October 1, 2020 at 12:23 p.m.
DNR asks hunters to help with CWD sampling again this year
DNR asks hunters to help with CWD sampling again this year
There have also been 15 captive deer that have tested positive in northeast Oneida County, Holtz said. The first CWD report from that captive herd came in 2015. With both of these locations having recent positive CWD tests, he said, the ban on baiting and feeding will continue in these counties. The baiting and feeding ban is meant to help reduce unnatural concentrations of deer.
Hunters are urged to have their deer tested and, according to a recent DNR press release, there are several options with which to do so. There are self-service kiosks around the state and many meat processors and others offer in-person sampling assistance.
Adopt-a-Kiosk
The DNR has an Adopt-A-Kiosk program whereby individuals or organizations can sign up and volunteer to sponsor a kiosk through deer season. The main goal of the program is to enhance CWD sample numbers throughout the state as well as to make sampling easier and with more location options for hunters. Those interested in learning more about the program can contact their local count deer biologist or, the northern and northeast districts, contact Curt Rollman at 715-369-9399.
Adopt-a-Dumpster
At this time, the only disposal site listed in the Northwoods as accepting deer carcasses is the Highway G Sanitary Landfill in Eagle River. However, the department is looking for participants willing to get involved in the Adopt-A-Dumpster program at a location agreed upon between the participant and the DNR.
The program provides options for carcass disposal to hunters in areas where those options are limited or not available otherwise. Participants in the program can participate in a cost-sharing option as well.
The participant would be responsible for the initial cost of the dumpster, but submit any invoices received at the end of the season for a reimbursement of up to 50% of the total of all invoices up to $500. Participants would be responsible for all guidelines that pertain to the dumpster. Because the transporting of carcasses can spread the disease, the best case scenario would be to have enough options for hunters to properly dispose of their deer carcasses as close as possible to where the animal was harvested.
Surveillance tags and testing
According to Holtz, there will be adult deer harvest surveillance tags available this year to private land owners within two surveillance areas spanning the parts of Lincoln and Oneida counties where there have been recent positive findings. Those tags will be either-sex tags.
The requirement for those tags, as in the past, will be that every animal harvested with one of those tags be tested for CWD.
Unlike prior years, however there will be no public land surveillance tags issued. Hunters who do not receive CWD surveillance tags are still encouraged to have their animals tested, Holtz said. All hunters are free to bring their animals to a kiosk and follow the instructions there to have testing done.
When submitting a sample, the hunter will need the following information: their deer harvest authorization number, their DNR customer number, their contact information and the location of the harvest. Sampling in this way is free of charge to the hunter. Hunters may also take their deer to a private veterinarian who does testing or to the Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratory. Those tests, however, do have associated fees of which the hunter should be aware.
The DNR recommends hunters bring their deer to a testing location as soon as possible after harvest. If kept refrigerated, however, heads can be brought in up to five days after harvest. Heads kept frozen will still provide viable samples for a longer period of time. If the hunter is not bringing the full carcass in when providing the sample, he or she should remove the head with a hand width's worth of neck still attached to the skull. Antlers should be removed before placing the head in the drop box.
Those looking to mount a deer, but also to have it sampled may do so. Once the deer is registered, the hunter can take it to the taxidermist for caping and skull capping. The caped head can be brought to the sampling station once this is complete. A European mount can be brought to a staffed sampling station where the lymph nodes will be removed, allowing the skull to stay with the hunter, according to the DNR website. It is recommended hunters call ahead to ensure the sampling station is set up to complete this process.
Deer hunters around the state have played an integral role in providing information concerning where CWD exists on the landscape and information about prevalence of the disease in areas where it exists.
The DNR hopes this trend will continue with hunters offering up samples of the animals they harvest throughout the upcoming deer season.
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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