The 2016 archery and crossbow deer seasons run concurrently statewide beginning September 17, and a DNR biologist says hunters in this area will face new restrictions after deer with Chronic Wasting Disease were found near Three Lakes.
After the discovery of the diseased deer, restrictions on baiting and feeding were put in place in Oneida, Vilas and Forest counties.
Biologist Jeremy Holtz says both property owners and hunters have new rules...
"....those three counties now have a baiting and feeding ban so people can't feed deer in their backyards recreationally anymore and they can't place bait to attract deer while they are hunting. If people are found doing that, they're going to get a fine because the ban has been in place since January...."
Holtz says any township within 10 miles of the deer farm in Three Lakes where the disease was discovered the DNR will be doing intense sampling. Holtz says the 16 towns within a box from Crandon to Rhinelander to Eagle River will be sampled, and hunters who take deer within that area are asked to contribute a tissue sample from an adult deer to sample for chronic wasting disease. He says extra tags will be issued within two miles of the Three Lakes farm to help get more samples close to the farm.
Holtz says he hopes the public reports to the DNR any sightings of deer acting strangely...
"....we're looking for them having difficulty lifting their head, excessive drooling, droopy ears, being really thin and gaunt, behind their ribs, or their ribs are protruding, drinking lots of water. Those are significant kinds of Chronic Wasting Disease and we want to test that...."
More information is available on the DNR website.
