CoyoteJohn, this was all news to me...I have heard of it, but never made a connection between it and hunting either..Basically the farmer put it to me like this..when the avian flu is confirmed here, brought by ducks and geese traveling the flyway, I would first not be allowed to hunt another bird farm and then come onto his property for fear of cross contamination since it can be carried in fecal matter, saliva, urine etc..all of which can be transported on my boots from the fields. If his farm is impacted directly, you hit the nail on the head, his farm is under quarantine..which in his words would put a halt to hunting it. He did mention it can pass. They can spray the birds down with a foam of some sort to cleanse them (I assume) and heat the chicken houses up to a certain temperature and kill the virus. His biggest thing was it is also an airborne pathogen which makes it a real pain. This is the first time I heard it mentioned by a farmer here. I usually make my rounds in the coming weeks to pop in and chat with some of the property owners and farmers and touch base with them prior to the season.. several of which raise chicken and turkey. I suppose then I will hear what their concerns will be. In the end, its not about me losing some spots, a few of which I really covet, but about how this will affect them.. for their sake, hopefully not too bad.
