Deer taken near Preston in archery opener tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

For several years, Bluestem's been following the slow-motion crisis of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Minnesota's wild whitetail deer population.

The disease is fatal for all deer unfortunate to be afflicted by it.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued the following press release on Monday, Deer tests positive for CWD in disease management zone:

Test result highlights importance of continuing mandatory tests for harvested deer

A deer taken during the opening weekend of archery season in southeastern Minnesota’s disease management zone has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

A hunter harvested the adult male deer about 1 mile east of Preston in the center of the CWD management zone. Mandatory surveillance is in effect for the area, which is designated as deer permit area 603.

Eighteen deer harvested in the disease management zone have tested positive for the disease since fall 2016.

“This discovery highlights the importance and necessity of our disease surveillance efforts, and we’re appreciative of hunters’ willingness to help us combat CWD by complying with mandatory sampling regulations and carcass movement restrictions,” said Lou Cornicelli, wildlife research manager for the DNR.

Complete CWD test results from southeastern Minnesota are available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/cwdcheck. Any additional deer harvested during current and upcoming 2018 deer  seasons in the disease management zone that test positive for CWD will be reported on this CWD results web page. The DNR will directly notify any hunter who harvests a deer that tests positive. Complete information for hunters about CWD for current and upcoming hunting seasons is online at mndnr.gov/cwd.

DNR has prepared deer quartering and caping videos that can help hunters comply with export restrictions from the CWD management zone and carcass import restrictions from other states. They are available online at mndnr.gov/cwd/videos.html.

DNR also has partnered with Bluffland Whitetails Association to provide a tent in Preston where hunters can quarter their deer and properly dispose of remains. Hunters who properly quarter deer can take whole quarters with the main leg bone in it or boned-out meat from a harvested deer out of the CWD management zone immediately, as long as the head or spinal column is not attached prior to receiving test results.

Complete information about mandatory sampling and carcass movement restrictions in the disease management zone is online at mndnr.gov/cwd/603.

Photo: An exterior view of Bluffland Whitetails Association's quartering station in Preston. Via MNDNR.  We last covered the Bluffland Whitetails Association in "Freshman girl saying smart stuff about deer hunting" wins Bluffland Whitetails Association Outstanding Legislator Award for 2018.

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