The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters of their important role in monitoring Chronic Wasting Disease this fall. The DNR urges hunters to test their harvested deer, especially in 2025 priority areas where the disease has recently been detected.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease in deer, elk, moose, and caribou. It spreads through contact or contaminated environments, and signs in deer include severe weight loss, drooping posture, loss of coordination, and unusual behavior.
Hunters have several testing options: self-service kiosks, cooperating meat processors or taxidermists, at-home lymph node kits, or appointments with DNR staff. Results are typically available in one to two weeks.
If a deer tests positive, hunters will receive replacement harvest authorizations through their Go Wild account. Proper carcass disposal is also encouraged, with dumpsters and landfills available across the state to prevent spreading the disease.
The DNR also reminds hunters to follow baiting and feeding bans, with new restrictions now in effect in Manitowoc and Clark counties. And while there have been no reported cases of CWD in humans, health officials strongly advise against eating meat from infected deer.
For details on testing, disposal sites, and current bans, visit the DNR’s website.