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.
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