With new CWD rules going into effect, effort underway to kill them

The fight is heating up over new rules focused on slowing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Wisconsin.

Some lawmakers are working on ways to kill rules put in place this year and scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1.

The most controversial rule seems to be the one that prevents hunters from transporting a non-processed deer from a CWD affected county to another county.

From the La Crosse County Conservation Alliance, Marc Schultz sees why the rule isn’t popular.

“It makes sense from the standpoint of not contaminating new areas but it’s problematic based on tradition — and what people have done traditionally with their deer,” Schultz said. “I mean, a lot of people live in one county and hunt in another county.”

Fifty-five of Wisconsin’s 72 counties are CWD affected, making it almost impossible to move whole deer carcasses across county lines.

Another argument from lawmakers, as they look to halt regulations Gov. Scott Walker ordered up in the spring, is that most hunters are oblivious to the new rules.

But stopping CWD deer from moving from one county to the next actually, makes sense to Schultz.

“CWD is a serious problem and you need to slow the movement of the disease,” he said. “That’s the origin of the rule.”

The new rules also mandate significant and costly barrier upgrades for deer farms.