DNREC Adopts Emergency Deer Hunting Regulations to Combat Chronic Wasting Disease

DELAWARE – The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has announced emergency deer hunting regulations to combat the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) ahead of this year’s hunting season.

The initial identification at the end of April triggered activation of the state’s CWD plan. In July, DNREC worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local landowners to collect and test additional deer to better understand the distribution and prevalence of CWD in the area. Officials say a focused cluster sampling of 100 deer adjacent to the two initial CWD findings did not turn up any more cases of the disease.

“While it comes as a relief that no additional positive samples were found during the focused cluster sampling, the measures in the new regulations aim to help us contain CWD while its range is limited in our state,” DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson said. “Now is the time to get ahead of CWD, because once CWD starts spreading it’s much more difficult to manage.”

The new emergency regulations are designed to reduce activities that bring deer together, limit the movement of potentially infected animals and infectious material, and increase CWD testing during the upcoming season. Lower and central Sussex County will also be designated as a CWD Management Zone (CMZ), including DNREC’s Midlands Wildlife Area and Trap Pond State Park.

Delaware deer hunters will be required to follow the new regulations, starting Aug. 17, which include the following:

• Prohibits the use of bait and feed for attracting deer within the CMZ
• Deer harvested within the CMZ during the November general firearm “shotgun” deer season (Nov. 13-22) must be checked in at one of two designated stations
• Prohibits the rehabilitation and relocation of “rescued” deer fawns originating within the Sussex County CMZ
• Prohibits the use of natural urine-based “buck lures” to hunt deer
• Adhere to requirements for moving harvested deer out of the CMZ to elsewhere within the state

Hunters interested in having their deer tested during the hunting season will be able to do so at self-serve drop-off locations located throughout the state. More details for this free service will be available on the DNREC website prior to the start of the hunting season, which falls on Sept. 1.

Emergency regulations are good for 120 days with a potential 60-day extension. In order to make the changes permanent, DNREC will need to go through the normal regulatory process, including public comment. For more information about CWD, click here.