CWD sampling plan in place for 2015-16 deer hunting season
MADISON, Wis. - In cooperation with local businesses, the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources will collect samples for chronic wasting
disease surveillance testing during the 2015 archery and gun hunting
seasons.
Although all deer will be registered electronically this year, DNR will
continue to offer free chronic wasting disease testing to hunters. While the
Barneveld Service Station will be closed to CWD testing during the archery
season, sampling hours have been extended at the Black Earth Service Station
to provide testing during business hours Monday through Friday throughout
the fall hunt. Both the Barneveld and Black Earth locations will be open for
testing during the nine day gun deer hunt.
The department works closely with a number of private businesses throughout
the southern portion of the state to offer sampling, and has also added new
self-service kiosks at select locations. Kiosks are open around the clock
and sampling materials and tools to remove heads are available onsite.
24/7 self-serve kiosks can be found at the following locations:
* Black Earth DNR Sampling Center - 4738 HWY 78, Black Earth,
608-767-2090;
* Richard Bong Recreation Area - 26313 Burlington Rd., Kansasville,
262-878-5600; and
* Kettle Moraine State Forest - S91 W39091 State Road 59, Eagle,
262-719-1067
"Many hunters value having their deer tested for CWD, and we hope our
network of cooperators and new kiosks provide an easy and convenient way to
do so," said Julie Widholm, DNR CWD operations biologist. "Since this is a
pilot year for the kiosks, we welcome any feedback on how well these work."
For more information regarding chronic wasting disease in Wisconsin, visit
dnr.wi.gov and search keyword
"CWD<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/regulations.html>." Information
regarding collection stations will be available throughout the deer hunting
season via the DNR website.
Electronic Registration
All harvested deer will be registered electronically in 2015. Hunters have
three options for registering their deer:
* online at
gamereg.wi.gov<https://app.wi.gov/gamereg/wildlife/harvest>;
* electronically at a participating in-person registration
station<http://prodoasext.dnr.wi.gov/inter1/pk_cwd_regpub$.startup>; or
* via telephone at 1-844-GAME-REG (1-844-426-3734).
Registration via telephone requires callers to enter the first three digits
that correspond to the county of harvest. It is important to remember that
only one digit needs to be entered for each letter. For example, Crawford
County would be entered as 2-7-2 for C-R-A. The registration system will ask
for clarification if counties have a similar abbreviation.
A link to the electronic registration system is also available through the
Pocket Ranger application<http://dnr.wi.gov/mobileapps/> for mobile devices.
For more information regarding electronic registration, search keywords
"electronic registration<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Hunt/ereg.html>."
Deer hunters are encouraged to check out the frequently asked questions
page<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/dtrfaq.html> for more
information regarding several rule changes for 2015. The FAQ feature
provides brief responses to a wide variety of deer hunting questions,
ranging from deer management unit boundaries to antlerless permits. To view
the FAQ and other helpful information, search keyword
"deer<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/deer.html>."