Florida Winter 2022

PRESIDENT James “Smitty” Smith

Gum Creek Hunting Preserve 813-714-5045

Jsmith@crossenv.com www.GumCreekHuntingPreserve.com

VICE

PRESIDENT

Bill Lefler

2 Base Down Farms 2751 SE CR 343 Morriston, FL 32668 561-373-2353 Bleffler2011@gmail.com Twobasedownfarms@yahoo.com

SECRETARY

Susan Hall

Oak Island Whitetails Florida Hunting Adventures 12111 NW 300th S t Okeechobee, FL 34972 954-242-1472

Stuffette@bellsouth.net

TREASURER

Dr. Juan Campos

College of Veterinary Medicine Dept. of Large Animal Clinical Sciences University of Florida 108 Deriso Hall, Gainesville, FL 32610 352-363-0703 / jmcampos@ufl.edu

DIRECTORS

Benny Wilkison

Lil Oak Whitetails 3193 NW 216th St Lawtey, Fl 904-424-7233

liloakwhitetails@yahoo.com

Mike Hunter

MS Hunter Farm 8479 Puckett Rd Perry, FL 32348 850-843-0881

Mike.Hunter@etranscarriers.com

Louis Scott

Scott’s Game Farm 96769 O’Neil Scott Road Fernandina Beach, FL 32097 904-557-8940, 904-753-4091

FELLOW DEER FARMERS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

- JAMES “SMITTY” SMITH

Hello again to all our favorite deer farmers across the state.

We have had trying times the past months but as a whole we have survived as usual since we are “Florida Strong.” Between COVID, hurricanes, storms, and elections we have showed that we can take the pressure; one thing for sure is that we can take the pressure, get back up and keep moving forward.

I would hope that everyone has sold their deer for the year as I think the demand has been good. All the hunting preserves are in full swing now even with the economy not the best.

SeTDA is also proud to get the scholarship application out in this issue. Please let all the future young deer farmers know about this. We could not think of a better way to give back to the industry than helping our youth. Please spread the word. The winners will be announced at this year’s Spring Fling. We hope to draw a lot of applications.

We are already lining up speakers for this year’s Spring Fling. It will be two days again, plus Friday’s schedule will include speakers after supper and raffles during that time. We want to make it a great 2-day event.

Message is a little short this issue but hunting season is on us now, so until next time, be safe, and be “Florida Strong.”

James “Smitty” Smith

Instead

Because

FLORIDA OFFERS LESSONS ON DISSUADING, REDUCING WILDLIFE PREDATORS

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by SETDA

When asked whether wildlife predators or cervid diseases are a bigger threat to cervid longevity, SETDA Board of Directors Member Bill Leffler didn’t hesitate to offer an answer. “Can you stop a panther or coyote with a vaccine?” he asked. “We have predators all year long. Not diseases.” At his deer paradise he’s operated for seven years, 2 Base Down Farms in Morriston, Florida comprised of a 107-acre typical breeding farm and 325-acre hunting preserve, Leffler, like all conscientious deer farmers, defines a predator as “anything that can hurt or kill a deer.”

In the warmer, tropical and inviting climate of Florida, a wider variety of predators are more abundantly found than in colder or more northern

climates. According to internet research, the Number One common predator in Florida is the American alligator, where it is estimated more than 1.3 million thrive. Of the 410 recorded alligator attacks on humans in Florida since 1948, 25 resulted in death. “I’ve lost black buck fawns to alligators,” Leffler, 64, said. The second most-deadliest common predator after the alligator is the black bear followed by the bull shark, jellyfish, fire ants, rattlesnakes, ticks, feral pigs or boars, mosquitoes and coyotes. While panthers are also considered a deadly predator, they are also highly endangered with an estimated 120-230 left in the wild, making them more elusive and difficult to reduce.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission creates, enforces and regulates rules regarding all classes of wildlife within its borders. Yet, no matter what type of wildlife predators may threaten your deer farm, the first step in managing them is complying with the rules and regulations in your particular state regarding their reduction, Leffler emphasized. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, predation management plans, aimed at reduction rather than elimination, often can be put into play when evidence of predators causes a reduction in game populations, and a regulated harvest of that animal is not adequate control. In addition to following state regulations and protocol for trapping and reduction, deer farmers often design their farms to simply deny predator access. “One of our biggest problems besides coyotes are wild dogs that have been turned loose who form packs,” Leffler said. “The only way to keep them out is to take predator wire and put it on the outside of your perimeter fence with

galvanized wire and hog-ring crimped to the bottom. When a canine attempts to dig under it, it will stop it. Or you can run electrified wire approximately eight to 12 inches off the ground.” Perhaps just as important as sufficient fencing is the comfort that in Florida, coyotes can be shot year-round as they are not protected or endangered. While some deer farmers use crops and blackout or shade cloth to “hide” their animals, it is not nearly as effective as taking the necessary steps to keep them outside your fencing.

In addition to canines, bobcats can cause considerable headaches to deer farmers during fawning season as they can easily climb fences and jump high into the air in pursuit of prey. Florida law permits legal unlimited “bagging” or hunting of bobcats during fur-bearing animal season which runs from December 1st through March 1st each year. However, other fur-bearing animals such as disease carrying raccoons, possums, skunks and squirrels can be hunted year-round and can create even greater risks to deer than migratory birds like ravens, if they urinate or defecate on feed. “In the end, utilizing a licensed trapper to help you can be an invaluable asset. Your best defense is to also know what predators you may be up against, and work compliantly with your state to devise a plan to protect both you and your deer as you reduce the insult to farming,” Leffler emphasized. “Your knowledge and efforts will pay off.”

HOW TO CORRECTLY LINE BREED AND WHY

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by IDEFA

Line breeding can present opportunities to produce desired, marketable and consistent traits within your whitetail herd, if you breed carefully and patiently. The bottom leg of a doe’s pedigree is the foundation for line breeding, explains Cletus Bontrager of Twin Maple Deer Farm, a 12-acre breeding farm in Shipshewana, Indiana which focuses on producing typical bucks. A doe with a strong bottom pedigree could ultimately produce a “supercharged” doe by following these most recommended steps. First, breed her to a desirable outcrossed sire. Next, select her most desirable 1st generation daughter and breed her to an outcrossed sire. Next, take this daughter’s most desirable 1st generation buck fawn and when he has matured, breed him back to his grandmother. Should this match create a doe, that doe will more than likely be the supercharged doe more “powerful” than her mother that you will use steadfast for breeding, in an effort pass on strong genetics and favorable, marketable traits.

Then, your thoughtfully bred supercharged doe can be outcrossed to a buck with your preferred traits, to perpetuate the type of whitetail herd you are desiring to raise, said Bontrager, 37, who’s been producing deer with his father Ezra since 2000.

When your supercharged doe has her own doe offspring, you would then breed those does back to your established select in-herd sires, rather than outcrossing, as this would take you farther away from the genetics and look you are after. Although this takes time and several breeding cycles, this process creates your line bred foundation stock. In most cases, only 10 to 15 percent of bucks produced from your supercharged doe will become breeder bucks and the rest, stocker bucks, said O’Lamar Borkholder of O’La Jo’s Whitetails, a seven-acre breeding farm in Bremen, Indiana. While the intent behind line breeding is to perpetuate desirable traits, inside every well-bred doe are hidden undesirable traits that only show up in her offspring, said Borkholder, who raises mainly typical deer. “The hardest thing is to keep that typical look – long, nice round beams,” he said. Therefore, if not done carefully, line breeding can expose undesirable traits and be a bigger downfall than an advantage.

Success with your line breeding efforts is realized when, after a few years, your herd begins to display and sustains a consistent look and striking resemblance, Bontrager explained. Twin Maple has heavily line bred the Patrick line into their herd, as a result of Ezra visiting Pine Creek Deer Farm and being impressed by long-tined typicals.

Today, 100% of Twin Maple’s 180 deer all anchor down to one doe. However, Borkholder, whose cousin Eddie Ray produced the famous line-bred Patrick deer, finds very few deer farmers today have the patience to wait and develop a herd of line bred foundation stock. Of the four types of breeding choices one can practice (inbreeding, line breeding, match breeding and random breeding) he finds most deer farmers choose random breeding whereby a farmer breeds a quality doe to the biggest or most popular buck on the scene at the moment. Many deer farmers also practice match breeding, a close cousin to line breeding, which involves perpetually choosing genetic lines that “click” or are known to produce well.

And while history may point to successful cases of inbreeding (breeding father to daughter or son to mom or full brother and sisters) chances of this can be slim. Fifteen years ago, a buck fawn bred his womb sister. A doe from that breeding was then outcrossed and subsequently produced one of the biggest 10-point mainframe breeding bucks of all time, Maxbo Arty.

However, in some cases, inbred deer are born blind, weak, get ugly racks or too runt-like to be worth feeding, Bontrager said. Line breeding (breeding uncles to nieces or nephews to aunts) absolutely requires having the right doe from the very bottom leg of her pedigree, Borkholder emphasized.

St. Patrick @6

ASPIRING VET, ETERNAL DEER ENTHUSIAST

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by Dr. Daniel Bontrager

The first time 17-year-old Presli Busby held a needle and injected antibiotics into a deer, she wasn’t filled with the apprehension most might feel doing so for the first time. “It felt pretty cool and natural,” the softspoken teenager and member of the Marianna, Florida FFA Chapter, said. However, Busby has spent most of her life being drawn to challenges. Her most recent one, entering an FFA (Future Farmers of America) Agricultural Proficiency Award Contest for Wildlife Management, earned her first place in the state and as an FFA finalist, a bronze medal.

While Busby is proud of her accomplishment, along with her parents and FFA Advisor Tony Watkins, it’s her mentor Dr. Daniel Bontrager, DC, who perhaps also feels like a proud father. Bontrager, owner of Bontrager Whitetails in Marianna, Florida, not only relies on her help at his farm, to him it still feels like just yesterday when he first met Busby as the four-year-old

daughter to a new employee at his chiropractic office. He never imagined he would watch her (then a little blond girl holding a bottle for fawns) grow up and not only love deer, but also be a serious contender for veterinary school.

“Presli is an amazing young woman,” Bontrager 66, shared. “Her Dad and I are friends and her mom, Terri, works at my office. Last winter, when my righthand man passed away unexpectedly, Presli stepped right up to help. When I would get home from the office and it was dark, Presli had everything with the deer taken care of. She is very conscientious and really takes care of business. She is a good kid and she’s honest and not afraid of hard work.”

The substantial amount of hard work to enter the proficiency contest, along with a very lengthy application, didn’t deter Busby when she began the process in February of 2022. In fact, it motivated her even more because, of the 150 or so members in her FFA chapter, she was the very first one to ever do so. “My advisor and I were thinking of more ways to be involved and I like entering contests,” she said. “Our goal is to have more of us enter for next year.”

As she begins her senior year of high school Busby has her sights set on vet school after earning a fouryear Animal Science degree from Chipola Community College. While working happily for Bontrager and studying takes up a great deal of her time, she also enjoys hunting with her father, Andy, 42, and her older brothers Jim, 22 and Hunter, 20. She also enjoys spending time with the family’s five dogs who include a Shih Tzu,

a Rottweiler, an English Bull dog, a Labrador Retriever mix and a Wiener dog. “The Shih Tzu is a boy, and the rest are girls,” Presli said. “And he’s in charge.”

Being in charge of her life is something Presli is obviously excelling at. As she prepares for the annual FFA Convention October 26th-29th in Indianapolis, Indiana, she is looking forward to hearing keynote speakers and mingling with others who share her same vision and goals. Established in 1928, the FFA teaches development of leadership and life skills that shape decision making and values. It also strives to help build the self-esteem of its members and prepare them for career success through agricultural education.

“I feel very blessed to be part of the FFA,” Presli said. “I feel grateful for the opportunities it has given me now and will give me in the future, and I am very grateful to work with Daniel on his farm. When I first thought about vet school, I was thinking dogs and cats. Now I’m thinking deer and livestock.” While Presli loves Florida, she has always wanted to try living somewhere else, too, and really likes the idea of living in Texas. With that being said, she better get ready for a lot of phone calls from Texas deer farmers when she becomes a veterinarian!

THINKING ABOUT STARTING A DEER FARM?

From the very beginning of the application process for the license to building pens and getting your farm set up, all build up to the grand day of actually getting deer, be it fawns or grown does and bucks. It is an exciting venture to say the least. Some start very slow and others jump right in big.

Deer Farming is certainly not for the faint of heart. There are trials and heartbreaks along the way. Your will lose very special deer, sometimes at no fault of your own. Others will die from circumstances you think you may have been able to prevent (these are usually the most heartbreaking.) Life will throw lots of learning curves your way... but in the end most deer farmers will say the rewards far out way the sacrifices. When the first fawns are born, oh what an exciting time. Fawning season is exciting year after year.

Watching those bucks start to grow those antlers, WOW what a great time that can be. Pedigrees and planning your deer population can be very rewarding.

Research is a great avenue to learn about deer farming. There are lots of YouTube videos that will certainly give you great ideas. There are incredible articles out there with lots of information. Visiting other farms and talking with the owners and workers puts a lot of learning in your pocket fast. Most farmers are happy to share their experiences and advice. They can tell you what they did right and some things that they would do differently with the knowledge they have gained.

Deer farming can be hard work. It is a 24 / 7 process. Day in and day out of feeding and caring for your deer. Building and maintaining your pens. Constant watch of your deer population is very important to ensure good health. Deer can get sick in a hurry and it can be challenging to bring them back to good health. Having supplies readily on hand is very important: feed, fencing materials, medicines and medical supplies are all essential.

There are different types of deer farming operations.

The hobbyist: folks wanting a few for pets. Deer can make incredible pets, but just remember, they are still wild at heart.

The Entrepreneur: folks that want to actually make a business. It is expensive to get setup and takes a little while, but it does actually

provide an income...at least it starts to cover some of the expenses. No seriously, deer farming and game preserves can be lucrative businesses when operated properly.

Whether you are interested in large or small operations, do some homework. Understand pedigrees and breeding practices. Research feeds and medicines. Understand the laws and what is required for your particular type operation. Be diligent with your paperwork from the beginning. Record keeping is essential to all types of deer operations.

Getting family and friends involved can make your operation fun and rewarding. Children enjoy deer farming and it can be very educational. They enjoy feeding the deer, especially when you bottle feed. Family run operations are generally some of the most successful.

Good Luck and God Bless from a fellow deer farmer.

PeaceMaker

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SETDA MEMBERS BUSINESS CARD SPREAD

Attention Members;

Welcome to our SeTDA members Business card spread.

This is not just FREE advertising but a way members, both old and new, can reach out to each other for your services or to buy and sell deer.

Again, if interested in getting into future business card spreads, send your Farm or Business Cards to; info@southeasttrophydeerassociation.com.

The SeTDA wants to hear from you and show new and established deer farms and preserves who you are and where in Florida you are located. We look forward to hearing from you and creating a great advertising spread for our members!

Thank You, SeTDA BOD’s

KILLING MY 1ST DEER

BY: RYLIE SCOTT

My Dad wanted me to start shooting my Mom’s gun to learn how to aim at the target so I can kill my 1st deer. It is a Savage 308. I practiced a few times and got comfortable with it. I was scared at first but it got easier the more I practiced. My brother and I got a box and put it in the front yard and we practiced together. I got comfortable and was ready to go on my 1st hunt.

My Dad took us to a farm in Florida. It was a really long ride. Once we got there my Dad talked forever it felt like. The guy took us out on his side by side to get in the deer stand. My Dad and I sat in the stand and waited for the deer to come out in range. We saw horses, bison, fallow deer, elk, and wildebeest. I really liked watching the wildebeest. I told my Dad that’s what I want on our farm.

As it got later in the afternoon, we started seeing more deer. I had the perfect doe come in range. My Dad shook my shoulder really hard; he told me to get the gun ready. I got the Savage 308 up and ready.

I had to adjust a few times to get the perfect shot. Once I got her in my sites my adrenaline started pumping as I got ready to pull the trigger. As I pulled the trigger the kick from the gun made me think I missed her. I looked up to see if I got her and she was already running away. I saw the fur flying and blood coming out of her shoulder.

Dad called the man that took us to the stand and let him know I shot a doe. While we were waiting for him to get to us we got all our stuff together and got down out the stand. As we got out the stand we started looking for blood. Once he

got there with my Mom and brother we started following the blood trail. We came across a sick elk that they would not have found if it have not been for us looking for my doe. It felt like a long track but it was only about 75-100 yards. We found her in a swampy area. Dad made my brother and I drag her out into the open.

We took pictures with her in the field. I was so excited, I finally shot my 1st deer. We got her up to camp to clean her and of course my Dad covered me in her blood. The next day we took my deer to the taxidermist. I was so excited, I am getting a shoulder mount and also the back half of the hyde tanned for a throw blanket and the feet as a hat rack.

Good luck on your next adventure!

THE NORTH AMERICAN DEER REGISTRY

CONTINUING TO IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY TO VALIDATE THE CERVID INDUSTRY

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by Iowa Deer Farmers Association

As the deer industry evolves, the North American Deer Registry (NADR) is evolving right along with it. Begun in 2007 to validate the industry by providing information on DNA and pedigrees, NADR, located in Edmond, Oklahoma, is now incredibly specific with the information it provides. In the summer of 2021, new CWD Genetic Assay Technology (investigative procedures that measure the presence of a targeted entity) was introduced and is currently utilized using approximately 50,000 genetic markers. This new assay provides Genetic Estimated Breeding Values (GEBV’s) to allow breeders to determine each animal’s susceptibility to CWD and make future breeding decisions in order to “move away” from this disease.

This CWD technology was only a dream when NADR, in its infancy, studied 18 markers merely for the construction of simple, non-disease related genetic maps for parentage. “The technologies then were very rudimentary and had been around for years in the cattle and sheep industry,” said NADR Executive Director Gary Cook. “They focused primarily on pinpointing the most accurate DNA analysis possible at the time.” As DNA technology advanced and NADR partnered with Dr. Chris Seabury and Texas A & M to license technology that shifted the focus to genotyping and identifying SNP molecular markers found in DNA, it resulted in 400 identifying markers utilized for parentage in whitetail

and mule deer. In addition, in 2016, NADR selected a new organization, Neogen (Geneseek), with state-ofthe-art laboratories all over the globe including Lincoln, Nebraska, to facilitate the transition to this new technology. To date, NADR has tested 350,000 fallow, mule and whitetail tissue samples combined, with a goal of providing official pedigree services for fallow deer later this year. Having a NADR registered deer doesn’t merely provide a handy reference for pedigrees, breeding values or breeding decisions. It’s a necessity should one wish to qualify for a consignment auction or prove their deer’s value to a potential buyer. The efforts of two valued organizations, NADeFA and the Texas Deer Association (TDA), allowed NADR, a 501c4 organization, to become a reality. Several years later, Venados De Mexico (VDM) joined as an organization. NADR is comprised of a team of dedicated scientists and office administrators as well as a 14-member volunteer board, five from NADeFA, two from VDM, five from TDA as well as NADeFA Executive Director Shawn Schafer and TDA Executive Director Kevin Davis. To become a NADR customer, one must first be an active voting member of the TDA, NADeFA or VDM and submit DNA samples to NADR in tissue tubes. Samples could include pulled (not shaved) hair between 30-50 millimeters long from the underside of the tail, an antler core from the base of a shed antler, semen straws or used semen straws with the cotton plug still intact. Sample

submission options include an excel spreadsheet, GMS software or manually. Cook emphasizes shipping samples that will arrive on a weekday, and to include with your sample all possible sire and dam NADR numbers including A.I. and backup bucks.

NADR, who tests on average 25,000 deer per year, sends certificates to owners once results are completed. All results are confidential and available online. However, no one but NADR and its members have access to the results.

“We work very hard to offer the best in a genetic registry,” Cook said. “We continuously seek ways to provide knowledge and state of the art services to our customers.”

Reach NADR staff by calling 405-5137228, faxing 405-513-7238, sending an email to nadr@deerregistry.com or visiting their website at www. deerregistry.com.

NADR is located at 1601 Medical Center Drive, Suite 1 Edmond, OK, 73034