The RW Trophy Ranch, spanning 1,500 acres in Hunt County, had become a focal point of concern as the number of CWD cases surged among its deer population. Williams, a seasoned rancher with over three decades of experience, found himself entangled in a legal dispute with state authorities after refusing to comply with a depopulation order issued earlier this year.
The legal battle, which reached the Texas Supreme Court, centered on Williams’ contention that as a permit-holder for deer breeding, he had property rights over the animals. However, the court ruled in favor of the state, affirming the necessity of eradicating the infected deer to contain the spread of CWD.
Chronic Wasting Disease, often referred to as “zombie deer disease” due to its debilitating effects, poses a significant threat to wildlife populations. Characterized by symptoms such as lack of coordination, weight loss, and listlessness, CWD has been likened to the notorious mad cow disease of the 1980s. Originating in a captive deer in Colorado in 1967, the disease has since spread to 34 states and five Canadian provinces, with devastating consequences for deer, elk, moose, and reindeer populations.
