Fall MN deer hunting regulations feature additional chronic wasting disease measures

At the Alexandria Echo Press, Eric Morken reports in Deer regulations announced in Minnesota for 2019 season:

There are also changes in regulations regarding chronic wasting disease. In addition to hunters, all Minnesotans in central and southeast Minnesota should pay close attention to the deer feeding and attractant ban rule. The area where deer feeding and using deer attractants is prohibited will expand starting Sept. 1, in areas of central and southeast Minnesota where CWD was detected in farmed or wild deer.

Feeding and attractants increase the risk of disease transmission between animals by bringing them together in close contact, which is a mechanism for CWD spread.

There are several changes to deer permit area numbering this year that will clarify where CWD management and surveillance occurs. Deer permit areas within a CWD management zone, in southeast and north-central Minnesota, will now be part of a 600-series permit areas. The metro deer permit area will be renamed to 701 from 601.

The DNR is, as in previous years, enforcing carcass movement restrictions to limit the spread of disease. Hunters will also need to be aware of mandatory sampling during all deer seasons in the CWD management zones (southeast and north-central), and over the opening weekend of the firearms season in the CWD control zone (southeast, bordering the CWD management zone) and in surveillance areas (central). Areas directly around Alexandria, including permit area 213, are not part of the mandatory sampling areas. The Central CWD surveillance area includes permit areas 277, 283, 219 and 285.

Full details about CWD sampling, including sampling locations, carcass movement restrictions, and management and control zones are available at mndnr.gov/cwd. . . .

For more information on what’s new in the regulation changes, and for regularly updated deer hunting information including the DNR’s deer permit area mapping tool, visit the DNR’s deer hunting webpage, mndnr.gov/hunting/deer.

Here's hoping these additional regulations and tools help slow the spread of CWD in the wild deer population.

Bluestem last posted about the prion disorder in CWD news digest: U of M & partners call to action; midwest CWD meeting seems stagnant.

Photo: A whitetail deer suffering from the advanced stages of CWD. Via University of Minnesota, Leading experts call for action to address Chronic Wasting Disease.

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