TDA Code of Ethics & Conduct for Hunting and Breeding Operation
The following is the Code of Ethics and Conduct of the Texas Deer Association (TDA) governing the conduct and practices of its membership regarding the harvesting/hunting, keeping, capture, transportation, and marketing of Whitetail and Mule Deer. 1. General a. All members of the TDA have an obligation to report any suspected violation of this Code of Ethics to the organization. b. Any member convicted of a violation of a state or federal law involving Whitetail or Mule Deer may have membership in the TDA permanently or temporarily suspended, as decided by the TDA Board of Directors as advised by the TDA Ethics Committee. c. The Board of Directors may, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, temporarily suspend the membership of any member under investigation for the violation of any state or federal law involving Whitetail and Mule Deer. d. The Board of Directors may, by majority vote, refuse membership (either temporarily or permanently) to anyone who is, or has been, under investigation, or convicted or, a violation of a state or federal law involving Whitetail and Mule Deer. 2. Care a. All Whitetail and Mule Deer raised, or kept for any purpose, shall be maintained in a suitable enclosed area, pasture, or structure. The enclosed area, pasture, or structure shall be sufficient to prevent the escape of such animals and shall be designed to protect such animals from undue injury or abuse. b. All animals raised, kept, or released shall have access to sufficient, sustainable habitat, pasture and/or grazing lands and water suitable for such animals, or be provided with supplemental feed and water as required to maintain the health and vitality of all such animals so raised, kept or released. c. All animals raised or kept shall be provided with appropriate veterinary services, as may be required, to maintain the general health and vitality of such animals. d. If animals are contained behind a fence, the fencing should be of a type and quality to prevent injury to the animals, to contain the animals, and should be maintained and monitored on a regular basis. e. Any escaped animals should be recovered as soon as possible and as per the laws of the state/county/local area. 3. Capture a. In capturing any species of animals preparatory to transportation, marketing, or other lawful use, such capture shall be by method, or methods, calculated to inflict the least amount of stress on the animal being captured. b. Capture operations shall be conducted by persons familiar with the animals and the capture procedure being utilized, and who are qualified and competent to carry out such capture operations without inflicting undue stress or mayhem to the animals so captured. Animals shall not be captured or handled more often, or for longer periods, than is reasonably necessary to properly manage, control, care for, or market such animals. It is the belief of the TDA membership that unnecessary capture or handling of whitetail and mule deer is detrimental to the well being of such animal species. 4. Transportation a. All transportation of Whitetail and Mule Deer engaged in by, or on behalf of, the TDA members shall be as follows: i. All transportation of animals shall be in vehicles, trailers or containers suitable in design for the transport of the specific animals being transported. It should also be constructed in a manner so as to minimize stress and possibility of injury to such animals. ii. Animals should not be consigned for transportation to any common carrier not properly equipped to transport or care for such animals during transportation. iii. Any transportation of animals must meet all state and federal laws. 5. Marketing a. It shall be unethical for any TDA member to misrepresent the age, condition, or bloodline of any animals sold or advertised for sale. b. No TDA member shall knowingly sell any Whitetail or Mule Deer to anyone unqualified to properly care for or keep such animals. Nor shall any TDA member knowingly sell such animals to any person for any unlawful purpose whatsoever. c. No marketing method shall be used which causes undue stress to the animal or animals so marketed. d. All advertising and promotional material provided by the hunting and breeding operations should convey an image consistent with the aims and objective of the TDA. 6. Harvesting/Hunting a. The TDA recognized that management through harvesting/hunting is an appropriate means of
removing excess animals; however, such harvesting/hunting shall be conducted as follows: i. Safety will always be the highest priority in every situation. ii. It shall be unethical to participate in any illegal taking of any animal. iii. It shall be unethical to participate in an ‘unfair chase.’ Only fair chase hunting methods, consistent with the geographical area in which the animal is harvested/hunted, shall be deemed consistent with this Code. ‘Fair chase’ hunting shall be defined as hunting in any area, by any method, that provides the hunted animals with a reasonable chance and opportunity to avoid being found by the hunter, or having once been found by the hunter, to escape, and to provide the animal(s) a reasonable chance and opportunity to detect the hunter, and once detected, a reasonable chance and opportunity to flee. iv. TDA members shall attempt to determine the competence of the person or persons attempting to harvest/hunt any animals to properly carry out the harvesting/hunting method being employed so as to assure humane harvesting/hunting of animals. No person desiring to which they are not sufficiently competent to reasonably insure a proper and humane harvest/hunt. v. Venison harvest shall not be included within the meaning of hunting; nor shall the euthanization of a wounded or sick animal. vi. The laws of the state or nation in which the harvesting/hunting takes place will be followed.
vii. Every reasonable effort will be taken to insure the meat and by-products of an animal harvested/hunted are utilized or donated to charitable organizations. viii. The property rights, land and animal owners’ rights will always be respected and not infringed upon.
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