DNR Announces New CWD Efforts
Wednesday, September 4th, 2019 -- 8:40 AM
(WRN) -The state Department of Natural Resources has announced new efforts to control and monitor chronic wasting disease.During a briefing on Tuesday, Natural Resources Board vice-chair Greg Kazmierski said the approach will be less aggressive that employed when CWD was first found in the state.
"You're kind of thinking we need to come in like storm troopers and eradicate deer. We tried that approach, and what happened is we lost the support of the landowners and the public."
Kazmierski said local support for focused efforts to control and monitor chronic wasting disease will be essential.
"That's the approach, rather than a one size fits all, and we're going to throw six counties into mandatory testing and total eradication of their deer herd. That's overkill, and we will not get the buy in from the public for that."
Wisconsin Conservation Congress Chairman Larry Bonde spoke during the presentation.
"The best management plan in the world won't work if you don't have local people buying into it. You reach out to local people and have them be part of this implementation of how they're going to manage this new foci, is how we're going to succeed."
The DNR is already moving ahead with some Wisconsin Conservation Congress recommendations. Those include expanding CWD testing kiosks and carcass disposal sites. CWD sampling stations and disposal locations are being added to the "Hunt Wild Wisconsin" app. The Conservation Congress recommended that the DNR increase its efforts to educate the public about CWD. The 2019 deer hunt opens with archery and crossbow seasons on September 14. The nine-day gun deer season is November 23 through December 1.
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