Central Wisconsin bow hunters can assist with CWD testing in three new focus areas
BLACK RIVER FALLS - The state Department of Natural Resources is enlisting
the help of deer hunters in Adams, Juneau and Portage counties to assist in
chronic wasting disease surveillance in the deer herd this fall.
"Last fall CWD was discovered for the first time in three wild white-tailed
deer in Adams, Juneau and Portage Counties, all outside our CWD management
zone," said DNR area wildlife supervisor Kris Johansen. "To better define
the geographic extent of CWD, we will be focusing additional surveillance
during the 2013 fall deer seasons within a 10-mile radius of where we found
each of the three positive animals last fall.
"Hunters can assist with our surveillance efforts by having any adult deer
harvested within one of these 10-mile focus areas tested for CWD."
During the 2013 deer seasons DNR staff will be working with local
taxidermists and other cooperators to provide collection points near or
within the surveillance areas for hunters to bring deer to have heads
removed or have lymph node samples removed. A list of cooperators and a
detailed map will be provided to the public in early October as the archery
season starts to ramp up.
In the meantime, hunters can get a decent look at the areas being surveyed
by going to the DNR web page at dnr.wi.gov and typing the words "CWD
sampling" into the search box. The "sampling" link will be one of the first
two suggestions and that page will contain a link to a map.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/registersample.html
Bow hunters who harvest adult deer in one of the surveillance areas prior to
October 10 can help the surveillance effort, and get their deer tested for
free, by removing the deer head with at least three inches of neck attached,
freezing the deer head and contacting DNR. They can then call ahead and
arrange to drop off the head at one of these three offices:
* Mead Wildlife Area Headquarters, S2148 County Road S, Milladore
o Phone Number: 715-457-6771
* WI Rapids Service Center, 473 Griffith Ave., WI Rapids
o Phone Number: 715-421-7813
* Adams-Friendship Ranger Station, 532 N. Main St., Adams
o Phone Number: 608-339-4819
Prior to Oct. 10, DNR will publish a list of cooperators in these
surveillance areas who will take samples from whole, field-dressed deer
after that date.
Some cooperating taxidermists can remove a lymph node for sampling without
having to remove the head. Other cooperators will sample by removing the
head. Locations and hours of service will be published, given to the news
media and posted on our "CWD sampling" web page.
The CWD tests are free for these hunters. Anyone submitting a head for
testing will receive their test results in three to four weeks. Individuals
interested in learning more about the disease can visit the DNR web page at
dnr.wi.gov and type "CWD" into the search box. Information regarding
collection stations will also be made available throughout the season on the
DNR website.