The article is very much so slanted to his agenda. I have never before heard that white tails were endangered. They breed like rats and are as adaptable as cockroaches.
The points he comments on like "Blue Tongue" is correct. The other point regarding management using science mixed with politics is also true. Your legislative body makes the laws, and your fish and game deptments have to follow the law. Most politicians are not scientist but they do know how to please those individuals or groups who put large sums of money in their pockets. As a hunter from the old school I have witnessed this happen time and time again and again.
Sportsman need to band together and get involved I the political process. Join a organization that will support the game you like to pursue. And make it a year round interest, not a seasonal one. Work towards maintaining habitat, access issues, and the recruting of young or beginning hunters.
The major issue I have is that I fear that the sport of hunting is becoming a rich mans sport. There is a severe lack of access to public land. And unless you have deep pockets, or are lucky enough to be a member of a family that owns land where can you go. DIY hunts can be done but will require lots of careful planning with mediocre results Guided hunts are super expensive. Trespass fees seem to be out of this world.
The question of CWD was raised. Most of the CWD has been found in the high fence Trophy shooting preserves. They don't use proper, effective fences or enclosure and don't maintain there fences properly to contain them.
CWD is not a virus and it's not a bacteria. It a protein that mutates with age. It's called a Prion. From what I have it doesn't appear until the animal. Is about 3-1/2 years old. Most of the deer that are in these high fence preserves are in or above that age group before they are harvested. They are prime candidates to be tested positive for CWD. In the wild only a small # of animals get to that age.
What I am saying is we need be very careful about what practices we use. We need to become more educated in the needs and the care of the game we enjoy, and base decisions on sound science, such as our wild life departments, and not lobbyist loving politicians.