Wisconsin DNR offering free CWD tests on opening weekend

DNR will continue CWD
surveillance throughout gun-hunt season

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – The Wisconsin DNR wants help from deer hunters in chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance.

On opening weekend (Nov. 21-22), DNR staff will collect lymph nodes at three registration stations and two meat processors (below) in central Wisconsin for free. These stations will be staffed from noon-6 p.m.

DNR wildlife supervisor Kris Johansen says the number of CWD cases has not gone down and deer must be tested. The sample collection process takes less than 10 minutes. Test results can be expected within three to four weeks.

DNR staff will be at the following locations to provide CWD sampling during opening weekend:

• Pritzls Corner Mart – S251 Hwy 13, Nekoosa (also a registration station)
• East Town Shell – 555 Hwy 153, Mosinee (also a registration station)
• Mike and Betsy’s Hiawatha – 817 Main St., Junction City (also a registration station)
• Hartnell’s Wild Game Processing – 1925 Cypress Ave., Arkdale
• Wisconsin River Meats – N5340 County Road HH, Mauston

Throughout the nine-day gun hunting season, the DNR will continue to seek assistance in CWD surveillance in its focus areas of Adams, Juneau, Portage and Marathon counties.

“We know that hunters care deeply about the health of the deer herd and routinely look for ways to assist the DNR with management,” DNR wildlife biologist Josh Karow said. “This is just one more way that hunters can play a role in managing Wisconsin’s deer herd.”

To view central Wisconsin CWD Surveillance Areas, go to dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “CWD sampling.”

DNR staff will also work with local taxidermists and cooperators to remove lymph node samples from hunter harvested deer for testing during the archery season and gun season.

To have the sample removed, the hunter can bring the whole deer to one of the listed cooperators or just remove the head with at least three inches of neck attached and bring that in for sampling.

Please call ahead to ensure the cooperator will be available to sample your deer. The current list of central Wisconsin cooperators can be found below:

• Hartnell’s Wild Game Processing – 1925 Cypress Ave., Arkdale, 608-339-7288;
• Trevor Athens Taxidermy – 982 15th Ave., Arkdale, 608-547-6117;
• B&L Taxidermy – 1088 13th Ave., Arkdale, 715-323-1782;
• Froh’s Taxidermy – W9650 Jacobsen Rd., Camp Douglas, 608-547-1279;
• Field and Stream Taxidermy – 217 S. Front St., Coloma, 608-547-1565;
• Wisconsin River Meats – N5340 County Road HH, Mauston, 608-847-7413;
• Todd’s Wildlife Taxidermy – N2148 State Road 58, Mauston, 608-847-7693;
• Vollmer’s Animal Arts Taxidermy – 3631 Plover Road, Plover, 715-345-1934;
• All Seasons Taxidermy – W9711 Beechnut Dr., Wautoma, 920-765-1078;
• Superior Taxidermy – 9710 Camp Phillips Road, Weston, 715-359-0557;
• Strictly Wild Processing – 140 Buffalo St., Wisconsin Rapids, 715-421-0587;
• People’s Meat Market – 6811 Burr Oak Road, Custer, 715-592-6328;
• Almond Rod and Gun Club – 8092 County Road GG, Almond, 715-570-1147; and
• Roche-A-Cri Bowman (24hr drop off in wood shed) – 2021 14th Dr., Friendship, 608-339-6460.