MADISON, WI (WSAU-WXPR) -- The Wisconsin Legislature's Rules Committee has suspended a portion of the regulations put in place by Governor Scott Walker in May to slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease among deer herds.
The regulations, which some in Walker's own party have questioned, called for all deer farms to install higher fencing and a ban on the movement of carcasses from one county to another.
Hazlehurst Senator Tom Tiffany tells WXPR Radio in Rhinelander he's heard a lot of feedback from hunters on that measure. "There was a lot of concern I heard from sportsmen that this carcass movement was going to be detrimental to deer hunting." He says many people may hunt in one county, but have a cabin or home in another.
After deliberations on Monday, the Committee voted to suspend the rule effective immediately according to a news release issued on Wednesday. It is important to note that it remains illegal to transport whole wild deer carcasses and certain parts of those carcasses from CWD-affected counties to areas outside of CWD-affected counties, unless these deer carcasses or parts are being transported to an adjacent county or to a licensed taxidermist or licensed meat processor within 72 hours of the deer being registered. This restriction applies to all CWD-affected counties, including those where a baiting and feeding ban is no longer in effect.
Additionally, any CWD positive deer farm must install a second outer fence or solid wall. Farms that haven't turned up the disease yet have the option of installing a second electric fence. According to the farms, those costs could reach $1 million statewide.
Anyone with questions about properly handling deer carcasses from CWD infected counties is encouraged to visit the Wisconsin DNR website, which has numerous resources.
(Information from the Wisconsin DNR was also used in this report)
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