Columbia County CWD sampling plan in place for 2015-16 deer hunting season

By South Central Region October 16, 2015

Contact(s): Sara Kehrli, DNR wildlife biologist, 608-635-8123

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff will collect samples for chronic wasting disease surveillance testing during the 2015 archery and gun hunting seasons in Columbia County.

While all deer will be registered electronically this year, the department will continue to offer free chronic wasting disease testing to hunters in Columbia County at the following location:

• Lodi Sausage Co. and Meat Market - 150 South Main St., Lodi, 608-592-3534.

Those hunters who are unable to bring their deer to the Lodi location for CWD testing and aging can contact DNR wildlife biologist Sara Kehrli at 608.635.8123 or via email at saras.kehrli@wi.gov to set up a private appointment.

The department works closely with a number of private businesses throughout the southern portion of the state to offer sampling, and has also added new self-service kiosks at select locations. Kiosks are open around the clock and sampling materials and tools to remove heads are available onsite. A news release sent last week will help hunters find additional CWD sampling locations throughout southern Wisconsin.

For more information regarding chronic wasting disease in Wisconsin, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword "CWD." Information regarding collection stations will be available throughout the deer hunting season via the DNR website.

Electronic Registration

All harvested deer will be registered electronically in 2015. Hunters have three options for registering their deer:

• online at gamereg.wi.gov;
• electronically at a participating in-person registration station; or
• via telephone at 1-844-GAME-REG (1-844-426-3734).

Registration via telephone requires callers to enter the first three digits that correspond to the county of harvest. It is important to remember that only one digit needs to be entered for each letter. For example, Crawford County would be entered as 2-7-2 for C-R-A. The registration system will ask for clarification if counties have a similar abbreviation.

A link to the electronic registration system is also available through the Pocket Ranger application for mobile devices.

For more information regarding electronic registration, search keywords "electronic registration."

Deer hunters are encouraged to check out the frequently asked questions page for more information regarding several rule changes for 2015. The FAQ feature provides brief responses to a wide variety of deer hunting questions, ranging from deer management unit boundaries to antlerless permits. To view the FAQ and other helpful information, search keyword "deer."

Last Revised: Friday, October 16, 2015