November 17, 2022 at 12:37 p.m.
Feeding and baiting ban still in effect in Northwoods
The dos and don'ts
Feeding and baiting ban still in effect in Northwoods
CWD is an always-fatal neurological disease that effects cervids, including white-tailed deer. It can be transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact, and also through the environment.
The prions that cause the disease can persist in the soil for decades and be taken up by plants, which can then pass those prions along to any herbivore who eats those plants.
In an effort to limit "unnatural concentrations" of deer, such as those found around feeding and baiting piles, the state legislature has enacted a statute banning feeding and baiting in areas where deer have tested positive for the disease.
In a county where a deer has tested positive, a three-year feeding and baiting ban goes into effect. In a county within a 10-mile radius of a positive finding, a two-year ban goes into effect, per statute. With each subsequent positive finding, the clock on the ban "resets" for the terms listed above.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lists what does and does not constitute feeding or baiting on their website in detail. In counties such as Oneida and Vilas, where a ban is in place, baiting wild animals for hunting purposes is prohibited, according to DNR literature.
Scents may be used for hunting deer. However, they must be placed so as to not be accessible for consumption by deer. Scents must be removed daily at the end of hunting hours established for deer. However, two ounces or less of scent may be "placed, used or deposited in any manner for hunting game and does not need to be removed daily at the end of hunting hours."
Hunters are allowed to hunt with the aid of material found as a result of normal agricultural or gardening practices. Hunting with the aid of crops planted and left as food plots is also allowed.
Feeding of wild animals for non-hunting purposes is not allowed with the exception of the intent to feed or attract birds and small mammals. In order to be considered as material placed solely for birds and small animals (and therefore allowed), several conditions must be met.
• Feed must be placed in a bird feeder or other device at a sufficient height to present access by deer.
• Structures or devices must be within 50 yards of a dwelling devoted to human occupancy.
• When deer, bear, or elk are found to be utilizing bird feeding devices, they must be removed or elevated to such a height as to not allow access by those animals.
Full details of what is and what is not allowed in the way of feeding birds and small animals can be found on the DNR website. Links to research behind the feeding and baiting ban enactments can also be found on the website dnr.wi.gov by inputting keywords "feeding and baiting."
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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