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Scott,

i was told today that 80% of the doves captured and test by the MSDWPF tested positive for West Nile! I was also told that they recomend handling the birds with rubber gloves and hogh precaution! CAn we eat these birds or should we destroy them? i hate killing anything I can not eat! What is your input on this matter?

Big Lou, from what i understand, they{don't know who they is} that there should be no risk of transmission from game birds....haha...... then THEY go to say that wear rubber gloves to clean, cook meat until well done, and then go to say that studies are not conclusive as to what the long term may hold.....

for me, i'm going to clean my birds with gloves, wash and freeze and wait on some other results..... will be a big cookin in the future....i hope....

the mosquito spreads the virus from contaminated birds.... may be worth taking caution.... like the BIG QUAKE OF 94....{ I HAD SOME WHISKEY HID IN A FIELD IN CASE THE HOUSE SHOOK DOWN} ain't found that bottle yet...haha....

judge jb

cooking 'em well done will make em tuff as leather. Good idea judge on freezing them for further results.

Well as a first year law student I glad to see that there is some related precendent that you have presented. Thanks for the input and the suggestion about freezing the birds. by the way cool AVATAR! By the way judge which court do you preside over?

Big Lou,

What was that person drinking when he fell off that watermelon truck? I'm kidding when I say that, but the MDWFP has not tested any doves or any other birds. As the MS Dept of Health says, Wear gloves while cleaning wild game and cook throughly. What are the chances of catching West Nile from doves? Slim to none. If you have spent any time outdoors lately with the bugs you probably have already been vacinated and just don't know it.

A 80 year old friend of mine is in the hospital right now from West Nile. He was on life support for 10+ days. He still has a long recovery ahead of him. He has horses that probably contributed to him getting West Nile. I've been feeding those same horses since he has been ill, and I've yet to get sick even though I've been bit by those same mosquitoes. They say if you've been bitten by a West Nile infected mosquitoe and did not get sick you were inoculated, so I feel like I've been inoculated considering everything.

You need to be more worried about someone mixing alcohol and guns or being shot by someone shooting at a low flying bird more so than catching West Nile.

Thanks Scott you have made my day! I will watch for that low flying shot!

What are the chances that my dog can get West Nile from retrieving doves? If we are supposed to handle the doves with gloves, how dangerous is it for the dogs?

Darrell

the biggest concern w/ west nile virus are w/ the elderly, or those whose immune system is already suppressed...i'm w/ ole scott, the odds of actually contracting that virus are slim to none (esp. in healthy folks like most of us are)...i would suggest having a good time hunting and not be tooo concerned w/ it...problem is, the media keeps hyping this thing up...think of how many people are outside all day and night and have not had any problems...a lot more than have, i assure you...hope all ya'll have a great time, please don't drink and shoot, and maybe send some my way (when ya'll limit of course)

I have received numerous emails giving details and summaries on West Nile. The chance of catching it is slim to none. In fact, several people have probably had it but did not know they did. Therefore, I believe everyone should go out and enjoy opening weekend of dove season!

Haymaker: If you were to look at the suggestions or "guidelines" for cleaning any animals, they suggest wearing gloves to protect yourself. It is just added protection which most of us probably never do anyway. Again, I'll just keep doing things the way I have done in the past.

Good luck this weekend and happy hunting.