Contact: State Representative Warren Petryk (608) 266-0660
ELEVA – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recently announced new chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing requirements which will take effect in certain areas of our Assembly District for deer harvested only during the 2019 gun deer season, which takes place this year from November 23 to December 1. The DNR will also require in-person registration for deer harvested in these six Townships during the first weekend of the hunt, November 23 and 24.
These requirements will affect all deer harvested in the 93rd Assembly District Townships of Brunswick, Drammen, Pleasant Valley, and Washington in western and central Eau Claire County; the township of Albany in eastern Pepin County; and the township of Rock Creek in southeastern Dunn County.
The Department of Natural Resources implemented this change following recommendations from the Chippewa Valley CWD Advisory Team, which is comprised of local representatives from Eau Claire, Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin and Trempealeau counties.
Following this announcement, State Representative Warren Petryk reiterated his lifelong ongoing support for Wisconsin hunters. He continued, stating “The Wisconsin Constitution protects our citizen rights to fish, hunt, trap, and harvest wild game. As an avid hunter and outdoorsman myself, it is crucial that we closely monitor and do all we can to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease so we can continue to enjoy these rights and pass them on for generations to come.”
The CWD Advisory Team was formed following the capture of a CWD-positive wild deer in Eau Claire County in March 2018 and has the task of advising the DNR regarding CWD surveillance and management in the Chippewa Valley region. The team was established from members of existing County Deer Advisory Councils, which include local hunters, local government, Deer Management Assistant Program participants, as well as agriculture, forestry, and transportation sector representatives.
The DNR has indicated they plan to conduct CWD testing to complete disease surveillance goals carried over from 2018 disease detection surveillance efforts in western Wisconsin.
Additional information will be released by the DNR for hunters, including sampling locations, as we draw closer to hunting season. Information is also available on the DNR’s website or by contacting Kris Johansen, DNR’s District Wildlife Supervisor who can be reached at 715-839-3736.