> In 1993, Rabies was confirmed in 20 deer in the state of New York

wouldnt mind seeing a reference for the above claim. Rabies in deer is very rare. Most state Game and Fish departments do not warn hunters to take any precautions.

the simple precautions that hunters can take against rabies are outlined in this New York publication:

http://www.co.st-lawrence.ny.us/Public_Health/Hunt-rabies.PDF

bottom line: use some common sense and you will be safe. Also note that raccoon, fox and skunk are the real risks especially since the more risky scenario of getting a bite can be involved.

Latex gloves are a standard precaution when field dressing game. Just wear them...there's nothing macho about getting a wildlife disease.

When the European economy bottomed out several years the fur trade went with it. There was very little fur used here in the United States. Most of the fur was shipped to Europe. I used to trap and got in on the $75.00 red foxes and the $39.00 raccoons. You are right when the market was like that the population wss kept in control. A couple of years ago I sold all of my traps except a few to keep the ground hogs out of the garden. There was a Jewish guy from New York who came down here to buy fur. He told me he had a warehouse in New York that had 800,000 raccoons in it ready for shipment to Europe. It is hard to realize that many raccoon hides in one place. I used to get $4.00 for possums unskinned. I don't think that the fur prices will ever be any good anymore unless Obama keeps on and we have to kill and trap animals and make clothes out of the hides to wear and food to eat. I used to get $225.00 for bobcats that I trapped on Dolly Sods. I think a bobcat coat would look really nice.

I had a rabies run in years ago with one of my hounds after a skunk in the later stages of rabies paid a late night visit. I get ahead a little bit, I want to build a fenced in kennel to address such things. As to gloves, I seldom gut a deer, and prefer not to skin a bear, without surgical gloves, especially if I have any little cuts or open places on my hands. I had a touch of lyme disease years ago, that ain't fun either! Right on, Sarge!

Well I think i have spring fever if that counts.
But seriously, good info. I have only used gloves on a deer once, and that was because I just happened to have a pair on me. I have cleaned more animals with open wounds on on my hands than I care to admit. But I think I will make more of an effort to protect myself after reading this, and a local man just recently died from rabies. Another good reason to throw the latex on. (Gloves that is).

George88,
Why don't you go somewhere and crawl under a rock and think about all the Vietnam Veterans you insulted and disgraced. This is a good time for no one to know who you are because we Vietnam Veterans still remember how we were treated in the 60's and 70's and that will never happen again because we are all getting old and we really don't like scum like you bad mouthing us now as was done in the past, so take a hike.

I thought that GeorgeC88 wrote something but then I realized it was just garbage that fell off the garbage truck, my mistake.

Here's one not many folks think of today: pneumonic plague. A National Park Service bioligist died from the disease two years ago. He had been examining the entrails of infected Grand Canyon cougars who probably contracted the disease from rodents or rabbits. This form of plague is not necessarily transferred by fleas. It can be transmitted via droplets in the air or handling bloody infected body parts. A recent outbreak has been reported in remote western China that has been linked to skinning animals. Pneumonic plague is extremely lethal. As I understand it, it's more common among cats.