Chronic Wasting Disease Zone Hunting & Regulations

Regulations

The 2010 Deer Hunting Regulations are not yet available.

2009 Deer Hunting Regulations

Baiting and Feeding Regulations

Earn-a-Buck Information

Why Earn-A-Buck Regulations? [PDF 12KB]

Earn-A-Buck Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) [PDF 33KB]

Firearm restrictions

In 2008, the CWD eradication zones and the herd reduction zone were combined to form the CWD management zone (CWD-MZ), providing consistent regulations across the entire area. It is now legal to hunt deer with a rifle anywhere in the CWD-MZ, except deer management unit 76M and where local ordinances prohibit their use.

Deer carcass movement restrictions

Beginning on September 1, 2009 Wisconsin restricted the movement of both whole wild-deer carcasses and certain parts of those carcasses from the CWD Management Zone (CWD-MZ) to elsewhere in the state. Hunters are only able to transport whole carcasses and certain portions of those carcasses within the CWD-MZ and from this zone to adjacent Deer Management Units (unless taking the carcass to a taxidermist or meat processor, see paragraph below). Wisconsin also does not allow the importation into the state of either whole carcasses or certain parts of wild cervids (deer, elk, and moose) from other states or provinces that have CWD regardless of where the hunting occurred within the state.

Due to a rule change this season hunters are allowed to take whole carcasses or parts of carcasses of any cervid (including lymphoid, brain, and spinal tissue) harvested in any state or province where CWD has been found or within the WI CWD Management Zone into any part of Wisconsin provided the carcass or nonexempt parts are taken to a licensed taxidermist or meat processor within 72 hours of registration of a Wisconsin deer or within 72 hours of entering Wisconsin from another state.

The purpose of this rule is to prevent the tissues most likely to contain CWD from being brought to areas of the state where CWD does not yet occur and introducing the disease there. The rule was changed to allow deer to be taken to meat processors and taxidermists since they must follow strict rules regarding waste disposal, removing the risks associated with improper disposal. Map of affected area and additional details pertaining to carcass movement regulation.

The only parts from legally-harvested wild cervids from within the CWD-MZ that may be transported beyond those Deer Management Units adjacent to the CWD-MZ as well as from other states and provinces that have CWD are as follows:

• Meat that is cut and wrapped (either commercially or privately).
• Quarters or other portions of meat to which no part of the spinal column is attached.
• Meat that has been deboned.
• Hides with no heads attached.
• Finished taxidermy heads.
• Antlers with no tissue attached.
• Clean skull plates with no lymphoid or brain tissue attached.
• Clean skulls with no lymphoid or brain tissue attached.
• Upper canine teeth (also known as buglers, whistlers, or ivories).

CWD has been found in wild cervids in the following states and provinces. Whole carcasses and parts of carcasses, other than those listed above, from these places are not allowed into Wisconsin unless taken to a meat processor or taxidermist within 72 hours of entry into Wisconsin.