Special deer hunting season currently open through February 5 to collect samples for CWD testing, help reduce deer population

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

Nine new cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have been found in Allamakee County this past hunting season, and hunters are being asked to harvest deer in targeted areas for more sampling and to reduce the deer population.

The special harvest season is currently in place until February 5 and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hopes that 250 to 300 deer will be harvested. There is no fee to hunt, but a permit is required.

“This will help us increase our knowledge of the distribution and prevalence of CWD in the area, and help slow the spread,” said Dr. Dale Garner, Chief of the Wildlife Bureau for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in a Wednesday, January 18 meeting held in Allamakee County.

In 2016, 421 samples were collected during the past deer hunting season from a designated “surveillance area” in Allamakee County and nine new CWD-positive tests were found, bringing the total in Allamakee County to 15 since the first positive case was detected in 2013. The first CWD-positive deer was harvested south of Harpers Ferry, and that is where the majority of positive cases have been found.

This year new cases were harvested near Heytman Drive and another near Collins Ridge Road, both north of Harpers Ferry; one off of White Pine Road near Waterville and another near Fire Tower Road in Yellow River State Forest.

The surveillance area is shown outlined in red in the accompanying map (at right) and is outlined by the Mississippi River on the east, and Pleasant Ridge Road near Marquette headed west to Holly Avenue to Scott Hollow to Dry Hollow, Highway 76 to Waterville Road to Elon Road to Lafayette Ridge Road, to Steiber Road and then to Whalen Hill Road north to the river.

The DNR is especially interested in obtaining samples from the areas circled in red on the map, which are the areas were deer have already tested positive for CWD.

To obtain a free permit for the special season that runs through Sunday, February 5, go to the Allamakee County Conservation Office, located at 427 North First Street in Harpers Ferry, between noon and 6:30 p.m. Hunters can use centerfire rifles that are .24 caliber or larger, bow or muzzleloader for the special hunt.

When deer are harvested, hunters can bring the deer to the Allamakee County Conservation Office, or call 563-379-5725 to arrange for DNR personnel to collect samples. All deer harvested must have samples submitted for testing.

More than 60,000 wild deer throughout the state of Iowa have been tested since 2002. The only samples to test positive in wild deer in Iowa are the now 15 that have come from Allamakee County.

At the January 18 meeting, Dr. Garner explained that during last years’ special season to collect samples, some people were upset that the deer population was being reduced and think it doesn’t help, while others were happy that something was being done. He said there are no easy answers on how to proceed; the Iowa DNR is seeking input from hunters and landowners.

“We are here to manage your deer herd for you,” said Garner to the crowd at Wednesday's meeting. At one point during the public meeting held in Waukon, Garner pointed out a teenage girl in attendance, saying they are not just looking at managing the deer herd for now, but also for youth hunters like her as well as her future children and grandchildren.

“There is research ongoing,” Garner said. He noted that he is optimistic that perhaps the CWD in Iowa can be kept in check until the science catches up and helps them figure out how to best deal with it.

Terry Haindfield, DNR Wildlife Biologist noted that they hope with the culling of the herd occurring with the special hunt in the infected areas they can maintain good hunting while slowing the spread of CWD.

CWD is not caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus, but rather a prion (an infectious misshapen protein). It is similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (commonly called Mad Cow Disease) and can be found in whitetails, moose, elk and mule deer. There is no vaccination for CWD and there is no treatment. It is always fatal to the infected deer.

Symptoms of infected deer include lack of coordination, abnormal behavior, excessive salivation and the deer are often very thin. Deer show clinical signs of the illness 16 to 36 months following exposure, and can spread prions through saliva (which is why they are urging the public to not feed or bait deer), urine and feces prior to showing symptoms.

It is not known for certain how long the prions can live in the soil, but research thus far shows it remains up to five years, perhaps longer. It is now believed that the prions become more potent in clay soils. Prions are extremely difficult to destroy - an incinerator with the ability to maintain a temperature of 900 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours is about the only option discovered thus far.

Haindfield asks that carcasses not be left for scavengers. CWD prions can live in the guts of both crows and coyotes and even though they do not contract the illness, their excrement leaves contamination which can be picked up by other deer. The DNR will have a dumpster available at the registration station in Harpers Ferry for carcass disposal from the current special hunting season, or hunters should make their own arrangements to have carcasses go to landfills.

There is no scientific evidence of a case of CWD causing health issues for humans, but both the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control advise against eating deer or elk that have tested positive. Testing results for CWD from this special season should be back within two to three weeks, and many hunters wait until results are back before consuming the meat. Hunters will be notified of the test results.

The DNR is asking for the public to report all roadkills in the surveillance area and any sick deer they may see. They stress calling the DNR first; sick deer are not likely to wander far off, and even if a deer is sick, DNR officials say it is not acceptable to kill it out of season without permission.

The DNR is also asking residents not to use feed or salt-mineral licks to attract deer, as it increases the chance of the disease spreading. “It will speed up the spread of the disease,” Garner said. “You are doing more damage than you think.”

It was also revealed at Wednesday's meeting that six deer have tested positive for CWD in southeast Minnesota in recent months, near Lanesboro. A 371 square mile area has been designated as a “disease management zone” in that area and a special hunt was held the first two weeks of January with a goal of reducing the deer population and testing every adult deer harvested.