Wisconsin deer hunters have the opportunity to get their deer tested and help with CWD surveillance
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MADISON — State wildlife officials will continue testing harvested white-tailed deer for chronic wasting disease this year. This testing is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to monitor the status and spread of the disease in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will be testing deer from select areas of the state. Surveillance will focus on adult deer, since older deer are more likely to have the disease.
A map of the 2015 CWD sampling area can be found at dnr.wi.gov, keyword “CWD.”
The department will continue to collect samples from deer harvested in Dane, Iowa, Rock, Walworth, Washburn, Juneau, Adams, Portage and Marathon counties.
New for 2015, wildlife staff will be sampling in the Fairchild/Augusta area in Eau Claire County, where the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection discovered a CWD-positive deer on a private deer farm earlier this year. In Marquette and Green Lake counties, samples will be collected at select taxidermists throughout the deer hunting season.
“With electronic registration fully in effect this deer season we would like to remind deer hunters that there are still in-person locations available for them to have their deer sampled for CWD,” said Tami Ryan, DNR wildlife health section chief.
The department works closely with a number of private businesses throughout Wisconsin to offer CWD sampling, and is currently piloting a self-service kiosk program in 2015 in parts of southern and northern Wisconsin. Kiosks are currently open around the clock, and sampling materials and tools are available onsite. CWD tests and kiosks are free of charge, and test results will be sent within three to four weeks.
For information regarding where to take your deer for sampling, search keywords “CWD sampling” or contact the DNR call center at 888-936-7463. Hunters are reminded to contact sampling stations in advance to verify hours of operation.
