Chronic Wasting Disease didnít keep hunters home
Posted 11/13/02

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is getting a lot of media attention in Minnesota this year, but that hasnít stopped the deer hunters.

Tom Keefe of the license bureau with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently reporting approximately 450,000 registered hunters.

But, with muzzle loaders and more archers expected to register, Keefe anticipates that number will top 500,000, which is about the average recorded by the DNR each year.

Prince Gun Shop is one of the local registration stations in the area. According to gun shop owner Wendy Prince, the opening of deer rifle season is right on target compared with other years.

In fact, sheís had a difficult time just trying to get the total number of deer registered from the past weekend, because the store has been so busy.

As of Monday, Nov. 11, Prince Gun Shop registered 540 deer bagged by area hunters.

Chronic Wasting Disease

CWD naturally occurs in North American deer and Rocky Mountain Elk.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), CWD belongs to a group of infectious diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. It is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion, which affects the animalís brain and is invariably fatal.

Months to years can pass from the time an animal is infected to when it shows signs of the disease.

A surveillance area surrounding the Aitkin elk farm where a single elk tested positive for CWD has been created by the DNR.

According to the DNR, over 150 deer have been tested, including more than 100 in Aitkin County, but no other positives have been found.

The DNR is relying on deer hunters to help in the effort to determine if chronic wasting disease has infected the stateís wild deer herd.

DNR officials are asking hunters to watch for any symptoms consistent with CWD, including:

ïDeer that are excessively thin.

ïDeer that are drooling.

ïDeer with drooping ears.

ïDeer with no fear of humans.

ïDeer drinking excessively.

"We are asking hunters not to shoot sick-looking deer," said Mike DonCarlos, DNR Wildlife Research Manager. "Instead, hunters should report the precise location to a conservation office or the local DNR wildlife official."

If the deer has CWD or any other disease, the DNR feels it is likely the deer wonít leave the area.

DNR staff were at selected registration stations this past weekend to obtain 30 male and 30 female samples from each station. Permit area 154 had DNR staff at its registration station in Aitkin County collecting samples.

Because the tests are lengthy and because of the shortage of USDA-certified laboratories, the DNR will only be able to test a certain number of deer from each targeted sampling area.

However, more than 150 veterinarians at 98 clinics have agreed to collect brain stem samples for CWD testing this fall - for a fee.

Mille Lacs Veterinary Clinics, with locations in Milaca and Foley, will be accepting the head of the deer, with antlers removed, Nov. 9 through Dec. 14.

The charge is $69. The testing will be provided by MN Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and the test results will take from four to eight weeks.

Hunters should take the following precautions to safely eat deer this season:

ïDo not consume meat from any deer that looks or acts ill.

ïDo not eat the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils or lymph nodes of any deer.

ïRemove meat from bones rather than sawing through the bones.

ïField dress the animal properly.

ïMinimize handling of brain or spinal tissues.

ïWear sturdy rubber or latex gloves when field dressing.

ïWash hands and instruments after field dressing is complete.

The DNR also urges hunters to avoid bringing back whole carcasses from animals harvested in other states. The safest way to transport a carcass is to bring back only cut and wrapped meat, boneless meat, hides and antlers or cleaned skull plates.

According to the DNR, bones and other remains may be disposed of through rendering, burial, incineration or landfill.

DonCarlos said, "We are asking hunters not to dispose of deer carcass remains in public road ditches or on public land.

"Hunters should carefully consider any deer they see before they decide to harvest it. If they donít intend to eat it, they shouldnít harvest it."