We have been receiving more and more reports of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) showing up in whitetails this past week in southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Some reports out of Illinois have some farmers finding dead deer by the dozens. For example, one D&DH reader reported finding 30 dead deer on one 400-acre farm in southern Illinois. The disease has also hammered captive deer herds, with some operations losing 90 percent of their herds in a matter of days.

EHD, also known as "blue tongue," is contracted by biting midges, or gnats. The tiny flies transmit the virus from infected to uninfected animals as the deer eat or drink water at concentrated sources. Droughts compound the problem, because deer congregate at streams and ponds. In these cases, one sick deer can mean a death sentence for all the others, because the gnats will feed on the sick deer and then bite and infect the nearby healthy deer.

EHD is not a threat to humans, and the disease disappears at the first killing frost of the season, which wipes out the insect hosts.

10/3:
Many of you loyal D&DH-TV viewers have inquired about how to obtain Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD. The discs are now available for purchase on the F+W Publications Back Issue store. To order the discs (which can be ordered singly or together), log on to http://www.fwmagazines.com/.

More field reports on the way, keep checking back on this site.

10/1:
Warm weather has really shut us down here in northeast WI. Highs this week will be in the 70s, with lows in the 50s. Not good for seeing big deer on their feet. That being said, however, I saw my first bonafide "shooter" of the year on Saturday. He was in a bachelor group with two yearling bucks, which was quite odd. I only saw him for a minute at about 80 yards out. If I had to guess I'd say he was a 3-1/2 year old 10 pointer, but that was through brush and thicker cover. Still enough to get me excited. About 20 minutes later, I spied a "first" for me here in this part of WI ... a black bear. Actually had to do a double-take on that, because I have never seen a bear while bow-hunting. The bear was about the size of a black Lab, which my buddy says indicates it was probably a yearling. It was merely walking through the woods eating acorns, from what I can only assume. A trophy sighting in my book, no doubt!   

No big buck photos to share this morning, although we have heard of a 160-class buck being taken this weekend not far from Iola. Will post the pic as soon as I get it.  --Dan Schmidt

Welcome Cyber Stump Sitters! Our new "Rub Line" blog will keep you up to date on all the news, notes and hunt reports we run across on a daily basis here at Deer & Deer Hunting. Check back daily, and be sure to email this link to your hunting buddies!

Let the hunt begin!

Dan Schmidt
Editor, D&DH