Deer tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Adams County

A 3-year-old buck harvested in Adams County has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. The deer, harvested and volunteered for sampling by an archery hunter, is the first CWD-positive in the county. 

The DNR has been using a “weighted” testing strategy outside the CWD zone, focusing on older bucks because these animals are more susceptible to the disease. This increases the probability of early detection.

The CWD-positive deer was harvested in north-central Adams County, south of Lake Arrowhead and east of Petenwell Flowage. This is 38 miles north of nearest known CWD-positive wild deer and about 25 miles from a former captive deer farm that had been infected with the disease.

Adams County bow hunters interested in volunteering deer for sampling can contact Jon Robaidek, local DNR biologist at 608-339-4819 or DNR conservation warden Wade Romberg at 608-339-2965 for more information.

This sampling result does not change any remaining hunting seasons nor does it change the current CWD management zone boundary. Baiting and feeding of deer, as well as deer rehabilitation, is already banned in the county.

DNR will process all CWD samples collected in Adams County from the 2012 deer hunting season. Future response to this new positive will be addressed once all results are analyzed.

For more information on CWD in Wisconsin, and to view CWD maps, please visit dnr.wi.gov and search for “CWD.”

ACT 168 - "Sporting Heritage Bill"

This particular Act has been getting a lot of news coverage lately so staying with the hunting theme of this update, we thought the information might be valuable.

Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Legislature approved Wisconsin Act 168 known as the Sporting Heritage Act, with the intent of increasing participation in hunting and trapping in Wisconsin.

The bill passed the Assembly 84 to 12 and passed the Senate by a vote of 32 to 1. The bill, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, has strict parameters under which the Department of Natural Resources or the State Natural Resources Board could limit hunting and trapping. It automatically prohibits hunting and trapping within 100 yards of designated-use-areas in State Parks such as camping areas and picnic areas; to protect public safety; or to protect unique plant or animal communities.

The Natural Resources Board conducted five listening sessions for the public to comment on the department’s proposal, and the state parks program accepted written and email comments on the draft proposal. After reviewing more than 2,000 comments, the Natural Resources Board decided that hunting and trapping will be allowed in most Wisconsin State Parks from Nov. 15 through Dec. 15 and from April 1 through the third spring turkey period, under a plan approved Tuesday.

The final proposal opens more than 62,000 acres, about two-thirds of state park properties, to some form of hunting and to trapping. The plan keeps some smaller parks and ones located in urban areas – such as Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee, Heritage Hill State Park in Green Bay and Governor Nelson State Park north of Madison – closed to hunting and trapping. It also allows only archery hunting at some parks that receive heavy year-round use, such as Peninsula State Park in Door County and High Cliff State Park on Lake Winnebago.

REP. BALLWEG: Statement on Conclusion of 911 Committee

State Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) issued this statement regarding the Wisconsin Legislative Council Special Committee on 911 Communications.

“As Chair of the committee, I would like to thank the public and legislative members that contributed their expertise and helped formulate the final recommendations.  Six proposals are advancing from the committee, and they address all aspects of the committee’s scope, including: funding for 911services, training standards, multi-line telephone systems and creation of a 911 advisory council 

The proposed updates to our current statutes will have a positive impact on Public Safety in Wisconsin.  In addition, it will allow us to plan for future advancements in technology such as Next Generation 911.

I look forward to these recommendations progressing through the legislative process and becoming law, after the new session begins on January 7, 2013.”