cause a population decline in Whitetails in WI, nor has it been proven to do so anywhere its been found.
Additionally, I have been hearing a lot of the "biologist" saying things such as, "CWD MAY make the jump to humans" and people instantly interpret that speculative statement as the believe it will make the jump to humans, not likely. Just look at the evidence. In the 50 years its been know in the US a Human has NEVER contracted CWD. Doesn't matter that some alarmist biologist suggests it MAY, keyword being MAY, jump to human. Speculation doesn't make it so or even likely.
I know in WI anyway its harmed deer hunting, but not in harming the deer herd. Its harmed hunting by driving away potential hunters for fear of the disease. The ever ridiculous laws designed to stop it (no wildlife agency has ever stopped the spread by the way) has driven some current hunters away from the sport as theyre fed up. My sister wont let my nephew eat any of my venison nor will she let him start hunting with me even though he has expressed interest. This is due the CWD hysteria created by the media and people like Doug Deuren, a WI resident.
Ted may be a loose cannon but he is right in resisting the CWD hysteria. Its ill effects are WAY overblown in my experience of living and hunting for two decades in a "CWD Zone". Ive never personally seen a sick deer nor has anyone ive know and we hunt in the heart of the eradication zone.