A ban on baiting and feeding white-tailed deer went into effect Thursday in Shawano and Waupaca counties.
The state Department of Natural Resources reported the action was spurred by the discovery of a deer with Chronic Wasting Disease on a privately owned deer farm in Marathon County in November. Implementation was delayed to avoid interference with the regular deer hunting season.
State law requires that counties within a 10-mile radius of a CWD-positive test are prohibited from baiting and feeding deer.
“We understand that this may be disappointing news to some who use bait for deer hunting or are feeding deer for enjoyment or because they are seeking to help them through this winter,” said Jeff Pritzl, DNR wildlife supervisor for northeast Wisconsin. “Supplemental winter feeding of deer unnecessarily increases the risk of spreading CWD and other diseases by concentrating deer activity at one spot.
“Long-term herd health is important to preserving our great hunting tradition. It is a foundation of tourism and vital to local businesses. This outweighs any possible benefit to individual deer or deer watchers provided by feeding.”
Area residents can still feed birds and small mammals provided the feeding devices are at a sufficient height or are otherwise designed to prevent access by deer. Feeders also need to be within 50 yards of a human dwelling.
More information about CWD is available online at knowcwd.com and dnr.wi.gov.