The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) recently announced that they have issued $1 million in grants to organizations looking for ways to combat chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The PDA awarded $561,000 to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and biochemistry professor Anna Kahins. It will go toward trying to develop and test live-animal CWD tests.

A total of $242,246 was awarded to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's working dog center. They will use the money to explore the potential of working dogs being able to detect CWD in deer feces.

Also, $196,754 will go to Davin Henderson, a protein chemist and founder of CWD Evolution LLC. He will also be working on a CWD live-animal test.

The question brought up about these grants came from the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, asking why no funding went to the North American CWD Project, who also requested funding?

The North America CWD Project and the Unified Sportsmen supports Dr. Frank Bastian's research to come up with a vaccine to eliminate CWD. Dr. Bastian's theory about CWD is that it is a virus, whereas other researchers think the disease is caused by prions.

Spokesman for the Unified Sportsmen of PA John Eveland said they will keep seeking funding for Dr. Bastian's research.

New York's

Lead Ammo Bill!

New York Assemblywoman Deborah J. Glick (D-Greenwich Village) introduced an Assembly bill A-703 that would ban the use of traditional lead ammunition on state owned lands. That includes wildlife management areas, state parks, state forests and the forest preserves of the Catskills and Adirondacks.

The use of lead ammo would also be banned on lands surrounding surface water, such as reservoirs, that contribute to the New York City water supply.

The bill currently has no companion in the NY Senate. Congresswoman Glick also has a bill in the Assembly to ban all contests in the state of New York that give prizes for taking wildlife.

Jack Danchak is the President of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs of Sullivan County.