Smith: Five steps deer hunters can take to help reduce spread of CWD

On my first Wisconsin deer hunt, I wore a red ski jacket into the field. A back tag showing my license was pinned between my shoulder blades.

In keeping with the regulations, I carried a shotgun loaded with lead slugs.

The year was 1973 and the place was Racine County.

Yes, times have changed. 

Wisconsin deer hunters today are required to wear an approved safety color (blaze orange or pink) but not a back tag. And with regard to the firearm, rifles are now legal in all counties.

Today, too, the hunter would probably be in a tree stand rather than still hunting on foot as I did 45 years ago.

And I guarantee you this: No hunter I knew in 1973 spent even a second thinking about chronic wasting disease.

When the gun season opens Saturday, CWD will at least be in the lexicon of every deer hunter in Wisconsin.

The fatal disease is spreading in geographic range and increasing in prevalence in the state.

Since wildlife diseases are notoriously difficult to contain and the infectious prion that causes CWD is particularly insidious and long-lasting, some hunters feel helpless in the fight against this relatively new threat.

But there are a number of steps hunters can take to reduce the spread of CWD in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

They all are linked to disease awareness and movement of CWD prions.

Experts say the disease spreads in two primary ways – on four hooves, as deer circulate on the landscape, and on four wheels, as humans transport live deer or carcasses.

A rule designed to limit carcass movement in the state was approved unanimously by the Natural Resources Board in August and signed by Gov. Scott Walker in September but later suspended by a Legislative committee.

A regulation with similar intent could resurface in the future. But for now, hunter's are on their own to adopt best management practices aimed at reducing the spread of CWD.

Here are five recommendations for Wisconsin hunters:  

» Debone your deer at deer camp and transport only meat home.

By leaving the spine and other bones in the area the deer was harvested, you can greatly reduce the possibility of bringing CWD prions to a potentially CWD-free area of the state.

» Dispose of the spine and other bones in an approved facility. 

The DNR website has a map of dumpsters, landfills and transfer stations that accept deer carcasses. As of Wednesday, 48 facilities were listed. The number of sites is growing as more people and organizations join the "Adopt A Dumpster" program.

» Get your deer tested for CWD.

The information will help the DNR in its surveillance efforts and is often welcomed by landowners curious about the health of the local deer herd. Testing is free for Wisconsin deer hunters. Samples can be submitted in a variety of ways, including at drop-off kiosks and at taxidermists.

The CWD status of a deer is also essential for hunters who don't want to eat the meat from a diseased animal. Health experts advise against consuming meat from a CWD-positive deer, but the decision is a personal one. No case of human illness has been linked to a CWD-positive deer.

» Follow the DNR's regulations on baiting and feeding.

Fifty-five counties are listed as CWD-affected this year, meaning deer baiting and feeding is prohibited. The rule is designed to prevent the artificial congregation of deer and subsequent increased risk of disease transmission.

» If you see a deer that behaves strangely and appears sick, shoot it and call the DNR.

A DNR representative will come to pick up the animal, and you won't have to use your tag on it. By taking the animal off the landscape, you remove its ability to continue to spread CWD or other diseases.

Deer hunting in Wisconsin has changed, yes, and will continue to do so.

As hunters face the current challenge presented by CWD, we can help by making new traditions out of smart practices.

I no longer wear that red ski jacket or carry a shotgun with slugs when I deer hunt. 

But I do get every deer I shoot tested for CWD. And I quarter or debone my deer at hunting camp and dispose of the bones at an approved facility. I hope you'll join me in adopting these new deer hunting behaviors. 

Here's to a safe, enjoyable gun deer season.