Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff will be collecting deer heads for chronic wasting disease surveillance testing during the 2019 archery, crossbow and gun hunting seasons. Hunters are strongly encouraged to submit adult deer (yearlings and older) for testing.
Targeted CWD surveillance will occur in two separate surveillance areas within northern Marinette County this fall. One area of interest is in response to a wild white-tailed deer that tested positive for CWD in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Dickinson County in October 2018. This surveillance area is located in the Kremlin area of northeast Marinette County.
The other targeted surveillance area is near the Goodman area in response to a captive white-tailed deer that tested positive for CWD on a deer farm in June 2018 and another captive deer testing positive at an associated deer farm in February 2019. As part of the Goodman area response, DNR staff will collect CWD samples from a 319-square mile area encompassing parts of northwest Marinette, southern Florence and northeast Forest counties.
For the specific boundaries of the Marinette County surveillance areas, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “CWD sampling.”
CWD Surveillance Permit Authorizations: Public and private land availability
CWD surveillance permit authorizations will be available in the area and offer an additional opportunity for harvest. Anyone interested in applying for these free authorizations may do so beginning on September 10. Staff will be available during two open house events at the following locations.
- Sept. 10, Pembine – 3 -6 p.m., Pembine Ranger Station, N18225 US Hwy 141.
- Sept. 12, Armstrong Creek – 3-6 p.m., Armstrong Creek Community Center, 7860 Old 101.
These authorizations are available on select parcels of public land within the two CWD surveillance areas in Forest, Florence, and Marinette counties, for the following properties:
- Marinette County Forest parcels located within CWD surveillance zones
- Menominee River State Recreation Area
- Dunbar Barrens State Natural Area
- Miscauno Wildlife Area
Surveillance permit authorizations are valid through the end of regular archery season on Jan. 5, 2020. Authorizations are location-specific and are not transferrable between properties. Authorized individuals must adhere to season-specific rules and use the weapon that corresponds to the season(s) currently open at the time of harvest. Only adult deer may be harvested under these authorizations, and all deer are required to be submitted for CWD testing. Anyone unable to attend either open house event should contact local DNR staff by phone, email or regular mail.
Landowners with property within two miles of the Goodman area are eligible for private land CWD surveillance permits. Landowners interested in surveillance permits should talk with staff at either open house event.
CWD sampling locations
DNR staff have set up several cooperating stations and self-service CWD sampling kiosks in the following locations:
- Florence County
- The Fence Post, 603 Memory Lane, Fence
- Natural Resource Center, 5628 Forestry Drive, Florence
- Forest County
- Crandon DNR Ranger Station, 404 N lake St., Crandon
- Laona Shell Station, 4906 HWY 8, Laona
- The Corner Store, 497 Hwy 8, Armstrong Creek
- Marinette County
- Pembine DNR Ranger Station, N18225 US Hwy 141, Pembine
- Wausaukee DNR Ranger Station, 1025 Hwy C, Wausaukee
- DNR Service Center, 101 N. Ogden Rd., Peshtigo
DNR staff may add additional locations. Visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “CWD sampling” for current sampling locations. CWD sampling instructions and supplies are provided at each location.
Hunters are reminded to contact sampling stations in advance to verify hours of operation. CWD surveillance focuses on testing adult deer since older deer are more likely to test positive for the disease.
Baiting and Feeding
White-tailed deer baiting and feeding is currently prohibited in Florence, Forest, and Marinette counties.
Check the DNR’s baiting and feeding webpage frequently for updates, as new baiting and feeding bans may be enacted in 2019 with new CWD detections. Hunters can also contact local wildlife staff to determine if baiting and feeding bans are in effect in their county. No counties statewide will be removed from the ban during any of the 2019 deer hunting seasons.
Prevent the spread of CWD
By learning and following recommended practices, hunters, landowners and others can help to reduce and prevent the spread of CWD. Ways to help include proper carcass transportation, handling and disposal as well as reporting sick deer, following baiting and feeding information and the cleaning and decontamination of equipment. Another way hunters can help is by following urine-based scent recommendations.
Sick deer reports
DNR staff are interested in reports of sick deer and deer with an unknown cause of death, but this does not include examining car-killed deer. Contact local wildlife staff listed above to report a sick or dead deer or call the DNR’s Customer Service line at 1-888-936-7463.
Test results
To view CWD results for a harvested deer, visit dnr.wi.gov, search keywords “CWD results.” Hunters will need to enter a customer ID or CWD sample barcode number to view test results. The average turnaround time from when the deer is brought to a sampling station to when the results are available is typically two weeks.
If test results come back positive for CWD, hunters should follow advice from the Centers for Disease Control [EXIT DNR], Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services and the World Health Organization [EXIT DNR] not to consume venison from that deer.
For more information regarding CWD in Wisconsin, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword “CWD.”
Leave a Reply