Deer fencing and transport rule signed
Gov. Scott Walker signed an emergency rule Wednesday to beef up fencing at Wisconsin captive cervid facilities and restrict transport of deer carcasses from chronic wasting diseaseaffected counties.
The measures are designed to slow the spread of the fatal deer disease in the state.
“As we head into deer season, it’s important for everyone to work together to combat chronic wasting disease in order to preserve Wisconsin’s strong hunting traditions,” Gov. Walker said in a statement released Friday.
The changes were recommended by Gov. Walker in May and approved by the Natural Resources Board in August.
The rule has two prongs, one to reduce the risk of contact between captive and wild deer at farms and the other to reduce the distribution of infected carcasses by hunters.
If CWD has been found on a deer farm, the owners must install a second 8-foot-tall fence or a solid barrier that is at least 8 feet.
If the disease has not been detected at the facility, one of the following must be in place: a second 8-foot fence, a solid barrier that is at least 8 feet or at least three strands of electrified wire around the perimeter.
Deer farmers have one year, or a time agreed to with the DNR, to perform the required fence enhancement.
For hunters, the rule generally prohibits transport of whole deer carcasses out of the 55 CWD-affected counties in Wisconsin.
There are a few important exceptions: A whole carcass can be moved out of a CWD-affected county if it is taken to a taxidermist or a licensed meat processor; and a deer head also can be moved out of a CWD-affected county if it is taken to a CWD sampling kiosk or sampling cooperator.
If they want to process their own animal, hunters who kill a deer in a CWDaffected county will be required to quarter the deer or bone it out before moving it out of the county.
The rule allows portions of the carcass, such as the spinal cord, to be left on public land where the animal was harvested.
If a deer is killed in one of the 17 counties not considered CWD-affected, hunters have no new restrictions on how they handle the carcass. It may be transported whole or in parts anywhere in the state.
All normal licensing and registration requirements apply.
The emergency rule received strong support from the conservation community, including the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
It was opposed by deer farmers, who objected to the costs associated with enhanced fencing. Wisconsin has 380 deer farms; CWD has been found on 23 since 2001, and 14 have been depopulated, according to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Over the next week, the DNR is expected to post an update reflecting the new carcass transport restrictions to the online version of the 2018 Wisconsin deer hunting regulations.
Bernau takes bronze at world championships: Madelynn Bernau, 20, of Waterford won a bronze medal in the Junior Women Team Trapshooting event at the 52nd International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Championships in Changwon, South Korea.
Bernau broke 101 out of 125 targets, placing 25th out of 34 competitors in the Junior Women division. The top six qualified for the finals.
The top three scores from each country were used to determine team medals.
Bernau’s teammates on the USA Shooting team were Emma Lee Williams, who hit 113 of 125, and Carey Jeana Garrison (112).
Italy won gold in Junior Women Team Trapshooting and China took the silver.
Teams from seven nations participated in the event, held Sept. 2 and 3.
For a complete list of results, visit www.issf-sports.org.
Bernau won an individual gold medal in women’s trap at the 14th International Junior Grand Prix in Porpetto, Italy, on May 20.