DNR needs hunters’ help in tracking chronic wasting disease

9 percent found to have disease, which continues to spread

The Wisconsin DNR is hoping for cooperation this fall in tracking chronic wasting disease in deer. 

The agency is asking for deer tissue samples from hunters in several counties around the state, including Vernon, Crawford and Jackson.  

“We’re doing disease protection surveillance and then once the disease is detected like it has been in southern Wisconsin, then we continue to track the distribution and prevalence,” DNR wildlife biologist Tami Ryan said. “Doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to find anything but we like to look and we like to do so on a routine basis.”

She added recent testing shows that the CWD continues to spread. Last year, the disease was found in over 9 percent of submitted samples. 

“The trend so far has been in the core areas of the state where the disease was first detected, we are seeing an increasing trend in prevalence and distribution,” Ryan said. “Every sample counts. Without the sampling and efforts of Wisconsin deer hunters we would not be able to achieve our goals.”

Tissue samples are taken from the base of the deer’s skull and neck and can be done at one of several official sampling stations in the testing areas.