CWD Impact in WI

[Durran87]

CWD Stifles Deer Herds in Wisconsin’s ‘Ground-Zero’ Counties

Whether you study deer-kill data or taxidermists’ work orders from the lands west of Madison, the long-predicted plunge in the region’s deer herd from chronic wasting disease appears under way. The impact of this always-fatal disease seems especially obvious in Iowa County, where hunters...

www.patrickdurkinoutdoors.com

Pat Durkin is a well known writer in this area and currently writes for meateater. This is tough to read—I’ve been hunting near the epicenter of CWD since it was found in 2001–a kid from my high school shot the 1st one discovered I believe. I’m currently fortunate enough to hunt 5 prime deer hunting properties in Dane, Iowa, and Richland counties. It was a stupidly warm November which meant less deer movement but regardless this article lays out what my friends, neighbors, and I have been experiencing first hand. It’s concerning how quickly it moved through Richland County just in the past few years.

 

[longspeak74]

I also hunt those 3 counties exclusively. Grew up in Richland County.
Over the last 2-3 years, I've seen noticeably less deer as a whole.

 

[glank09]

Multiple confirmed cases in the counties both directly north and directly east of where I live/hunt. Luckily numbers where I am at have continued to climb. I feel it is only a matter of time though…

 

[Gobihawk]

I live in Richland County. Have shot deer that tested positive for CWD. The valley I live in has had it for a number of years. Deer numbers have decreased. It's a sad situation.

 

[dtrkyman]

I guess all the folks saying when is cwd going to have an actual impact might have their answer?

Scary!

 

[OMF]

Wow this is a sad read for me. I haven't hunted WI in quite a few years but have a hunt planned there for next year. My first and long time white tail hunting area was in Washburn and Burnett counties.

I remember the first year it was found near Mt. Horeb. It was an ongoing topic of discussion with the group I hunted with and a very hot topic in deer camp.