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By Carlos Gieseken
For the Wausau Daily Herald

ALMOND -- State officials are making plans to eradicate as many wild deer as possible within a 19-square-mile area in the town and village of Almond.

The plan, unveiled earlier this week, is aimed at containing the spread of chronic wasting disease, which was found at Buckhorn Flats, a breeding and game reserve. The DNR and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection see the plans as a proactive attack to prevent CWD from taking root in the wild deer population of central Wisconsin.

On Jan. 12, a hole was discovered in the perimeter fence of Buckhorn Flats, where 21 deer had tested positive for CWD since 2002. DNR officials found a "well-established" trail moving in and out of the hole, which was intentionally cut. On Jan. 17, 80 deer were killed by state officials in an eradication effort unrelated to the evidence of a deer escape.

"We know there were wild deer moving in and out of that fence," said Greg Dahl, a wildlife biologist with the DNR. "We're going to have to remove as many deer as possible in that area to make sure any possibly infected deer do not spread the disease."

Though large eradication zones have been established in the southern part of the state to combat the disease, no cases of CWD have been found in the wild deer population this far north.

Dahl said the eradication of deer within the surveillance area already has begun to a limited extent and will continue through March, with the cooperation of local landowners. DNR officials, law enforcement and wildlife biologists will begin to go door to door next week, explaining options for cooperation.

There are two options for participation in the effort. Landowners may be issued permits to remove deer on their land. They will not be required to obtain a hunting license, will be allowed to use bait and will have the option of keeping the deer carcass and antlers, provided they submit the head for testing.

Or landowners may choose to allow DNR sharpshooters to hunt deer on their property, which will be done primarily at night, when the deer tend to be attracted to bait.

Dick Bourie, CWD manager for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, said Buckhorn Flats owner Stan Hill had blocked eradication of his herd since July 2003 through lawsuits.