Minnesota Hunters: CWD Restrictions Limit Import of Deer Harvested in Wisconsin
Minnesota deer hunters who plan on hunting in Wisconsin this year need to remember that a new chronic wasting disease (CWD) endemic area has been established in northwestern Wisconsin, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.
Northwestern Wisconsin counties affected are Barron, Burnett, Polk and Washburn. Import restrictions established by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) do not allow whole, field-dressed deer to be brought into Minnesota from these counties.
Hunters may only return to Minnesota with:
- Cut and wrapped meat, quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached
- Antlers, hides, teeth, finished taxidermy mounts and antlers attached to skull caps that are cleaned of all brain tissue.
Deer harvested in CWD endemic areas outside northwestern Wisconsin also are subject to the restrictions. Those Wisconsin counties are Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marquette, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Walworth and Waukesha.
More detailed information on carcass import restrictions is available on page 58 of the 2012 Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations Handbook.
For a map and information on CWD endemic areas established by BAH, visit www.bah.state.mn.us/bah/rules/import-regulations.html and click the cervidae link.
