Emergency rule limits deer transportation in CWD affected counties

Hunters cannot transport a deer carcass outside of CWD affected counties unless the deer is taken to a meat processor or taxidermist within 72 hours from the time the carcass left the county, according to an emergency rule passed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources board.

Before the rule was passed hunters could transport deer carcasses to adjacent counties. Hunters were also required to take the carcass to a meat processor or taxidermist within 72 hours from the time of registration.

The rule was passed at the board's August meeting and will be in effect for 270 days while the board develops permanent rules.

The rule will be in effect for all CWD affected counties across the state, including Marathon, Portage, Lincoln, Oneida, Shawano, Waupaca, and Adams counties in Northcentral Wisconsin.

DNR rules and regulations specialist Scott Karel tells NewsChannel 7 that aside from taking the carcass to a licensed meat processor or taxidermist, hunters can also de-bone or quarter the carcass within 72 hours before leaving the county of harvest.

"Essentially if you harvest a deer within a CWD affected county, the spine and the head of that deer have to be removed and stay within that county of harvest before you can take the remaining portions of that deer out of the county of harvest," said Karel.

The DNR board also passed an emergency rule that requires all captive white-tailed deer farms to install "enhanced fencing." If a farm tests positive for CWD than it is required to add additional fencing to keep farm deer from coming in contact with any wild deer.

The rules still have to be approved by Governor Scott Walker before going into effect. Karel believes that will happen by early September, just before archery/crossbow season begins.